Debt Collector Harassment: Complaint Letter Template

Looking to craft a letter to handle a debt-related issue? This is the place for you.

This guide explains how to complain about unreasonable collection contact and request a suitable way to communicate.

In this helpful guide, we’ll cover:

•  The use of our creditor harassment letter template.
•  Understanding what counts as creditor harassment.
•  Clarifying what doesn’t qualify as harassment by a creditor.
•  Ways to stop debt collectors from making phone calls.
•  The legality of debt collectors turning up at your doorstep.
• Where to get free debt advice and compare suitable options.

We understand the stress of dealing with debt and the anxiety that comes with creditor harassment. Let us help you with our practical advice and easy-to-use letter template. 

Letter Template

Dear complaints team,

Account reference: [reference]

Please treat this as a formal complaint about the way you are contacting me. The behaviour I am concerned about is [specific dates, frequency, words or actions and supporting evidence]. It has affected me by [explain briefly].

Please investigate and stop the unreasonable behaviour. My requested contact method and suitable times are [details and reasons]. Please also take account of [relevant accessibility or support needs].

Where FCA consumer-credit rules apply, please give due regard to reasonable requests about when, where and how you contact me. I understand that required notices may still need to be sent.

Please confirm the action you will take, your complaint decision and any applicable independent escalation route.

Yours faithfully, [name]

Downloadable Resource

The download links below take you to a Google document template where you can make a copy or save in any document format you like. Note, you may have to login to your Google account.

Download

What is considered harassment?

Collection contact may be unreasonable or amount to harassment depending on its frequency, timing, content and circumstances. There is no universal rule that one contact every day is automatically a criminal offence. Threats, intimidation and oppressive repeated contact should be documented and reported through the appropriate route.

A collector must not threaten to shame you or unfairly disclose your debt to relatives, neighbours or colleagues. Lawful disclosure can occur in particular circumstances, such as to an authorised representative or under a legal duty, so an absolute ban on every third-party disclosure is inaccurate.

What doesn’t count?

Reasonable payment reminders and necessary legal notices are not automatically harassment. Consider the content and overall pattern of contact.

Can you stop debt collectors from calling?

For regulated consumer credit collection, FCA rules require firms to give due regard to reasonable requests about when, where and how they contact you. You can ask for letters or emails instead of calls and explain any health or accessibility needs. This is not an automatic ban on every call or required notice. Keep a record of unreasonable contact and complain if your request is not properly considered.

Advertisement

About The Debt Advice Service

Use the enquiry form to request a call about your circumstances and available options. You decide whether to proceed.

Continue to the enquiry form

Advertisement. MoneyNerd introduces enquiries; we do not give debt advice or recommend solutions. The Debt Advice Service, a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited, offers free debt advice with no obligation. Complete the enquiry form to share your details and request a call.

Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service. For free, impartial guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.

How do I stop the harassing phone calls?

Explain reasonable preferences and why they are needed in writing, then keep a copy. A request for written communication does not cancel the debt or guarantee that every call or statutory notice must stop.

Complain to the firm first and keep copies and call logs. For an eligible regulated financial complaint, you can normally approach the Financial Ombudsman Service after a final response or after eight weeks without one, usually within six months of the final response. The Ombudsman can require a remedy or compensation; it does not impose regulatory fines. Tax, council and other non-credit debts may have different complaint routes.

Can they turn up on your doorstep?

You can refuse entry to an ordinary debt collector and ask them to leave. If there is threatening behaviour or an immediate safety risk, contact the police. Genuine legal notices still need attention.

Ordinary collectors have no powers to seize goods. Enforcement agents need appropriate authority and must follow entry rules; an ordinary civil money judgment does not generally permit forced first entry into a home. Complaints about enforcement can have a different route from FCA-regulated credit collection.