Debt Collectors Practices

macman

So all the debt collector has to say is: 'excuse me but can you tell me the way to...'

macman

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Many people have a compulsory right of entry to your home. Debt collectors don't though.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8557605.stm

But we're not discussing a right of entry into the home. We're discussing if it's lawful for them to reach the front door.

FireWyrm

macman wrote: »

But we're not discussing a right of entry into the home. We're discussing if it's lawful for them to reach the front door.

Technically it isnt. If you were to gate the entrance to your property and require access via an intercom, this wouldnt seem strange. It's the same principle, just without the gate. Your property doesnt start and end at your front door, it covers the ground around it up to the public path and road. It's why conveyancing solicitors are needed to establish rights of entry across commonly shared land.

In common practice, most people arn't aware of their rights in this regard so do not exercise them. We let the postie and the milkman come to the door because they are providing a service, but when such access becomes harrassment, you are well within your rights to explictly forbid them and to bring charges against them for doing so.

Acremead

One trick to be aware of: debt collectors do not have right of entry unless invited in by you. If the debt collector makes a seemingly harmless request, such as asking to come in for a drink of water, and you allow them in, that counts in law as you 'inviting them in'.

peajiphy

The guy actually came to my place last night and asked for my daughter. I live in a block of flats and there's a problem with the front door lock so he just opened it and knocked on my flat door when he really should have pressed the buzzer for the main door. Anyways, I said she didn't live here any more so he just handed me a sealed envelope to give her, then left. It was basically just his name and phone number, no mention of debt, although we knew what it was. Thing is, he never asked me if I could give him her new address, which makes me think he never believed me. This morning my daughter got a voicemail from him, basically saying that she would be silly to have a third party like CAB act for her and she'd be far better dealing with him directly, like she's that nieve. He also said he would call to see her this evening between nine and ten. I'm going to enjoy telling him, again, that she doesn't live here, and even more, that I won't give him her new address, and that she will indeed have CAB act for her. The debt has to be paid, she knows that. What she doesn't have to do is deal with a bully.

vax2002

I would just let the Spaniel out, he can do the gate in less than a second.
I doubt the debt collector would, but I bet he would come close...

barbiedoll

Tell your daughter to send this letter to the DCA........

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=23635529&postcount=59

She can remove the bit about contact if it's not relevant, although it may be worth editing the letter to state that she wants all contact in writing, just in case they start getting silly with the phone calls! Make sure that she sends it via recorded delivery.

Gordon_Hose

peajiphy wrote: »

The guy actually came to my place last night and asked for my daughter. I live in a block of flats and there's a problem with the front door lock so he just opened it and knocked on my flat door when he really should have pressed the buzzer for the main door. Anyways, I said she didn't live here any more so he just handed me a sealed envelope to give her, then left. It was basically just his name and phone number, no mention of debt, although we knew what it was. Thing is, he never asked me if I could give him her new address, which makes me think he never believed me. This morning my daughter got a voicemail from him, basically saying that she would be silly to have a third party like CAB act for her and she'd be far better dealing with him directly, like she's that nieve. He also said he would call to see her this evening between nine and ten. I'm going to enjoy telling him, again, that she doesn't live here, and even more, that I won't give him her new address, and that she will indeed have CAB act for her. The debt has to be paid, she knows that. What she doesn't have to do is deal with a bully.

I wouldn't accept anything from him tbh.

All you need to do is say she doesn't live there and close the door.

adouglasmhor

macman wrote: »

But we're not discussing a right of entry into the home. We're discussing if it's lawful for them to reach the front door.

Well if you were clever enough to read the link you would see it says access to land as well. But you weren't.

adouglasmhor

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

No-one, obviously. However, it is true that to be able to call at your house they require an appointment. They can't just turn up unannounced. So you'd either need to agree to an appointment, thus inviting them round.

Not sure what the issue with what I posted is?

Nice cup of tea, some heavy duty cable ties and a Hessian sack...

That you made it up?

You can off course put up a no trespassers or no entry without permission sign though.