WARNING! DLC AKA Hillesden Securties

Abiware

Warning! Pink Postcards

I recently arrived home to find a little pink postcard on my doorstep asking me to call and speak to a 'co-ordinator' to arracnge for a 'representative' to call at my home. The Company address at the bottom was HILLESDEN SECURITIES. I didn't recogise the company name so looked it up on the internet and found that they are also known as Direct Legal Collections who i had been dealing with (a debt i had with Egg Banking had been passed to them). I also found that alot of other people have recieved these postcards.

Basicaly they try and trick you into calling them and arranging for a bailiff to come and visit your home. As i understand it they are like vampires - once you have let them into your home they can come back whenever they like!

Direct Legal Collections are a bunch of bullys! They will try and push you into paying in full or making monthly payments you can't afford! I have looked up their tactics on the National Debt Line website and they are not allowed under OFT guidelines! If you do deal with them don't let them push you around and if they do report them to the OFT.

Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!

smashedbooboo

Do not speak to them on the phone. A rep can call at your your house but they as many powers as a chocolate fireguard.

gilligansyle

Thought that DCA etc. had to put any correspondence in an envelope? Isn't that in their guidelines somewhere.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

DCA and guidlines do not go together when i went through my debt crisis i used to get thse card they were yellow though name of company on them and saying to ring urgently ??? and why would i ?? ,#another use to say we will be calling next tuesday another load of bo===ks becouse if they were the numptys wouldnt tell you they were comeing as you could if desired arrange to be out .

thedebtprofessor

Abiware wrote: »

Warning! Pink Postcards

I recently arrived home to find a little pink postcard on my doorstep asking me to call and speak to a 'co-ordinator' to arracnge for a 'representative' to call at my home. The Company address at the bottom was HILLESDEN SECURITIES. I didn't recogise the company name so looked it up on the internet and found that they are also known as Direct Legal Collections who i had been dealing with (a debt i had with Egg Banking had been passed to them). I also found that alot of other people have recieved these postcards.

Basicaly they try and trick you into calling them and arranging for a bailiff to come and visit your home. As i understand it they are like vampires - once you have let them into your home they can come back whenever they like!

Direct Legal Collections are a bunch of bullys! They will try and push you into paying in full or making monthly payments you can't afford! I have looked up their tactics on the National Debt Line website and they are not allowed under OFT guidelines! If you do deal with them don't let them push you around and if they do report them to the OFT.

Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!

the main aim of DLC is to try and collect the full outstanding balance as quickly as possible.

the pink postcard will have been sent because letters sent out on an automatic 'route' on client management systems have either not been responded to or you have offered an unsatisfactory payment arrangement.

the "call to arrange a visit from a representative" is designed for you to contact them to arrange payment, not to arrange a visit. DLC will very rarely arrange for a visit and if they do, it will not be from a court bailiff, rather a representative from an agency in your local area.

THEY DO NOT HAVE POWERS OF ENTRY INTO YOUR PROPERTY.

The only time someone can enter the property is once a court judgment has been obtained against you and you have defaulted under the judgment.

DLC will then apply to the court for a 'warrant of execution' for the bailiff to seize goods to the value of the debt + court costs.

In practice if you do not answer the door the court bailiff has no legal power of entry.

If however you open the door the bailiff will immediately stick their foot in so you cannot close it. Even if you are unaware of who the bailiff is this will be their first course of action, and is deemed by the judiciary as 'invitation to enter the property'

Again in practice a bailiff is unlikely to seize goods on the first visit, rather make a note of whats available to be sold at auction (exclusions apply including anything on HP agreements, tools of trade etc) and give you a final chance to arrange payments. If you then fail to make these you really are pushing your luck.

if you are eventually threatened with a warrant of execution and know nothing of it, you must assume you have a court judgment against you. At this point make an 'application to suspend the warrant' and make proposals for repayment on a monthly basis at a rate you can afford.

moral of the story, until you have a ccj and warrant of execution has been applied for the 'representative' has no legal right of entry and certainly no powers to seize goods from your property.

Unfortunatley under OFT guidelines DLC do have the right to attempt doorstep collection from your property but again, the 'representatives' have no legal right of entry. Complaints to the OFT will largely fall in favour of DLC as they do have good working practices.

I would however suggest you call and make offers of repayment as generally postcards are used as a last ditch tactic prior to legal action.

If all else fails prior to court action you always have the option of applying to the court for a time order under the consumer credit act. The court will make a decision on your application and assuming you maintain payments, dlc will not be able to take any further action until you default on your payments.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

thedebtprofessor

spacemonkey_uk

Hiya,

I've just received a pretty pink postcard with my address on but not my name. After reading the forum posts here - what actions should I take as I don't want random baliffs turning up to take my stuff for someone else's debts.

Any advice would be appreciated

TIA

ex_court_officer

Hello All,
Just a quick point of note: Hillesden Securities / DLC or any other company chancing debit need to provide proof to you so don’t provide date of birth or your full name. Do every thing by post send it by recorded delivery.
Plus use the tools that are out there to help you.

Go to the national debit line websit the information is free: (www)nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales (there are pre written letter for you to use.)
It’s not for you to prove you don’t owe any debit but for them to prove you do. If you do owe the debit face it this link can still help you get your life back online.
Good luck.

Whibbs

Been having a long o/s problem with Black Horse.
Debt pased around and around and going up and up.
I am skint - no way can I even aford a fiver a month.
Latest is that DLC phone me at work and asked me loads of questions.
My only reply was "sorry I do not wish to discuss this over the phone"
I put the phone down.
How heavy are thes guys and what do you reckon happens next?

saltnvinegar

spacemonkey_uk wrote: »

Hiya,

I don't want random baliffs turning up to take my stuff for someone else's debts.

Any advice would be appreciated

TIA

Baliffs are not random, they are appointed by the court when you default on a CCJ or other court order.

A door step representative is not a baliff and does not have the powers of a baliff (though they like you to think that)

If you get one one these pink postcards just use the standard doorstep collector letter in response. They will not waste their money sending a doorstep collector to someone who they know is not going to be easily intimidated.

Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

Please be advised that I will only communicate with you in writing. I have noted your repeated attempts to contact me over the past few weeks and these have been duly logged by time and date. Should it be your intention to arrange a doorstep visit, please be advised that under OFT rules, you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make such an appointment with you.

There is an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v Sheppard & Short Ltd [1959] 2 QB 384. per Lord Evershed M.R.). Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me at my property and, if you do so, you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass and action will be taken, including but not limited to, police attendance.

Yours faithfully
Sign digitally

SkintnScared

Hi all

Im just reading through your posts and have also received something from DLC. Mine is a Notice of Debt Recovery on behalf of Orange.

I received this yesterday and need to respond by tomorrow (thanks for giving me plenty of time!!!). I have been ringing Orange for months but can never get through to the relevent person and have also written with my offer of payment and not heard back.

Please can anyone advise what I should do? Ive never heard of a Notice of Debt Recovery and only have until tomorrow to respond to DLC.

Ive managed to sort all my other debts out with offers of payment which have been accepted, just dont know what to do about this one?

Many thanks

SnS

mrharry83

i have just recieved one of these dreaded pink postcards!
and yes it is partly my fault that it got this far, but when i rang up to discuss the situation the lady on the other end was rude and unhelpful! she spoke to me like i was a village idiot! and told me that i had to pay the full balance TODAY or get someone to pay it for me! when i told her that was not possible she said that it would go to court for a ccj!
i told her 'not to speak to me like a fool and not to use that tone of voice with me!' and 'i had phoned to sort it out' she then said that there was the option of setting up a direct debit.
as it was only a relatively small amount i decided to go with it!
she was less aggressive after i had told her not to speak to me like that and i feel the call was resolved relatively well!
DONT LET THEM BULLY YOU!
stand up to them and dont allow them to talk you down! if you feel they are being rude or unhelpful tell them! all there calls are recorded and make sure you get their name and desk number so if you need to you can complain!
i hope my little rant helps in some way!!
GOOD LUCK! X