Harassment

Harassment

Debt Collectors

It is important to realise that debt collectors are not the same as bailiffs. Debt collectors cannot take any direct action against you, apart from asking you to pay. If you believe a debt collector is harassing you, or putting pressure on you to pay, contact the trading standards department at your local council. If you are being physically threatened, contact the police.

Harassment to repay

It is a criminal offence for a creditor to needlessly upset you to get you to repay.

Harassment includes:

Threatening you with a criminal prosecution when you can’t be prosecuted
Pretending to be a court official
Sending letters which look like court forms; and
Telling other people, such as neighbours and your employer, about your debt to force you to pay

If you are being harassed, keep a record of exactly what has happened and when, and report it to your trading standards department at your local council. A creditor or dent collection agency could have its credit license taken away if it is found guilty of harassing you.

If a creditor takes court action against you without taking reasonable steps to come to a realistic payment arrangement with you, you could defend (argue that you should not have to pay) the part of the creditor’s claim that is for the court costs and fees.