---
title: "Debt Collection"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f584"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f584"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f584.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f584.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "United Utilities Water Limited"
published: "2026-09-11"
---

# Debt Collection

Buyer: United Utilities Water Limited  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f584

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## Summary

United Utilities Water Limited is procuring household debt collection and business process outsourcing services to recover money owed by domestic customers and return collected funds to the utility. The requirement covers specialist collection agencies and BPO providers delivering live first- and second-placement collections, early collection, vulnerable-customer support, leaver and final-account debt, trace and collect work, low-value placements, doorstep visits, affordability and reconnection visits, and probate recovery for deceased customers. It is divided into five service areas: live, vulnerable and leaver debt; outbound white-label BPO collections; trace and final-debt collection; tertiary and reconnection services; and probate services. Suppliers will receive customer debt data, follow agreed processes and provide information gathered during collection. United Utilities is based at Lingley Mere Business Park, Warrington.

The procurement has reached tender: United Utilities invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure for a utilities framework agreement, with contracts awarded through reopened competition. Enquiries had to be submitted by 1 October 2026 at 23:00, and offers by 29 December 2026 at 16:00. The stated award decision date is 31 May 2027 at 23:59. Each lot is expected to run from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2030, with extensions available to 30 September 2035. The total estimated value is £43,554,266.80 excluding VAT, or £52,265,120.16 including VAT. Lot values excluding VAT are £14,160,648, £5,481,359, £2,959,324, £20,553,617 and £399,316 respectively. Technical quality and commercial price each carry 50% of the evaluation weighting.

This opportunity suits specialist debt collection agencies, tracing and recovery firms, probate recovery providers, and BPO operators with the systems and staffing to handle domestic utility debt at scale. Relevant capabilities include first-, second- and third-placement collections, outbound dialling, doorstep activity, affordability and reconnection visits, vulnerable-customer handling, leaver and final-account work, low-value debt, tracing, and deceased-customer or probate recovery. Suppliers need to process customer data securely, collect and remit payments, return useful information obtained during recovery, and operate within Fair Pay Guidelines, applicable industry standards and good industry practice. They must demonstrate how compliance will be maintained and how service failures will be identified, managed and resolved. All five lots are identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

## Notice

The Scope of this proposed service will be for supply of Specialist Debt Collection Agency and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) providers to deliver standard Live 1st and 2nd, Doorstep visits, specialist vulnerable customer, Final accounts, Trace & Collect, low value placement & Probate/Deceased. DCAs play a key part in reducing the debt currently held by United Utilities. The scope of this tender covers household (Domestic) debt only. The objective for all Suppliers to undertake Debt Collection activities and secure payment of money owed by debtors, in-line with Fair Pay Guidelines. United Utilities will provide Customer Data containing the details of the Debts to the Supplier who will work through the agreed processes to collect the Debts and remit the collected funds back to United Utilities including any additional information obtained whilst securing payment. All Suppliers must adhere to all applicable industry standards and Good Industry Practice and be able to ensure compliance and how failures are managed and resolved.

### Lot Information

Lot 1 - Live, vulnerable & leaver FA

Live, vulnerable & leaver FA The scope of this service will be for the supply of live, vulnerable and leaver FA services Activities: - Live debt 1st placement -Live debt 2nd placement -Leaver FA debt 1st placement -Leaver FA debt 2nd placement -Live debt early collection -Vulnerable Customer

Renewal: An initial term of 3 years, with the option to extend for a maximum term of 8 years.

Lot 2 - BPO Outbound service (1)

BPO Outbound service The scope of this service will be to Provide a White Label service to UU. The supplier should provide UU with expert outbound dialling collection activities.

Renewal: An initial term of 3 years, with the option to extend for a maximum term of 8 years.

Lot 3 - Trace & collection final debt (1)

Trace & collection final debt The scope of this service will be for the supply of Trace and collection final debt services Activities: -Leaver debt NFA 1st placement -Leaver debt NFA 2nd placement -Leaver debt NFA 3rd placement -Low value leaver

Renewal: An initial term of 3 years, with the option to extend for a maximum term of 8 years.

Lot 4 - Tertiary & Reconnect (1)

Tertiary & Reconnect The scope of this service will be for the supply of Tertiary and reconnect services -Live debt 3rd placement (Tertiary doorstep visits) -Live debt for affordability reconnect visits

Renewal: An initial term of 3 years, with the option to extend for a maximum term of 8 years.

Lot 5 - Probate services/deceased (1)

Probate services/Deceased The scope of this service will be for the supply of probate services/deceased -Specialist probate recovery services

Renewal: An initial term of 3 years, with the option to extend for a maximum term of 8 years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086252-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 29 Dec 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2027 - 30 Sep 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £43,554,266 |
| Lots value | £43,554,264 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | United Utilities Water Limited |
| Locality | WARRINGTON |
| Postcode area | Warrington |
| Postcode | WA5 3LP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD61 Warrington |
| Local authority | Warrington |
| Electoral ward | Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall |
| Westminster constituency | Warrington South |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79940000 - Collection agency services

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2026 at 10:24 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086252-2026
- 9 Sep 2026 at 12:03 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085336-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086252-2026
  11th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085336-2026
  9th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=108852&TID100113908&B=
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.unitedutilities.com

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f584. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f584.json.