There are lots of different factors to consider when giving the best debt advice, including how much you owe and to how many creditors, whether you own a home, what type of debt it is (eg. secured or unsecured) and much more.
We have tried to lay out in the most clear and concise manner when each kind of debt solution is most appropriate, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and how they work. We strongly recommend that you contact our experienced Debt Counsellors for expert debt advice before you make any decisions though, it's a free service and you can get in touch for free as well!
We have tried to lay out in the most clear and concise manner when each kind of debt solution is most appropriate, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and how they work. We strongly recommend that you contact our experienced Debt Counsellors for expert debt advice before you make any decisions though, it's a free service and you can get in touch for free as well!
Debt Advice 
The debt solutions that are
available include:
available include:
Debt Collection Agencies
A debt collection agency is a company which specialises in collecting debts from people that are in arrears. They often buy the debt off your original creditor so that you will now pay them directly. It is important to note that they have no more legal powers than your original creditors, they are not bailiffs and they cannot simply take any of your property. They have to abide by guidelines set down the the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
If you have already been contacted by a debt collection agency then you should get in touch with DebtAdvice.net straight away to get free and impartial advice on debt.
AGENCY CONTACT
Contact from Debt Collection Agencies
The most common forms of contact that debt collection agencies make are through telephone calls and letters. It is also possible that they will make a home visit, but this is unlikely as it will cost them more.
They have to abide by guidelines that have been set out by the Office of Fair Trading, just as your original creditors do. This means that they CANNOT:
Repossess any of your goods, they are not bailiffs and you do not even have to talk to them if they come to your door,
Talk about your debt with anyone but yourself, including other members of your family or your employer,
Act in threatening or intimidating ways.
For a more complete list of what they are not allowed to do, see the section “Your Rights” on the page, “Debt Collection Process”.
You can also contact us if you would like advice on how to deal with debt collection agencies or for more general debt advice on your debt problems. The advice that we give is completely free, private and confidential.
The most common forms of contact that debt collection agencies make are through telephone calls and letters. It is also possible that they will make a home visit, but this is unlikely as it will cost them more.
They have to abide by guidelines that have been set out by the Office of Fair Trading, just as your original creditors do. This means that they CANNOT:
Repossess any of your goods, they are not bailiffs and you do not even have to talk to them if they come to your door, Talk about your debt with anyone but yourself, including other members of your family or your employer, Act in threatening or intimidating ways.For a more complete list of what they are not allowed to do, see the section “Your Rights” on the page, “Debt Collection Process”.
You can also contact us if you would like advice on how to deal with debt collection agencies or for more general debt advice on your debt problems. The advice that we give is completely free, private and confidential.
SOLICITORS
Contact from Solicitors
It is possible that you will be contacted by a solicitor, either acting as a debt collection agency or on behalf of one.
The reason that this is done is that many times people think that they have more legal authority and therefore feel that they have to pay the debt, even if they cannot really afford to.
It is important to keep in mind that solicitors do not actually have any more legal authoritys. And if they claim that they have certain legal powers that they do not have then this is against the guidelines set out by the Office of Fair Trading and you can make a complaint.
If you would like some debt advice for free on how to deal with solicitors acting as a debt collection agency then feel free to get in touch with us at DebtAdvice.net.
It is possible that you will be contacted by a solicitor, either acting as a debt collection agency or on behalf of one.
The reason that this is done is that many times people think that they have more legal authority and therefore feel that they have to pay the debt, even if they cannot really afford to.
It is important to keep in mind that solicitors do not actually have any more legal authoritys. And if they claim that they have certain legal powers that they do not have then this is against the guidelines set out by the Office of Fair Trading and you can make a complaint.
If you would like some debt advice for free on how to deal with solicitors acting as a debt collection agency then feel free to get in touch with us at DebtAdvice.net.
HOW TO DEAL
How to Deal with Debt Collection Agencies
Although it may be tempting to simply ignore the letters and phone calls from a debt collection agency because it can be very stressful to deal with them, that is not a good idea.
By ignoring all of their contact, they may feel that their only option is to take legal action, at which point you will not have the option of ignoring them anymore.
However if you are open with them about your financial situation then it's possible that you will be able to come to an arrangement whereby you can pay them a reduced amount each month so that you are only paying what you can afford.
If you get in touch with us for free debt advice we will be able recommend one of the debt solutions that are available, and if you wish we will also be able to deal with the debt collection agency on your behalf. They are not allowed to refuse to deal with us, as that would go against the guidelines set out by the OFT.
Although it may be tempting to simply ignore the letters and phone calls from a debt collection agency because it can be very stressful to deal with them, that is not a good idea.
By ignoring all of their contact, they may feel that their only option is to take legal action, at which point you will not have the option of ignoring them anymore.However if you are open with them about your financial situation then it's possible that you will be able to come to an arrangement whereby you can pay them a reduced amount each month so that you are only paying what you can afford.
If you get in touch with us for free debt advice we will be able recommend one of the debt solutions that are available, and if you wish we will also be able to deal with the debt collection agency on your behalf. They are not allowed to refuse to deal with us, as that would go against the guidelines set out by the OFT.
CONTACT US
Get in Touch
If you have been contacted by a debt collection agency and would like some free debt advice then get in touch and our expert advisers will be able to come up with the best debt solution for your situation. All of the information that you provide will be treated as entirely private and confidential.
If you have been contacted by a debt collection agency and would like some free debt advice then get in touch and our expert advisers will be able to come up with the best debt solution for your situation. All of the information that you provide will be treated as entirely private and confidential.