Doorstep debt collectors and balliffs - the same??

debtman2007

I'm confused by the two terms. i have been threatened with a door step collection for my Barcleycard. Can they come in to my home and take stuff away??

fermi

debtman2007 wrote: »

I'm confused by the two terms. i have been threatened with a door step collection for my Barcleycard. Can they come in to my home and take stuff away??

No, "Doorstep Collector" means an employee or agent of the creditor or DCA. They have no more powers than the paper-boy. They can knock on your door and ask you to pay, but if you tell them to 'sling their hook' then they must do so. If they don't then ring the police.

Real bailiffs can only become involved for a consumer credit debt once you have a court judgement against you, and then only if you have failed to abide by the terms of the judgement.

Don't let silly threats like this scare you. In most cases no one turns up anyway.

Larumbelle

NO. The two are very different. Doorstep collectors can come and politely ask for their money back and not a lot else.

Bailiffs have to be backed by a court order and even then you have to let them into your house before they can take anything away.

There are strict rules governing both, although you need to know their rights and stop them walking all over you. In my experience Barclaycard pull the doorstep collectors off fairly quick if you phone them, explain the situation, and make an arrangement to clear the arrears over a period of months.

Is this a symptom of a bigger debt problem? If so, post the details and see how we can help you.

debtman2007

oh thank you both so much. Just thise two posts will have me sleepng easier tonight. I have been very worried about this all day.

I received a letter today from Merchers Debt collection they said i should phone them immediately which i did. I'm £313 in arrears on my Barclaycard. They said minimum they could take was £50. I only have £21 left in my account until im paid again. she said this wouldn't be enough and will arrange for a doorstep collector to come to my house. this is when i started to panic(i thought this meant balliffs). I could pay it with another credit card but i dont feel this is the way forward. Also she said if i pay the £50 then the accoun will go back into teh hands of Barclaycard.

how long would it take for them to arrange the collector to come. I'm also sure she said they would phone first as well.

fermi

Don't worry about the threat of a doorstep collector. It's normally an idle threat, and as you now know a pointless one as well.

By the way, Mercers are Barclays/Barclaycard. They are not separate but are actually a part of them. So as far as the debt being "passed" back to Barclays is concerned, it would only probably require a short walk across the office with the file. In others words, more rubbish to try and scare you.

debtman2007

well the 'scare' tactic certianly worked earlier. cheeky gits.
i was going to explain to them that just because someone comes to my house doesn't mean that enough money will magically appear. i just haven't got it. muppets. thanks for your help. i had enough for today. i have collated all my info and will be contacting CCCS tomorrow. i have avoided it for far too long now.

Larumbelle

:T good for you debtman!

It makes me sick the way they try and intimidate people in this way.