Home visits from debt collectors
Your creditors can use different ways to get you to pay your debts. One way is to send a debt collector to visit your home in person, although they will often call or write to you first. You are not obliged let a debt collector into your home and they don’t have the right to take goods away.
It’s very important to understand that a debt collector is not the same as an enforcement agent or bailiff. Debt collectors have no special legal powers. You may feel under pressure to pay more than you can afford, but don’t feel threatened. Find out more about the difference between debt collectors and bailiffs.
Can a debt collector come to your house without notice?
Yes, there’s no formal process that debt collectors have to follow, unlike court appointed representatives, such as bailiffs.
There are standards debt collectors have to meet and limitations to their powers. If you feel you’ve been treated unfairly by a debt collector you can make a complaint.
Most debt collectors are members of a trade body, such as the Credit Services Association, which has a code of conduct setting out standards they expect their members to meet.
What debt collectors can and can’t do
- Visit you at home
- Speak to you discreetly about your debt and try to set up a payment arrangement
- Ask you to make payment to them
But debt collectors can’t do any of the following:
- Visit you at your workplace
- Act in a threatening or intimidating way, or cause a disturbance
- Force their way into your house or refuse to leave when you tell them to
- Take any of your belongings or clamp your car
- Speak to neighbours, family or flatmates about your debt