Examples of possible harassment from creditors
The people you owe may try to contact you in several ways. But there are some thing they cannot do because:
- They are against industry rules
- They go against codes of practice
- They are against the law
The people you owe cannot:
- Call you at unreasonable times of the day or night
- Call you at work without permission, or after you tell them to stop
- Discuss your debts with a family member or employer
- Take payments without your permission
- Refuse to deal with advice organisations like us
- Pressure you to pay off a debt by borrowing more money
- Use legal or technical language to confuse you
- Send letters that look like court forms
- Refuse to give you information about your account when you ask for it
- Pretend to have legal powers
- Add charges that are higher than the actual costs of collecting debt
- Contact you for payment when the debt is being disputed
- Demand payment when a debt is statute barred or extinguished – meaning the law says they are out of time to chase the debt
- Lend money without a credit licence
- This is illegal
- Read more about loan sharks here
Keep a detailed record if you are experiencing any of these actions. Keep a log of phone calls and hold onto letters.
This helps if you need to make a complaint.
Need to complain about a bailiff?
Complain directly to a bailiff (or enforcement agent) if they are:
- Treating you unfairly or
- Harassing you
You can also complain to the creditor they work for.
Take your complaint to the governing body if they do not resolve it.
Find out more about bailiff complaints
Worried about creditors?