Trust Deed Scotland

What Trust Deed Scotland does

Trust Deed Scotland (legal entity: Harper McDermott Ltd) is a Glasgow-headquartered, employee-owned debt solutions provider specializing in Scotland-specific statutory insolvency products. Founded in 2009, the company administers Protected Trust Deeds, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), Sequestration, the Minimal Asset Process (MAP), Statutory Moratorium, and tailored solutions for self-employed debtors. It holds FCA authorization (No. 820851), an IPA-licensed Insolvency Practitioner (Thomas Fox, IP No. 16030), and ICO data-protection registration, and was one of the first signatories of the 2021 Scottish PTD Protocol. Operations are legally restricted to Scotland.

The company's technology stack centers on a proprietary Trust Deed Wizard — a trademarked mobile-first eligibility and advice tool delivered via encrypted text chat — supported by Aryza case-management software, Zapier-orchestrated workflows, WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger via ManyChat, and ClickSend SMS. Multi-channel marketing combines 15 years of continuous TV, radio, and outdoor campaigns (the first Trust Deed TV ads in Scotland ran in 2011) with a 13,000+ TrustPilot-review reputation. The business has administered 30,000+ cases since inception and manages over £234m of debts for 9,000+ customers, with a 24% market share of Scottish statutory debt solutions in 2025 and a 98.9% Trust Deed protection rate.

Revenue is generated from administration fees set against debtor monthly payments and absorbed by creditors rather than charged upfront to customers, producing a recurring, contractually-backed revenue model linked to the 48-month duration of Trust Deeds and the multi-year duration of DAS programmes. The company transitioned to 100% employee ownership in February 2023 via an Employee Ownership Trust covering all ~70 staff. Customer acquisition runs through phone-based inside sales, the Trust Deed Wizard self-service funnel, and broad awareness media, with no resellers or third-party distributors.

Name

Trust Deed Scotland

Legal name

Harper McDermott Ltd

Website

https://trustdeedscotland.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Debt Solutions and Insolvency Administration

NAICS

Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Trust Administration & Fiduciary Accounting Services (FSAAANAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Trust & Estate Tax Planning & Compliance (FSAEAKAE)

Keywords

• Debt solutions administration
• Protected trust deeds
• Debt arrangement scheme
• Scottish insolvency services
• Consumer debt advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trust Deed Administration Fees: Administration fees charged against money owed to creditors, included in monthly payment amounts. Fees consist of a fixed administration fee plus a fee based on how much debt is paid during the Trust Deed term. These fees are absorbed by creditors as they write off a proportion of the debt.
2. DAS Administration Fees: Monthly administration costs for Debt Arrangement Scheme are borne by creditors. From every £1 received into the scheme, 22p is used to pay these costs, split between the DAS Administrator (2p) and the Money Adviser (20p). No upfront or setup fees charged to customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Trust Deed Scotland administers formal Scottish statutory debt solutions for individuals struggling with unsecured debts such as credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, payday loans and council tax arrears. Its main offerings consolidate multiple debts into a single affordable monthly payment, freeze interest and charges, halt creditor contact and legal action, and can write off qualifying remaining debt on completion. The portfolio spans Protected Trust Deeds, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), Sequestration, the Minimal Asset Process (MAP), Statutory Moratorium and Self-Employed Debt Solutions, with the proprietary Trust Deed Wizard tool funneling customers from online qualification through to in-house administration.

Product overview

Trust Deed Scotland offers a comprehensive portfolio of formal Scottish debt solutions administered through a licensed Insolvency Practitioner. The core offerings include Protected Trust Deeds (consolidating debts into affordable monthly payments with potential debt write-off over 4 years), the Debt Arrangement Scheme (repayment-focused with interest freeze), Sequestration (Scotland's bankruptcy equivalent), and the Minimal Asset Process (accelerated route for those with limited assets). Additional services include Statutory Moratorium for short-term breathing space and Self-Employed Debt Solutions tailored for business owners. All solutions are accessible through both in-person advisory services and the Trust Deed Wizard digital self-service tool. The company operates as Harper McDermott Ltd, regulated by the FCA and supervised by the IPA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protected Trust Deeds A formal Scottish debt solution that consolidates unsecured debts of £5,000+ into one affordable monthly payment over typically 48 months, freezes interest and charges, halts creditor contact, and can write off qualifying remaining balances at completion - available to Scottish residents who cannot afford to repay their unsecured debts.
• Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) A statutory Scottish debt solution administered through a Debt Payment Programme based on disposable income; freezes interest and charges, offers a 6-month payment holiday for illness or unemployment, and enables full repayment of debts without write-off - suitable for Scottish residents who can afford a reduced monthly payment but want to repay in full.
• Sequestration (Scotland) Scotland's equivalent of bankruptcy, administered via a Trustee; enables Scottish residents with unaffordable debts to obtain up to 100% debt write-off after a defined period, subject to realization of assets and discharge terms.
• Minimal Asset Process (MAP) A streamlined route into Sequestration for Scottish residents with no disposable income and few or no realizable assets, enabling debt write-off in approximately 6 months with no application fees.
• Statutory Moratorium A short-term statutory protection providing approximately 6 weeks of breathing space from creditor action, allowing Scottish residents time to seek debt advice and decide on a longer-term solution.
• Self-Employed Debt Solutions Tailored debt advice and statutory solutions covering self-employed Trust Deeds and DAS variants for sole traders, limited companies and partnerships dealing with combined business and personal debts including HMRC tax arrears and business rates.
• Trust Deed Wizard A self-service online tool (UK registered trademark) that lets users assess their debt situation, check qualification for Trust Deeds or DAS, and explore debt solution options through mobile text chat with 100% encryption and confidentiality.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 70% debt write-off possible on Trust Deed completion (average 51% expected write-off based on 1,671 PTDs protected 2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory oversight body for Trust Deeds and DAS in Scotland. Trust Deed Scotland works with AiB to protect Trust Deeds and register solutions. AiB provides official statistics on Scottish statutory debt solutions used to validate market leadership claims.
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK financial services regulator that authorizes and regulates Harper McDermott Ltd (FCA Number: 820851). Provides regulatory framework for debt advice services.
• Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional regulatory and supervisory body that licenses Thomas Fox as Insolvency Practitioner (IP No. 16030) and maintains insolvency standards.
• MoneyHelperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK government-backed free money guidance service. Trust Deed Scotland refers customers to MoneyHelper for free debt counselling and adjusting services. Displayed as trusted partner on website footer.
• Debt Resolution ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry body promoting professional standards for resolving debtors' financial problems. Trust Deed Scotland became full member prior to current FCA regulation.
• Scottish Trust Deed Protocol (PTD Protocol)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry protocol introduced October 2021 governing Protected Trust Deeds. Trust Deed Scotland (Harper McDermott) was one of the first Scottish debt companies to agree to the new protocol, helping shape improved processes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• StepChange Debt Charity: UK's largest debt advice charity offering free Debt Management Plans and other solutions. While StepChange operates UK-wide and is a charity, it directly competes with Trust Deed Scotland for Scottish customers needing formal debt solutions including Protected Trust Deeds and DAS.
• Citizens Advice Scotland: Scotland's statutory free debt advice network offering guidance on debt solutions including Trust Deeds and DAS. Competes with Trust Deed Scotland at the top-of-funnel advice stage before customers convert to fee-bearing solutions.
• McKenzie Thomas: Scottish debt solutions specialist offering Protected Trust Deeds and Debt Arrangement Schemes. Direct geographic and product competitor to Trust Deed Scotland within the Scottish statutory debt solutions market.
• Money Wellness (formerly PayPlan): Major UK debt solution provider offering free debt advice and managed Debt Management Plans, IVAs, and protected trust deeds. Directly comparable to Trust Deed Scotland in service model (advice-led, multi-solution) with comparable customer segment.
• Carrington Dean: UK-wide debt solutions provider offering IVAs, Protected Trust Deeds, Debt Management Plans, and sequestration. Comparable in fee model, regulatory standing, and customer target market, with similar inside-sales-led acquisition.
• Gregory Pennington: Established UK debt advice firm offering trust deeds, IVAs, and debt management plans. Closely comparable to Trust Deed Scotland in service portfolio, regulatory positioning (FCA-authorised), and target customer base of over-indebted UK consumers.

Regional players

• Davidson & Co Insolvency Practitioners: Scotland-based insolvency practice offering Protected Trust Deeds, DAS, and sequestration services. Comparable as a Scotland-focused competitor with licensed insolvency practitioners administering formal debt solutions.

Others

• Money Helper (UK Government): UK government-backed free money guidance service that Trust Deed Scotland actively refers customers to. Functions as a complementary ecosystem partner but also a free-tier alternative for cost-sensitive debt advice seekers.
• Aryza: Case management and debt solutions software provider used by Trust Deed Scotland. Listed as an enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, but represents a relevant ecosystem participant in the debt advice stack.

Broad incumbents

• National Debtline (Money Helper): UK government-backed free debt advice service (part of MoneyHelper). While broader in scope (covers all of UK and all debt types), it directly competes for the same advice-seeking customers Trust Deed Scotland targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCexample
• Xx.com/TrustDeedScotl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trust-deed-scotland-ltd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trust Deed Scotland