Got a letter from Shire Recoveries? Here's how to respond.
This guide explains who Shire Recoveries Limited is, what their letters typically look like, your statutory rights, and how to send a legally-accurate response by Royal Mail.
About Shire Recoveries
Shire Recoveries Limited is a commercial debt collection agency based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Founded in 2006, they specialise in business and SME debt recovery rather than consumer debt collection. They work as a contracted collection agent for various clients. In 2025 and 2026, the dominant pattern is collection on behalf of Azzurro Associates, a UK debt buyer specialising in SME and B2B receivables. If you have received a letter from Shire Recoveries, the underlying debt is most likely a business loan, merchant cash advance, business credit card, or personal guarantee on a commercial credit facility. This is fundamentally different from a consumer debt letter from Lowell, Cabot, or another consumer-focused agency.
Most current Shire Recoveries letters relate to debts originally provided by alternative business lenders. Common original creditors named in Shire letters include YouLend (merchant cash advances), Capital on Tap (business credit cards), Liberis (revenue-based finance), and Funding Circle (peer-to-peer SME loans). When a business defaults on one of these facilities, the lender typically sells the non-performing account to Azzurro Associates, which then appoints Shire to collect. The Azzurro Group also includes Solaris Law Limited, which handles legal escalation if collection does not resolve. Crucially, if you are a sole trader or you signed a personal guarantee as a company director, Shire can pursue you personally for what would otherwise be a limited company debt.
A Shire Recoveries letter does not automatically mean you have to pay. But the legal framework for commercial debt is different from consumer credit and you need to understand it before responding. The Consumer Credit Act 1974 generally does not apply to commercial loans, FCA CONC consumer protections largely do not bind commercial collection, and the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims does not apply to business debts. You still have substantive rights: the underlying loan agreement, the personal guarantee (if relevant), and any Notice of Assignment under section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925 are all evidence Shire must produce. The Your rights and Common scenarios sections below cover the specifics.
Registered office
Shire Recoveries Limited1 Calico Business Park
Sandy Way, Amington
Tamworth, Staffordshire
B77 4BF
United Kingdom
Companies House number: 06028665 · FCA reference: VERIFY_FCA_FRN_BEFORE_DEPLOY
Group structure
Azzurro Associates
FCA-authorised UK debt buyer specialising in SME lending and B2B receivables. Azzurro is currently the largest client for Shire Recoveries' commercial collection work. Azzurro buys non-performing loan portfolios from alternative business lenders including YouLend, Capital on Tap, Liberis, and Funding Circle, then appoints Shire as a contracted collection agent. Visitors will typically see Azzurro named in the Shire letter as the legal owner of the debt. See the Azzurro Associates page for more on Azzurro's structure and approach.
Solaris Law Limited
In-house law firm of the Azzurro Group. SRA-authorised with both consumer and commercial divisions. Built through Azzurro's 2024 acquisitions of Equivo Legal Services and Shoosmiths' B2B Recoveries team, bringing approximately 90 lawyers and paralegals. If Shire's collection effort does not resolve, the file is typically referred to Solaris Law for litigation under Civil Procedure Rules pre-action conduct (not the consumer Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims).
Original alternative business lenders (named on the letter)
The original creditors that issued the failed business credit facility. Common examples: YouLend (merchant cash advances), Capital on Tap (business credit cards), Liberis (revenue-based finance), Funding Circle (SME peer-to-peer loans). These lenders typically sell their non-performing portfolios to Azzurro Associates, after which Shire becomes the collecting agent.
Credit Services Association (CSA)
Shire Recoveries is a CSA member and has passed the CSA's Collector Accreditation Initiative (CAI), which is a quality accreditation requiring compliance with the CSA Code of Practice. The CSA Code is the most relevant code of conduct for commercial debt collection given that FCA CONC consumer-credit protections mostly do not apply. Breaches of the CSA Code can be reported directly to the Credit Services Association.
What a Shire Recoveries letter typically looks like
- 1An opening letter on Shire Recoveries letterhead naming the original lender (typically YouLend, Capital on Tap, Liberis, Funding Circle, or another alternative business lender), the current debt owner (typically Azzurro Associates), and Shire as the appointed collection agent.
- 2Quoted balances that include the original principal, any contractual interest, and any default charges from the underlying business credit facility. Commercial credit facilities often allow much wider charges than consumer credit.
- 3Income and Expenditure forms designed for PERSONAL outgoings rather than business outgoings. This is a defining feature of Shire letters. Even though the underlying debt is commercial, Shire often asks for personal financial information because the recipient is typically a sole trader or personally guaranteeing director.
- 4Demand letters with payment timelines (usually 14 to 30 days) and offers to discuss payment arrangements.
- 5Telephone contact from 01827 300326 or other Tamworth-area numbers.
- 6References to escalation to Solaris Law Limited or other litigation paths if the matter does not resolve. Commercial debt collection escalation tends to be faster than consumer because the legal protocols are less formulaic.
- 7References to CSA Collector Accreditation Initiative compliance, reflecting Shire's commercial-sector positioning and quality accreditation.
Your rights
Consumer Credit Act 1974 (sections 77, 78, 87 and 88)
You can request a copy of the original signed credit agreement under section 77 (fixed-sum credit) or section 78 (running-account credit). The creditor must provide it within 12 working days. Under sections 87 and 88, a valid Default Notice must have been served before the debt could be terminated and sold. Without a valid Default Notice, the debt is unenforceable.
Law of Property Act 1925 (section 136)
When a debt is sold from one company to another, a written Notice of Assignment must be sent to you for the assignment to be legally effective. If you never received one, the debt purchaser may lack the legal standing to sue you in court. You can demand a copy of the Notice of Assignment in writing.
Limitation Act 1980 (section 5)
Most consumer debts become statute-barred six years after the date of your last payment or last written acknowledgement. Once statute-barred, a debt collector cannot obtain a county court judgment against you. Do not phone or write anything that could be construed as acknowledging the debt, as either action restarts the six-year clock.
Administration of Justice Act 1970 (section 40)
It is a criminal offence to harass a person with demands for payment in a manner calculated to subject them to alarm, distress, or humiliation. If a debt collector is contacting you excessively, at unreasonable hours, or using threatening language, you can report them to the FCA and the police.
FCA Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC 7)
FCA CONC 7.9 prohibits debt collectors from contacting you at unreasonable times or using oppressive behaviour. CONC 7.14 requires debt collection activity to be suspended while a genuine dispute is being investigated. Breaches of CONC rules can be reported to the FCA, which has the power to fine and revoke the authorisation of regulated firms.
Common Shire Recoveries scenarios
A Shire Recoveries letter for a YouLend, Capital on Tap, Liberis, or Funding Circle debt
Shire is one of the main commercial debt collectors for these alternative business lenders, almost always acting on behalf of Azzurro Associates as the debt purchaser. If your business defaulted on one of these facilities, the lender sold the file to Azzurro, and Azzurro appointed Shire to collect. Demand a copy of the original loan agreement or facility documentation, the personal guarantee (if you signed one as a director), and any Notice of Assignment confirming the debt was sold to Azzurro. Do not pay or complete personal I&E forms before this evidence is produced.
Shire is chasing you personally for a limited company debt
This is the most important scenario for SME directors. If you signed a personal guarantee on a business loan or credit facility, the original lender (or any subsequent debt buyer like Azzurro) can pursue you personally for what would otherwise be the limited company's debt. Demand a copy of the signed personal guarantee in writing. Check the validity: was the guarantee witnessed and dated correctly, did you receive independent legal advice (legally required in some circumstances), does the wording specifically cover the debt being chased, and is the guarantee under hand or under deed (this affects the limitation period). A defective or improperly executed personal guarantee may not be enforceable.
Shire wants personal Income and Expenditure information
Shire often sends an Income and Expenditure form covering personal outgoings rather than business outgoings. You are not legally obliged to provide personal financial information unless you are personally liable (sole trader, partnership, or personally guaranteeing director). Even if personally liable, only complete the form after verifying the debt is enforceable: demand the original loan agreement, the personal guarantee, and the Notice of Assignment first. Sending bank statements or personal I&E forms without verifying the legal basis of the claim weakens your negotiating position significantly.
A commercial debt that may be statute-barred
Under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, simple contract debts (most commercial loans, business credit cards, and merchant cash advances) become statute-barred six years after the date of last payment or last written acknowledgement, whichever is later. Under section 8 of the same Act, debts under a deed (including some types of personal guarantee) become statute-barred after twelve years. Check the form of your original loan agreement and personal guarantee carefully: simple contract gives six years, a deed gives twelve. Do not phone Shire to discuss dates, because any acknowledgement restarts the clock.
Shire cannot produce a valid Notice of Assignment
Section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925 applies to all debt assignments, including commercial. If Azzurro Associates has purchased your debt from the original lender, you should have been notified by a written Notice of Assignment. Without it, Azzurro lacks legal standing to sue you, and Shire (as Azzurro's agent) cannot enforce the debt either. Demand a copy of the Notice of Assignment in your response letter. This is particularly relevant for older debts where the documentation chain may be incomplete.
Aggressive contact or breach of the CSA Code of Practice
Commercial debt collection is less heavily regulated than consumer debt collection: FCA CONC 7 rules technically apply only to consumer credit activity, so Shire is not bound by them in the same way for commercial debt. However, Shire is a CSA member with Collector Accreditation Initiative status, which commits them to the CSA Code of Practice. The CSA Code prohibits harassment, threatening behaviour, contacting third parties improperly, and similar practices. Write to document any breach and report it to the Credit Services Association directly.
Threatened or actual court action from Solaris Law Limited
Solaris Law is the Azzurro Group's in-house law firm. If Shire's collection effort does not resolve, the file typically passes to Solaris Law for litigation. Civil Procedure Rules pre-action conduct applies, not the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (which is consumer-only). Engage with any Letter Before Claim in writing within the timeframe stated, request all supporting documentation (loan agreement, personal guarantee, statement of account, Notice of Assignment), and seek specialist commercial debt advice promptly. Defending a commercial debt claim is realistic where the personal guarantee is defective or the debt is statute-barred.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Shire Recoveries a scam?
No. Shire Recoveries Limited (Companies House 06028665) is a legitimate commercial debt collection agency based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. They are FCA-authorised and have passed the Credit Services Association's Collector Accreditation Initiative (CAI), which is a quality accreditation specific to the CSA Code of Practice. They have operated since 2006 and specialise in commercial and SME debt collection, working primarily today as a contracted collection agent for the SME debt buyer Azzurro Associates. Being legitimate does not mean every Shire letter is correct. Verify the debt, the authority to collect, the personal guarantee (if relevant), and any statute-barred angle before paying or completing personal I&E forms.
Why is Shire Recoveries chasing me when I had the debt with someone else?
Because Shire is a commission collector acting on behalf of others. Most commonly today, Shire collects on behalf of Azzurro Associates, an SME debt buyer that purchases non-performing loan portfolios from alternative business lenders. Typical original creditors in the Azzurro portfolio include YouLend (merchant cash advances), Capital on Tap (business credit cards), Liberis (revenue-based finance), and Funding Circle (peer-to-peer SME loans). Your business borrowed from one of these alternative lenders, the loan defaulted, the lender sold the debt to Azzurro, and Azzurro appointed Shire to collect. The Shire letter should name both the original creditor and Azzurro clearly.
Can Shire chase me personally for a limited company debt?
Only if you signed a personal guarantee or are otherwise personally liable (for example, as a sole trader or general partner). Most alternative business loans and credit facilities require the company director to sign a personal guarantee as a condition of lending. If you did, the guarantee is what makes you personally liable when the company fails. Demand a copy of the signed personal guarantee from Shire in writing. Check its validity: proper execution, witnessing, dating, whether the wording specifically covers the debt being chased, whether you received independent legal advice (legally required in some circumstances), and whether the guarantee is under hand or under deed. A defective or improperly executed personal guarantee may not be enforceable.
Does the Consumer Credit Act 1974 protect me from Shire?
Generally no, if the underlying debt is commercial. Most alternative business credit (merchant cash advances, business credit cards with limits above £25,000, peer-to-peer SME loans) is outside the Consumer Credit Act's scope. This means the s.78 request for the original credit agreement, the s.87/88 Default Notice requirement, and similar consumer protections do not apply in the same way to a commercial debt. However, basic contract law principles still apply: the underlying loan agreement, the personal guarantee, and any Notice of Assignment must all be valid for the debt to be enforceable. Some smaller business credit facilities may still fall under CCA protections if structured as regulated credit agreements, so check carefully.
Does FCA CONC 7 protect me from Shire?
Mostly no, in a commercial context. The FCA's Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC) applies primarily to consumer credit activity, not commercial debt collection. So FCA CONC 7.14 (suspension of collection during dispute) and FCA CONC 7.9 (harassment rules) do not bind Shire in the same way for commercial debts. However, Shire's CSA membership and Collector Accreditation Initiative status commit them to the CSA Code of Practice, which includes its own harassment, fairness, and conduct rules. Breaches of the CSA Code can be reported to the Credit Services Association.
How long does Shire have to chase a commercial debt?
Under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, simple contract debts (most commercial loans, including merchant cash advances and business credit cards) become statute-barred six years after the date of last payment or last written acknowledgement, whichever is later. Under section 8 of the same Act, debts under a deed (including some types of personal guarantee) become statute-barred after twelve years. Check the form of your original loan agreement and personal guarantee carefully: a simple contract gives six years, a deed gives twelve. Do not phone Shire to discuss dates, because any acknowledgement (verbal or written) restarts the limitation period.
What is Solaris Law Limited and why might they get involved?
Solaris Law Limited is the in-house law firm of the Azzurro Group. It is SRA-authorised with both consumer and commercial divisions, built through Azzurro's 2024 acquisitions of Equivo Legal Services and Shoosmiths' B2B Recoveries team (bringing approximately 90 lawyers and paralegals). If Shire's collection effort does not resolve, Azzurro typically refers the matter to Solaris Law for litigation. Solaris Law will then issue a Letter Before Claim under Civil Procedure Rules pre-action conduct and may proceed to county court or High Court action depending on the amounts involved.
Should I just ignore a Shire Recoveries letter?
No. Unlike some unenforceable consumer debts where ignoring the letter is a viable strategy, commercial debt collection typically proceeds quickly to litigation if no engagement happens. Personal Guarantee enforcement actions can result in a county court judgment against you personally, with significant credit file and enforcement consequences. Engage in writing, demand all supporting documentation (loan agreement, personal guarantee, statement of account, Notice of Assignment), and use the verification process to either negotiate a resolution or build a defence. If the amounts are substantial, get specialist commercial debt advice promptly.
Free debt advice
If you are struggling with debt, free, confidential advice is available from the following organisations. They can help you understand your options, negotiate with creditors, and find a sustainable solution.
StepChange Debt Charity
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