When the debt collector calls

Understand your rights uhen the collector calls When the debt collector calls Debt collectors and bailiffs are not the same thing. Debt collectors are employed by lenders to collect outstanding debts, and have the same legal powers. Bailiffs, on the other hand, have 'special powers' granted by the courts Collector Bailiff Can't take away personal property Can charge for uisits They can't take any items you need, like your clothes or cooker They must tell you when they'll visit Can only phone, write or uisit your home to discuss repaying your debts They can clamp your car or take it away (in some cases). Can't contact you repeatedly or late at night Can enter your home through open doors or windows, or as a last resort force their way in Dealing with a debt collector Remember, you don't have to let a debt collector in. If they act aggressively or threaten you, contact your local trading standards department, make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (after you've followed your lender's own complaints procedure). or call the police. Are they calling in person? YES NO Do they have any ID? Ask them to contact you in writing NO Ask them for proof of who they are YES Do they have proof of the debt? Ask them for proof of the debt NO YES Do you owe the debt? YES NO Made payments or contacted your lenders in last óyrs? Tell them the debt is not yours NO Get expert advice before YES you do anything Can you afford to Get advice on what legal action they can take NO make payments? YES Agree an affordable repayment plan in writing Debt Debt across the UK Income Not all regions are affected the same. Scotland has the lowest income-debt ratio and London has the highest. So if you're dealing £33168 with debt, rest assured you're not the only one. £15462 £7500 £7357 £4712 £5842 E5363 £5556 £5093 Scotland NWest NEast Midlands Wales SWest SEast East London £1833 £1856 £1799 £1894 E1931 E1931 £2319 £2050 £2344 Uncollected debt Over a six month period in 2011, total unpaid debt held by debt collectors grew by 4% - totalling a huge £58 bn. With this amount rising, debt collectors certainly have their work cut out for them. 4° Increase consumer debt JUL 2011 DEC 2011 10 20 30 40 50 60 Complaints 59 Between Apr-Sep 2011, The Financial Ombudsman had 357 new complaints about debt collection - that's 59% more unhappy debtors than the previous six months. Increae in complaints OCT - APL APL- SEP O 10 20 150 200 250 300 350 Information correct as of October 2012 Data sources http://www.direct.gov.uk http://www.oft.gov.uk http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk http://www.experian.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk http://www.osa-uk.com http://www.fos.org.uk http://www.computeractive.co.uk http://www..aviva.com Created by www.gregorypennington.co.uk ம்