Debt Collection

Debt Collectors

When a Debt Collector is pursuing you, it can be a very scary experience. Debt Collectors are normally used by Creditorsfor chasing up unpaid debts. What a lot of people don't know and it might ease your mind to hear, is that Debt Collectors are NOT court officials and should not be confused with Bailiffs as they do not have the same powers. They do not have a right to enter your home or seize your goods.

The Financial Conduct Authority has released a guideline for Debt Collection Agencies. Creditors and Debt Collectors must follow this guidance. You can view the FCA guidance for Debt Collecting here to see how debt collectors should behave legally.

We have also outlined some relative points for a debt collector below.

Section 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

7.3.2 Dealing fairly with customers in arrears or default

When dealing with customers in default or in arrears difficulties a firm should pay due regard to its obligations under Principle 6 (Customers interests) to treat it's customers fairly.

7.3.3 Forbearance and due consideration

Where a customer under a regulated credit agreement fails to make an occasional payment when it becomes due, a firm should, in accordance with principle 6, allow for such unmade payments to be made within the original term of the agreement unless:

1. the firm reasonably believes that it is appropriate to allow a longer period for repayment and has no reason to believe that doing so will increase the total amount payable to be unsustainable or otherwise cause a customer to be in financial difficulties;

2. the firm reasonably believes that terminating the agreement will mitigate such advers consequences for the customer and before terminating the agreement it explains this to the customer.

7.3.4 A firm must treat customers in default or in arrears difficulties with forebearance and due consideration.

7.3.5 Examples of treating a customer with forbearance would include the firm doing one or more of the following, as may be relevant in the circumstances:

1. considering suspending, reducing, waiving or cancelling any further interest or charges (for example, when a customer provides evidence of financial difficulties and is unable to meet repayments as they fall due or is only able to make token repayments, where in either case the level of debt would continue to rise if interest and charges continue to be applied);

2. allowing deferment of payment of arrears:

(a) where immediate where immediate payment of arrears may increase the customer's repayments to an unsustainable level; or

(b) provided that doing so does not make the term for the repayments unreasonably excessive;

3. accepting token payments for a reasonable period of time in order to allow a customer to recover from an unexpected income shock, from a customer who demonstrates that meeting the customer's existing debts would mean not being able to meet the customer's priority debts or other essential living expenses (such as in relation to a mortgage, rent, council tax, food bills and utility bills).

7.3.6 Where a customer is in default or in arrears difficulties, a firm should allow the customer reasonable time and opportunity to repay the debt.

7.3.7 Where appropriate, a firm should direct a customer in default or in arrears difficulties to sources of free and independent debt advice

7.3.8 An example of where a firm is likely to contravene Principle 6 and n CONC 7.3.4 R is where the firm does not allow for alternative, affordable payment amounts to repay the debt due in full, where the customer is in default or arrears difficulties and the customer makes a reasonable proposalfor repaying the debt or a debt counsellor or another person acting on the customer's behalf makes such a proposal.

7.3.9 A firm must not operate a policy of refusing to negotiate with a customer who is developing a repayment plan.

7.3.10 A firm must not pressurise a customer:

(1.) to pay a debt in one single or very few repayments or in unreasonably large amounts, when to do so would have an adverse impact on the customer's financial circumstances;

(2) to pay a debt within an unreasonably short period of time; or

(3) to raise funds to repay the debt by selling their property, borrowing money or increasing existing borrowing

7.3.11 A firm must suspend the active pursuit of recovery of a debt from a customer for a reasonable period where the customer informs the firm that a debt counsellor or another person acting on the customer's behalf or the customer is developing a repayment plan.

7.3.12 A “reasonable period” in n CONC 7.3.11 R should generally be for thirty days where there is evidence of a genuine intention to develop a plan and the firm should consider extending the period for a further thirty days where there is reasonable evidence demonstrating progress to agreeing a plan.

7.3.13 A firm seeking to recover debts should have regard, where appropriate, to the provisions in the Common Financial Statement or equivalent guidance.

Proportionality

7.3.14
(1.) A firm must not take disproportionate action against a customer in arrears or default.

(2.) In accordance with (1) a firm must not, in particular, apply to court for an order for sale or submit a bankruptcy petition, without first having fully explored any more proportionate options.

7.3.15 A firm should not make undue, excessive or otherwise unfair use of statutory demands (within the meaning of section 268 of the Insolvency Act 1986) when seeking to recover a debt from a customer.

7.3.16 A firm should not take steps to enforce a debt if it is aware that the customer is subject to a bankruptcy order (or in Scotland where sequestration is awarded in relation to the customer), a debt relief order or an individual voluntary arrangement (or, in Scotland, a protected trust deed or a Debt Arrangement Scheme).

7.3.17 A firm must not take steps to repossess a customer's home other than as a last resort, having explored all other possible options.

7.3.18 A firm must not threaten to commence court action, including an application for a charging order or (in Scotland) an inhibition or an order for sale, in order to pressurise a customer in default or arrears difficulties to pay more than they can reasonably afford.

7.3.19 Firms seeking to recover debts under regulated credit agreements secured by second or subsequent charges in England and Wales should have regard to the requirements of the relevant pre-action protocol (PAP) issued by the Civil Justice Council. The aims of the PAP are to ensure that a firm and a customer act fairly and reasonably with each other in resolving any matter concerning arrears, and to encourage more pre-action contact in an effort to seek agreement between the parties on alternatives to repossession. The Pre-action Protocol on Possession Proceedings applies to all mortgage repossession cases in Northern Ireland. The Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act 2010 provides for pre-action requirements to be placed on secured lenders in Scotland.

Contact Debt Advice

If you are having difficulty with debt repayments or debt collectors, get in touch with us at Debt Advice as soon as possible. Our advisors will be happy to help. Fill in the form on this page and one of our debt advisers will be in touch.