The Ultimate Guide to Direct Legal Collections Debt Collectors

You’re being contacted by Direct Legal Collections, who are they? Why are they contacting you? And what should you do next?

All fair questions to ask and all will be answered in our ultimate guide to Direct Legal Collections debt collectors.

Being in debt can cause so much stress that it takes over your life, and many individuals don’t have anyone to talk to or get help from.

A debt advisor will lead you in the right direction. Their expert legal and financial advice can help you to get out of debt quicker than you ever thought possible.

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It’s as simple as filling in a form and getting in touch with a debt advisor who will help make sure you get out of your difficult financial situation.

Understanding who you’re dealing with and the position you’re in is one of the best ways to stand yourself in good stead to deal with your current financial situation.

Read ahead to find all the information, help and advice you need.

Who are Direct Legal Collections?

Direct Legal Collections was established in 1998 and have been collecting consumer credit debts for financial institutions and creditors since then.

They offer a range of debt recovery services to their clients.

According to their own website, the debt recovery services they offer are “pro-active, relentless and results-driven”.

Always keep in mind that they have no more legal powers than the original creditor they’re representing.

Don’t be intimidated and know where you stand, get in touch with a debt advisor who can assist you with debt help.

Get Help Before Paying Direct Legal Debt Collectors

It’s a good idea to seek advice from a professional debt advisor before you pay Direct Legal debt collectors. Watch the video below to learn more about your rights and the type of help you can get.

Where are they based?

They’re based in Stourbridge at the following address: Direct Legal Collections, 7 Apple Tree House, Six Ashes Road, Bobbington, Stourbridge, DY7 5BY

Are they a legitimate company authorised and regulated in the UK?

Direct Legal Collections are a member of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management in the UK.

As a debt collection agency registered in England, they are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

They are a legitimate company, however, it’s always a good idea to ask for proof of your debt once you receive anything from Direct Legal Collections or any other debt collection agencies.

What legal powers do they have over me?

As a debt collection agency, Direct Legal Collections have no more legal powers than the original creditor they’re representing.

All they do is collect debts owed by individuals or businesses for a range of creditors or financial institutions.

You may start to receive letters, emails, texts or phone calls.

All debt collection agencies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, so they have guidelines which they’re required to follow also.

These guidelines can be found ahead.

Whatever may be sent or said to you can sound scary or threatening, however, going about your next steps in a calm and considered manner is the most important thing to do.

The best thing to do is to get in touch with a debt advisor who will make sure that you take the correct next steps.

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Their expert legal and financial advice will help you to understand what is going on and what you can do next. They’ll show you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that debt doesn’t have to ruin your life completely.

Why is a third party contacting me about debt collection?

If a third party debt collection agency such as Direct Legal Collections is contacting you this means that they’ve taken over the management of your debt to the bank or original creditor that you owe money to.

The credit you owe will have to be paid off one way or another. Don’t threat, however, there are ways to reduce the debt you owe or make it manageable for your specific financial circumstances.

How do I contact Direct Legal Collections?

You can email Direct Legal Collections at [email protected]

You can call their offices on 01384 221175

Or you can send a letter to the following address – Direct Legal Collections, 7 Apple Tree House, Six Ashes Road, Bobbington, Stourbridge, DY7 5BY

Their website is www.directlegal.co.uk

How do debt collection agencies operate?

Debt collection agencies and the debt collectors they hire are different from a bailiff.

Specifically, they have no special legal powers.

All they can legally do is visit your address. They’re not allowed in unless invited and if you request that they stop bothering you then they have to leave. Feel free to tell them to leave and warn them off removing any of your belongings, as they are also not allowed to remove anything from your property.

As a debt collection agency, Direct Legal Collections are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FCA state that debt collection agencies cannot do any of the following:

  • Harass you regarding your debt
  • Lie to or mislead you about their powers
  • Threaten to seize any of your goods (illegal for them to do so anyway)
  • Threaten you with legal action – if it is unlikely to happen
  • Claim unfair or excessive collection charges

If you feel the collectors or the debt collection agency themselves are going against any of the above then you can make a complaint.

Your first complaint will have to be made to Direct Legal Collections themselves, giving them the opportunity to deal with the wrongdoings internally.

However, if you receive no response or the conduct does not improve then you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.

The Financial Ombudsman will investigate ongoings and make a decision as to what has happened – they can even get debt collection agencies to pay you money in compensation.

Why is a debt collection agency contacting you?

If Direct Legal Collections or any other debt collection agency have been in contact, this means that they have been requested by your original creditor to take over the management of the debt you owe.

You original credit broker may sell your debt and credit file to a debt collection agency as a last resort to get back the money or credit that you owe.

What if I can’t afford to pay back a debt?

Don’t threat, it’s best to stay calm. If your financial situation is poor you can talk to Direct Legal Collections about this and they may be willing to offer an extension or hold on any interest.

The first thing you should do after receiving a letter, call, text or email is to verify that you actually owe a debt to the collectors.

You can ask for proof and this will hold off all ongoings until proof is provided, as you will not have to repay anything until it is.

Then, contact a debt advisor. If you need debt help, they can provide their expertise and knowledge to assist you in where to go from here.

If you are not able to pay the debt in full it may be a good idea to contact the company who are working on the recovery of your debt.

You may be able to come to an agreement or repayment plan. This allows you to make affordable monthly payments towards your debt instead of having to pay one large sum of money upfront.

Most debt collection agencies know that they’re unlikely to recover all debt and therefore are willing to come up with a payment plan in order to get something rather than nothing.

When coming to a payment arrangement plan you have to know your budget. Ensure that you can afford to pay each month and that you don’t get led into having to pay back more money than you actually owe.

Can pay but won’t pay?

If you can pay but simply don’t want to settle your debts and decide to ignore all attempts at communication, then you’re giving your creditor the opportunity to take further legal action to enforce the debt you owe.

The issue can be taken to court. Court action will take place where a County Court Judgment (CCJ) will be applied for. This allows the collectors to force you to repay any credit you owe.

Further, they can also send bailiffs to your address to repay your debts by taking your belongings or forcing you to pay up.

Ideally, you want to avoid the stress of unnecessary court action and the possibility of bailiffs being sent to your address to take property or money.

How debt collectors can ruin your life:

The stress of excessive bothering and potential harassment through phone calls, letters, texts and emails can ruin people’s lives and wellbeing.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to stop all contact with collectors until you pay off your debt.

Thankfully, there are ways to make the number of phone calls, texts and emails much less bothersome.

Debt collection agencies are required to consider your contact preferences. Therefore, providing them with the details of your preferences, such as requesting that you only be contacted in letters will stop most if not all calls.

Providing contact times will force them to only call when you are free and able to deal with the situation if you don’t mind the calls.

Further, if you ask for breathing space or tell them that you are in the process of getting professional financial advice and help then they should give you some space and time.

More often than not you’ll find they will not contact you for around 30 days.

Getting in contact with neighbours and those close to you

Some debt collection agencies feel that they are above the law and regulations placed on them.

There has been a worrying rise in the number of cases in recent years where debtors are being harassed or made to feel uncomfortable.

The debt collectors begin to enforce unfair and unethical methods to try and intimidate the debtor.

Always remember, if a debt collection agency does anything that goes against FCA regulations then you are free to complain first of all to them, and then the Financial Ombudsman where you may be able to get compensation if they continue.

Automated call technology

Not answering the calls you’re receiving may sound like an easy solution, however, when calls go unanswered some debt collection agencies implement automated call technology.

This technology will make a call to you as often as the debt collection agency wants until you pick up. Your phone may start ringing every 30 minutes or every five minutes. If you find that this is happening to you then make sure you keep a note of how often the calls are being made.

This can be classed as harassment and goes against the guidelines set out by the Financial Conduct Authority, allowing you to get in contact with the Financial Ombudsman to make a complaint.

How to deal with debt collectors:

You’ll need to figure out a way to repay your debt. This can be done through a monthly payment plan, talk to a debt advisor to get the best advice on a plan of action to take.

Alternatively, you may be able to write off some if not all of the debt owed to a creditor if it is statute-barred or if you can come to an IVA arrangement.

Seek debt advisor help:

Talking to an advisor who has expert knowledge on the ways that debt collection agencies work may help to give you the upper hand in negotiations by understanding your debt and the rights you have.

Talking to an advisor will make the whole process a lot easier on yourself, no matter how much you owe to collectors.

They’re here to assist you in smoothly getting through what can be an extremely difficult time in life.

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Check if you really owe a debt collection company money:

Ask for proof

Asking for proof will delay all proceedings, giving you more time to mull over things or get in contact with a debt advisor.

Further, you don’t have to repay anything until proof is provided and if it is not provided then you won’t have to repay anything at all.

Statute-barred debts

After six years, debts in the UK may no longer need to be paid off as they are too old and cannot be discussed in a courtroom.

These debts are known as statute-barred debts.

The requirements are as follows:

  • The debt must be at least six years old
  • A CCJ must never have been issued
  • No payment must have been made during the last six years

If you’re being contacted about a debt that happens to apply to all of these requirements then you will be able to write a letter to the debt collection agency stating that the debt they’re asking for is statute-barred.

Templates can be found online for these types of letters, it may also be a good idea to suggest they never contact you about the debt again.

IVA agreements

If you have multiple debts or larger amounts of debts with multiple creditors then you might be able to reduce and waive up to 80% of your debt.

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) can be a good option for those who owe at least £15,000 worth of debt to a minimum of three financial providers.

Your creditor may be willing to come up with an Individual Voluntary Arrangement that usually lasts around five years.

The IVA contains a monthly fee which will have to be paid towards the debt for the length of the agreement, however, once this term expires whatever goes unpaid is waived by your creditor.

This amount can be lifesaving for many people, it’s a good idea to talk to your debt advisor about IVAs and the potential for implementing one if you have a large amount of debt with numerous collectors.

List of Debt Collection Agencies UK

Here is a list of all the debt collectors in the UK.

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