dca at door, please help

mandyl

hi
can anyone help please?
just had moorcroft at my door and im really upset. i didnt let them in but he tried to put his foot in the door. its dark and im on my own. im really frightened. also can he touch my motorbike which is outside in the car park? its not a debt that can allow balliffs but im not sure who it is as i have so many. sorry if it doesnt make sense im just frightened

worried_jim

They have no powers of entry or to touch your bike. Close the door and don't speak to them except to say that you are calling the police if they don't stop trespassing on your property.

snoop2008

So sorry to hear this, can you ring a friend or someone you know just so that you don't feel alone. I am sorry , but I do not know much about what a Baliff can or can't do. I hope someone who is more informed will come along soon and give you some advice , if only to give you peace of mind.

worried_jim

snoop2008 wrote: »

So sorry to hear this, can you ring a friend or someone you know just so that you don't feel alone. I am sorry , but I do not know much about what a Baliff can or can't do. I hope someone who is more informed will come along soon and give you some advice , if only to give you peace of mind.

They are NOT bailiffs, tell them to 'eff off.

fermi

They can't do a thing.

The mustn't touch your bike either.

If they try again, just tell them to bog off.

snoop2008

Misunderstanding WorriedJim. I concentrated so much on the OP, being afraid, I hope she is ok.

pure_dead_dopey

if he's from Moorcroft, he is a DCA representative, has about as much rights to put his foot in the door as the milkman = none.
Don't answer if he comes back (he probably won't though) and call the police, if you have asked him to leave and he doesn't he's trespassing, as Jim says.

fermi

From the Office of Fair Trading

Debt collection guidance July 2003 (updated December 2006)

Debt collection visits

2.11 Those visiting debtors must not act in an unclear or threatening manner.

2.12 Examples of unfair practices are:

a. not making the purpose of any proposed visit clear, for example, merely stating that collectors or field agents will call is not sufficient

b. visiting a debtor when it is known they are vulnerable, for example, when a doctor's certificate has been provided stating that the debtor is ill

c. continuing with a visit when it becomes apparent that the debtor is distressed or otherwise vulnerable, for example, it becomes apparent that the debtor has mental health problems

d. entering a property uninvited

e. not leaving a property when asked to

f. visiting or threatening to visit debtors without prior agreement when the debt is deadlocked or disputed

g. not giving adequate notice of the time and date of a visit

h. visiting debtors, unless requested, at inappropriate locations such as work or hospital.

CLARIFICATION NOTE

Debt Collection visits

Paragraphs 2.12f and 2.12 g of the Debt collection guidance

Both these paragraphs relate to debt collection visits.

We have clarified the context for these provisions and defined the terms we use as follows:

Our aim is to ensure that visits are not used in a threatening way. We have seen examples of letters and other communications where debt collectors refer to visits in vague and/or threatening ways and cases where visits are not appropriate.

2.12f: Visiting or threatening to visit debtors without prior agreement when the debt is deadlocked or disputed.

By 'deadlocked' we mean where a debtor (or debtor’s adviser) agrees there is a debt and has offered a repayment programme which has not been agreed by the creditor or debt collector. We are not saying that any offer must be accepted but we have seen cases where offers are disregarded and a debtor is told that 'we are sending field agents'. Many debtors are unlikely to understand this term and are likely to view the visit as a threat designed to make them offer more money when they can pay no more. Some letters appear to be designed to give this impression.

By 'disputed' we mean genuinely disputed. We are not seeking to protect 'won’t pays' but those who are being pursued for a debt they do not owe or genuinely believe they do not owe. Debt collectors who can show that the debt is due and that any dispute has been looked into and the debt confirmed will not be in breach of this provision.

2.12g: Not giving adequate notice of the time and date of a visit

When a door-to-door debt collector makes an initial home visit to a debtor it may not always be possible for them to give adequate notice of the time and date of that visit. This is not necessarily unfair.

The key word is adequate. This was inserted to ensure that what the debtor regarded as adequate was key.

What is adequate will vary from debtor to debtor. When initial contact is made a debtor may be happy to speak to the debt collector there and then.

If that is the case the visit would not be unfair. Where a debtor prefers to use that first visit to agree to a future visit at a more convenient time a debt collector should respect their wishes. A debtor may prefer to do so at a later date so they can seek advice about their situation or arrange for a third party to be there. What is important is that a debtor is given enough time to prepare. They should never be coerced into immediate discussions.

saltnvinegar

If this idiot has tried to put his foot in the door to try to prevent you from closing it then you must do the following:

Report his behaviour to this police, whether he has left or not. You may have to get a bit pushy with them but you are alone in your house and what you're after is a crime reference number...

Make a complaint to Moorcroft, stating that you have reported their representative to the police and you have a crime reference number.

Make a complaint to the OFT regards the above.

Its really important that you do this as otherwise this morons will continue to behave in this way and think they can get away with it.

Other answers are correct - This moron was simply DCA doorstep collector scum. He actually has less rights than a milkman and if a stranger had appeared on your doorstep and tried to put their foot on the door you would have called the police right? This is no different.

They have no powers in terms of touching your motorbike, and cannot remove your property. They also have no right to enter your home.

Best

SnV

sandrafletcher

I would be petrified too! What a tool!!

wookiebob

Hi Mandy, hope you are ok and feel a little calmer. THe advice abive is excellent, hopefully you will feel more settled now you know the above. xx