Fighting Debt - a user guide

6) DEBT AGENCIES

d) How to deal with harrassment from a Debt Agency

The first step is to write to the Debt Agency, outlining your concerns about the company's behaviour.

Inform them that you are familiar with the terms of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act, and the OFT Debt Collection Guidance and that you will consider making a complaint about their behaviour under the guidance.

Tell them in the letter how you prefer to be contacted and ask that they confirm their agreement to this.

A letter at this stage may avoid the need to take further action against the company.

A template letter that can be sent can be found here.

Keep a record of all of telephone calls, letters received, any home visits etc.

Unfortuntately it is not an easy task to get the police involved to prosecute in cases of harassment unless a more serious offence such as violence, fraud or blackmail is also involved

Office of Fair Trading

If you are having problems resolving the harassment then it may be worth contacting the Office of Fair Trading. The OFT does not take up individual complaints but their debt collection enforcement team collects information that can be used to take action against creditors who can lose their consumer credit licence

1) Budget Plan

2) Listing Debts

3) Prioritizing

4) Making an Offer

5) Disputing Debt

6) Debt Agencies

7) Bailiffs

8) DMP

9) IVA

10) Loans

11) Bankruptcy

12) Do's and Dont's

13) Your Credit Rating