The Ultimate Guide to JTR Collections

Have you been receiving letters and calls from JTR Collections Ltd? Are you unsure who they are and what it is they really want?

Then you are not alone.

Do Not Speak to JTR Collections Until You Know About This

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JTR Collections is a debt collection agency that reclaims debts for various companies. So, if you hear from them, it tends to suggest you have debt owed.

Having debt over your head can be extremely worrying and cause mental health problems. So, it is important to speak with a debt advisory service as soon as you know that you won’t meet any payments.

This ultimate guide will cover everything you need to know about dealing with JTR bailiffs and what debt collectors have the power to do.

Who is JTR Collections?

JTR are a bailiff company registered with the Swansea Civil Justice Centre.

They are involved in a range of debt collections, including:

  • Unpaid council tax.
  • Civil parking enforcement.
  • Housing benefit overpayments.
  • Tenant arrears.
  • Sundry debts.

The list above notes a few, but not all, of the debt services that they offer to local authorities.

How do I get in contact with JTR?

You can contact JTR to discuss your debt or make a complaint via the following methods:

Please note that JTR Collections Ltd’s opening hours are Monday to Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM.

If you have any queries or would like to file a complaint, contact them within business hours.

Are they a legitimate company?

Yes, JTR Collections Ltd is a legitimate company regulated by the CIVEA Code of Practice For Enforcement.

As they are a real enforcement company, you must respond to any forms of communication that they send you.

Failure to respond to their letters or calls could result in further action or charges.

Why is JTR contacting me?

If you have been receiving calls or home visits from JTR Collections, then it suggests you have outstanding debts to another company, and JTR has been enlisted to chase the money on their behalf.

Usually, JTR collects any unpaid council tax, parking tickets, housing benefit overpayments, and other debts owed to a local authority.

So, you might want to check if you have failed to meet any repayments owed to your local council, which might be why JTR is chasing you.

Should I ignore JTR collections debt?

No, you should never ignore JTR Ltd’s debts or their attempts at communication. Sticking your head in the sand will only lead to much worse problems, such as bankruptcy.

Previous debtors that have had to deal with JTR have been vocal about how persistent their team of bailiffs are. The more you ignore them, the more calls, letters, and charges you could incur.

Get a Proof of Debt

However, just because you shouldn’t ignore them does not mean you should pay them immediately.

Always ensure the debt is 100% yours before making any payments; you can do this by requesting a Proof of Debt letter.

A Proof of Debt forces the bailiff company to provide you with evidence and proof that the debt in question is yours.

If JTR cannot provide you with a Proof of Debt document, then do not pay any money to them.

Check if the debt is statute-barred

If your debt has not been chased in over six years and you have made any repayments within this time frame, your debt could be deemed as statute-barred.

Your creditors are no longer legally permitted to chase your debt as it is deemed written off.

Will JTR Collectors come to my house?

If your debt to JTR Collections remains outstanding, then debt collection agents may be sent to your property to demand payment.

You do not need to let a debt collector into your home, and they cannot force entry without your permission.

If you do not wish to let the debt collector into your home, close your door and lock it. If you wish, you can have a conversation with them through a window instead.

You are permitted to ask them to leave your property and instead contact you via email or phone. If they refuse to go, then you should call the police.

Only a bailiff with a warrant can enter your property without permission, so if the agent pretends to be a bailiff, make sure you ask for a valid ID and permit.

If the agent cannot produce these documents, they are violating the law, and you can file a complaint.

What can JTR Collections do?

You must make yourself aware of what debt collection agents can and cannot do to protect yourself from collectors that might be trying to manipulate you.

To be clear, JTR collection agents can take the following action:

  • They can visit your premises and ask for payment.
  • They can contact you via phone, email, or post.
  • They can add interest or additional charges to your debts.
  • They can send bailiffs to your home to seize assets, normally as a last resort.
  • They can file for a County Court Judgement if you continually miss payments.

The above practices are legal. However, there are times when a collection agent pretends to have powers that they do not possess.

Keep reading to learn about what JTR collection agents are not permitted to do when trying to deal with clients and reclaim money from a home visit.

What can’t JTR Collections do?

JTR Collections are not permitted to do the following:

  • Use confusing legal jargon to manipulate you.
  • Lie or provide misleading information about your debt.
  • Expose details of your debt to anyone else but yourself.
  • Threaten, harass, or intimidate you with an excessive number of calls or letters.

If JTR has misconducted themselves or behaved in a way that has caused you stress or fear, then you should file a formal complaint using any of the contact methods listed above.

What happens if I don’t pay JTR?

If you continue to refuse to make your repayments towards your JTR Collections debt, then additional action may be taken.

You might receive further calls and letters suggesting you make your repayments.

You might receive multiple enforcement agent visits, encouraging you to make your debt repayments or set up a repayment plan.

You might even be threatened with court action, such as a County Court Judgement, an Order for Sale, or potential bankruptcy.

Find out how to get a County Court Judgement discharged!

To avoid any legal troubles, it is crucial to try and pay your fees as soon as possible.

Do Not Let JTR Collections Into Your House Until You Know About This

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Can JTR remove items from my home?

If you allow a JTR enforcement agent into your home, then they may be able to take non-essential possessions as collateral.

If you refuse to let the JTR collector into your property, they might take assets left outside, such as vehicles and luxury garden equipment.

Assets that debt collectors are permitted to remove include luxury, non-essential items, including televisions and jewellery.

Debt enforcement agents are not allowed to take essential items, such as the following:

  • Microwaves or other essential cooking appliances.
  • Personal medication or medical equipment.
  • Any animals, including guide dogs.
  • Blue Badge vehicles.
  • Work equipment, up to a total cost of £1,350.
  • Assets that do not belong to the debtor.

JTR Collections Ltd fees

All debt charges are set by the Ministry of Justice and are regulated by the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2014.

The charges are as follows for the debt collection process:

  • Compliance – The charge is £75.
  • Enforcement – The charge is £235 (plus 7.5% of the value of the debt over £1,500).
  • Sale – The charge is £110 (plus 7.5% of the value of the debt over £1,500).

How can I make a payment to JTR Collections for my debt owed?

You can make an instalment to JTR towards your debts via the following options:

  • Pay over the phone to a JTR operator.
  • Use the 24-hour IVR line.
  • Make a bank transfer using the sort code 30-92-90 and account number 27551760.
  • Go to a pay point.
  • Pay a debt enforcement agent when they carry out a home visit.
  • Make an instalment online using the payment portal on their website.

You can use any of the methods above to repay part or all of your debts to JTR.

How to make a complaint about a JTR collection agent

The best way to complain about JTR is to send a letter detailing your personal situation or bad experience in writing to PO Box 7672, Wellingborough, NN8 9GW Covering England and Wales.

If your letter of complaint is not handled to your level of satisfaction, then you can request that your complaint is escalated to the company director.

If, after the directors have reviewed your complaint, you are still not happy, then you can send your complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

The LGSCO is a free service independent of the local councils, so they can provide an impartial perspective and make a resolution based on all the information submitted.

How can I stop JTR?

You can try and prevent your situation from worsening by attempting to repay the money owed as soon as possible.

You should try and seek qualified money advice from a debt advice charity. Remember, you should never have to pay for JTR Collections debt advice.

The best way to ensure you don’t fall further into council tax debt is to communicate with JTR, explaining that you are struggling to meet their demands.

If you are honest, they are more likely to support you as it will show them you want to make your repayments but cannot afford the costs.

Keep reading to learn about the best debt solutions available.

What if I can’t pay JTR?

If you struggle to keep paying your debts off each month, you might want to explore what debt solutions could help.

Debt management plan

If your debts are becoming unmanageable, then you might consider a DMP, as a debt solution.

A DMP is an informal arrangement that allows the debtors to freeze their interest rates and make lower monthly instalments to help them catch up.

Debt advisory services help their clients and customers find the best possible service and solution to help them keep paying off their debts with instalments they can afford.

Debt relief order

A debt relief order stops your debt repayments for an entire year, allowing you to save money.

This debt solution can be an amazing help to clients and debtors that are finding it difficult to meet their monthly instalments or have been dealing with persistent debt collectors.

If you want to learn more about how a debt relief order could help you, reach out today to a debt help charity.

Declare bankruptcy

Declaring yourself as bankrupt is only an option if your JTR Collections debt exceeds £5,000.

However, this debt solution should only be considered a last resort as submitting yourself to bankruptcy can have significant repercussions for other areas of your finances. You should always consider alternatives to bankruptcy.

There is a fine line, and you should seek qualified money advice first, as a bankruptcy order can negatively affect your credit report.

Seek debt advice

Always contact a debt help charity for qualified advice. They can help you select the most suitable debt solutions that could pull you out of financial struggles.

Debt help sites and services are always free, you should not have to pay a fee.

You don’t have to accept debt as a part of your life, you can live in a debt-free world if you take the right steps to help yourself.

Check out our list of the best possible debt-help charities.

FAQs

What if the JTR letter isn’t for me?

If you don’t believe the letter you have received is for you, then you should get in touch with JTR’s customer service team.

Mistakes happen, and the letter may be for the previous tenant at your address, so by letting JTR know that they have confused their customers, you will stop receiving letters, and the real owner of the debt can start repaying their loans.

If you have links to the debt owner, providing their details to JTR will help them rectify the mix-up.

I have made an arrangement but cannot afford to keep paying regularly

As soon as you know that you won’t be able to meet your monthly repayment plan, you should make JTR aware.

They may allow you some room with your instalments and let you make lower repayments.

You might also want to seek a suitable debt solution that will allow you to adjust your current plan and help you make room to pay the rest of your debt off.

Summary

JTR Collections are debt collectors that retrieve unpaid loans for local authorities or councils.

If you have received a letter or call from JTR, it will mean you have outstanding debts owed to your council or another company.

It is important to respond to their communications to avoid the situation escalating.

Always speak with a professional debt help charity if you have fallen into arrears, as they can help you find a suitable resolution.

List of Debt Collection Agencies UK

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

Debt Collectors

Before speaking and dealing with a debt recovery company we strongly advise you speak to the debt advisor and take the debt quiz.

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