Debt Harassment
If you have harassment from your creditors or require advice on what to do if you feel you are being harassed please call 0800 074 6919 or apply online
What is harassment?
Harassment is unacceptable behavior to the recipient and which creates any of the following:-
- Intimidating feelings
- A hostile environment
- An offensive environment
What is debt harassment?
If you miss making payments on money you have borrowed, your account goes into
'default' and you will be sent a default notice. If you don't pay the money you owe, the people you owe money to may pass the details of your debt onto a debt collection business. The debt collection business will then contact you and ask you to pay the
money that you owe. The problem is sometimes creditors can go too far and be guilty of harassment.
What are examples of debt collection harassment?
Harassment can:
- Verbal harassment
- Written harassment via email, fax or letter.
- Repeated calls to your home
- Repeated calls to your workplace
- Anti social behavior
- Contacting your neighbours or friends
- Breaching debt collection and debt management guidelines laid down by the OFT.
Are there laws against debt collection harassment?
- The Administration of Justice Act 1970 S.40
- The Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Debt Collection Guidelines.
What are examples of poor debt collection practice or debt harassment?
- If they contact you if you have asked them to speak to someone representing you this may be construed as debt harassment.
- Debt harassment may occur if the credit visits you at inappropriate places such as your work, unless you have told them they can.
- Cause you debt harassment to you by calling you frequently or making threatening statements or gestures
- Send you letters that do not clearly let you know who they are and why they are contacting you
- Pressure you into selling property or borrowing money in order to pay your debt
- Pressure you into paying in full or in large installments
- Pressure you to increase your payments to more than you agreed to in your repayment plan
- Add collection charges to your debt, unless you agreed to this with the people you borrowed the money from (any amount they charge you should be based on actual costs caused by the collection of your debt)
- Threaten to give the details of your debt to others unless they are allowed to by law or tell you that they can take legal action when they actually cannot
- Make you think that they are bailiffs. Debt collectors do not have the same legal power as bailiffs and cannot force their way into your home or seize your possessions.
Who should you complain to if you feel you have experienced debt harassment?
The Financial Ombudsman Service - If you have a complaint that you can't resolve with your lender, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help, phone 0845 080 1800 or visit www.financialombudsman.org.uk
For immediate and debt advice please call the advice team on 0800 0789 544 or apply online for advice on debt collection harassment.
