Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors – Should You Pay? 

Looking for info on Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors? You’re in the right place. Every month, over 170,000 people visit our website for guidance on their debt problems.

Your worries about a bailiff visiting your home or taking your things are understood here. We know dealing with debt can be very stressful, as Citizens Advice estimate households have around £18.9 billion in unpaid bills like council tax and utilities¹. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll explain:

•  How to check if the debt is truly yours. If not, you don’t have to pay!
•  What to do if you get a debt letter from Equita.
•  The reason Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors might be contacting you.
•  Whether you can write off some of your debt.
•  How to handle it if a bailiff comes to your home.

Our team knows what it’s like to deal with debt collectors. We’ve been there, so we understand how you’re feeling.

Keep reading to learn more about dealing with Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors.

What is the reason for the contact by Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors?

You may not have heard of Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors before, and you might be wondering why they are chasing you about debt.

These debt companies are chasing money on behalf of other organisations you owe the money to.

So, although you don’t owe them directly, they have the right to chase up the debt. They buy the debt from other companies, such as banks, energy companies etc, and they make money when you pay up.

Although contact by these debt collectors is frustrating, you still need to speak to them and sort out the outstanding money.

StepChange found that over half of their respondents say dealing with bailiffs made paying off their debt more difficult. Many say that they had to take out more credit to pay the bailiffs².

What’s the first thing to do if I get a debt letter?

The first step in getting your debt sorted from Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors is to ensure you actually owe the debt. If you don’t recognise it, ask them to send evidence, such as the original credit agreement. They should be able to prove the debt, with a breakdown of what you owe. You may find that the value is higher than you thought, due to interest and late payments.

You can use my free ‘prove it’ letter template to write to Equita and request proof. You are under no obligation to pay for a debt that can’t be proven to be yours.

What if I’ve had evidence that the debt is mine?

If it has been 6 years – or 5 years in Scotland – since you last paid towards your unsecured debts and you have not written to your creditor about your debt during this time, it is statute-barred.

This means that the debt is not enforceable. It still technically exists, and you still technically owe the money, but there is no legal way for you to be forced to pay or for the debt to be enforced.

Keep in mind that not all debts become statute-barred!

Any HMRC debts, for example, will stay enforceable for decades. Any debt that had a County Court Judgement (CCJ) attached to it during the 5 or 6-year window it will be enforceable for the duration of the CCJ. 

If your debt is statute-barred, you can use my free letter template to write to Equita Bailiffs and explain the situation.If you are unsure about the status of your debt, you can contact a debt charity for some advice. Their advisors will be able to look at the debt in question, determine its status, and advise you on your next steps.

Should you pay the debt back?

If you owe the money to Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors, you should make arrangements to pay it back.

Our financial expert, Janine Marsh, advises: ‘If a bailiff has proven you owe money and you don’t have cash to hand, you’re within your rights to suggest a payment plan. It’s not a guarantee, but many will accept this as it’s easier than repossession.

Please bear in mind that they may ask for proof of your income and expenditure.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Why you should pay back the debt from Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors

If you are wondering if you really need to pay back Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors, these are some reasons why you should make payments.

It will save you some stress

Debt is stressful and if Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors are constantly trying to reach you, it will cause you a great deal of stress.

If you can pay the debt, you should do this as, if nothing else, it will stop the constant phone calls and other contact by the debt collection company.

Do not let debt collectors bully you into paying back more than you can afford, make sure it is a realistic amount that works for you, after you have covered your important bills, such as your rent and energy bills.

If you have spoken to Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors and they are causing you to stress or you feel they are being unfair in their practices, you can speak to the Financial Ombudsman about your concerns.

You can reach them by phone on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123

Your credit rating will be affected

If you fail to make payments towards your debt, it can affect your credit rating, even if the debt is relatively small.

This will make it more difficult to get credit in the future. The sooner you start payments, the earlier your credit score will start to repair itself.

Stop your credit rating from dropping by dealing with your debt head-on now.

There are multiple debt solutions that will help you overcome debt and allow you to start building up your credit once more.

Know Your Rights

Although bailiffs have a certain degree of authority, it’s important that you know their rights and yours when dealing with them. This way, you won’t be taken advantage of, and you can deal with the situation in a much more effective way.

Here’s a quick table summarizing what bailiffs can and can’t do.

Bailiffs Can	But They Can’t
Call and visit your home multiple times, any day of the week.	Visit your workplace (if you are not self-employed)
Take items from your home. These items have to be considered ‘luxury’.	Take essential items from your home. This includes beds, clothing, and work equipment.
Use ANPR technology and DVLA information to locate your car and take it.	Enter your home without permission unless they have a warrant to force entry for a CCJ.
Peacefully enter your property.	Harass or threaten you.
Issue notices to those who owe a debt.	Take items that belong to someone else. However, they may be able to seize jointly owned property.
Offer to conduct a Virtual Controlled Goods Agreement (rather than in-person). This will typically be offered to vulnerable people.	Sell goods they have seized at auction until seven clear days have passed.

How do I Make a Complaint about Bailiffs?

If you think that Equita Bailiffs has been unreasonable or behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint. You can also make a complaint if you feel that they have broken any of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines.

Make your first complaint to Equita Bailiffs so that they have the chance to sort out the issue themselves. If you feel that they have not taken your complaint seriously enough or have not addressed your issue properly, you can escalate matters.

You can make any secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will investigate and, if your complaint is upheld, Equita Bailiffs may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

You can also make a complaint to the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA) if you think that Equita Bailiffs has broken any of their guidelines.

Can I Get a Debt Solution?

If you are dealing with Equita Bailiffs or have other unsecured debts that you are struggling to pay, you might benefit from a debt solution.

There are several different debt solutions available in the UK, so I recommend speaking to a debt charity as soon as possible. Their advisors will be able to look at your finances in detail and help you work out which debt solution will work best for you.

I have linked a few charities that offer these debt advice services for free below.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is an informal debt solution that lets you pay off your debts via a single monthly payment.

Because it is informal, it is not legally binding so you are not tied into a DMP for a minimum number of payments.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors. You agree to pay a monthly sum that is distributed amongst your debts, and your creditors agree not to contact you during your IVA.

IVAs typically last for 5 or 6 years, and any outstanding debt is wiped off when it ends.

Keep in mind that IVAs are not suitable for everyone. You need to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor to be eligible. You also need to demonstrate that you have some disposable income every month.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. Instead, you will need to opt for a Trust Deed.

Trust Deeds work in the same way as an IVA – you pay an agreed sum each month that is shared amongst your creditors, they can’t contact you, and any leftover debt at the end of your Trust Deed term is written off.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a good option for those facing financial hardship with no assets and little income.

For 12 months, you make no payments, but your creditors freeze your interest and don’t contact you.

If your finances haven’t improved during this year, you may be able to write off your unsecured debts.

Bankruptcy

If you have debts but no realistic possibility of ever paying them off, you may need to declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy has an unfair stigma attached to it as it may be your only way of getting a financial fresh start. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.

Sequestration

Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy.

If you have little income and no valuable assets, you may be able to apply for a minimal asset process bankruptcy (MAP). A MAP is a quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward version of sequestration, so worth considering.

The new debt breathing space scheme

You might be worried about further debt letters from PO Box 123 Burton on Trent while you try to find a solution. You could benefit from the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) from the government.

The Breathing Space scheme gives you a moment to get some advice or even start a debt solution. It started in May 2021 and gives you 60 days of no added fees, added interest, or enforcement action once you have passed the eligibility checks.

There are two types of breathing space that you can apply for:

• A standard breathing space: available for anyone with debt problems. It lasts for 60 days.

A mental health crisis breathing space: available to those who are receiving mental health crisis treatment. It lasts for however long treatment takes, plus 30 days.

Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors Contact Details

Website:	https://equita.co.uk/
Phone number:	01604 628 360
Address:	Equita Ltd, 42-44 Henry Street, Northampton, NN1 4BZ
Email Address:	[email protected]
Pay online:	https://equita.co.uk/customer-portal/make-a-payment/
Online Enquiry for Outstanding Account	https://equita.co.uk/contact-us/outstanding-account/

References

1. Citizens Advice – Debt Statistics and Bailiff Issues
2. StepChange – Creditor and Debt Collector Conduct

Schedule 12, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcements Act, 2007

Part 1, Regulation 10, Certification of enforcement agents, 2014.

Gov.uk, CPR – Rules and Directions, 2018.