Alex M Adamson Debt: Here’s Whether You Should Pay 

Are you unsure about the letter you received from Alex M Adamson Debt Collection? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. This article will answer your questions and guide you on what to do next.

Every month, over 170,000 people come to our website for advice on debt issues just like this one. You are not alone. We understand how confusing and worrying it can be to receive a debt collection letter, especially when you’re not sure where the debt came from.

In this article, we will explain:

• How to check if Alex M Adamson Debt Collection is real.
• What to do if you can’t afford to pay.
• How to stop Alex M Adamson from contacting you too much.
• Ways to set up a payment plan or even cancel some of your debt.

Our team has personal experience with debt collectors, so we know how you might be feeling right now. We’re here to offer guidance and useful information, so let’s start figuring out your options together.

Is Alex M Adamson Debt Collection Genuine?

Yes, Alex M Adamson Debt Collection is a genuine company working in the debt collection industry since 1960. They have five offices within Scotland, with their Alex M Adamson Falkirk branch being the most recognised.

Some debt collection agencies can only chase debts and obtain a CCJ to collect the debt by going to court. Alex M Adamson Debt Collection offer this service, but they are also:

• Sheriff court officers
• Messengers-at-Arms

What Is a Sheriff Court Officer?

A sheriff officer is a worker for the Scottish Sheriff Court, which is responsible for enforcing court orders or serving documents, i.e. letters to say that debtors are being taken to court or must pay the debt.

A sheriff court officer can only work within the local jurisdiction. For example, the AMA Falkirk office is only a Falkirk sheriff court officer for the local area. This is why they have more offices in other locations (to expand their services nationwide).

What Is a Messenger-at-Arms?

A messenger-at-arms is almost identical to a sheriff court officer. However, while the latter can only operate within a specified jurisdiction, a messenger-of-arms can serve papers and enforce court orders throughout the whole of Scotland.

This used to be a job title called officers of the King.

Dealing with an AMA Debt Letter

The debt letter you received from Alex M Adamson Debt Collection is a letter that requests payment by a certain date and if the money is not paid, they state they will take you to court. These letters are scary and can cause depression and anxiety.

But you don’t always have to pay straight away. You can use the formal process to your advantage…

Ask Alex M Adamson to Prove the Debt

You should write back to Alex M Adamson Debt Collection and request proof that you owe the debt. You should not do this if they already provided proof (e.g. a signed agreement/contract) or if your debt is statute barred (see the end of this guide).

Did AMA Debt Collection Prove the Debt?

No…

Alex M Adamson Debt Collection is required to provide proof for the debt to be enforceable. You can ask for this proof by sending a letter asking them to supply the evidence or not contact you again. You can state that future letters without proof are classed as harassment and such harassment will be reported to the FCA.

If you struggle to write a prove the debt letter, you can always use one of the many great templates found on debt charity websites and debt forums.

Here is one prove the debt letter template from the National Debtline.

Yes…

If Alex M Adamson Debt Collection did provide proof in the first letter they sent or the following letter, you will be responsible for paying the money owed or could face legal action.

There is more than one way to approach your debt.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Ways to Deal with Your Alex M Adamson Debt

The ways to deal with your debt are extensive and the best one for you will depend on personal circumstances, such as:

• Your income
• If you have other debts
• The amount of the debt
• Your assets

If you can pay off the debt in one payment without issues, it is strongly recommended to do so. Clearing debt can be good for your stress levels, credit score and may help to avoid interest fees.

If you can’t pay Alex M Adamson Debt Collection all of the money, you could…

1.      Ask Alex M Adamson Debt Collection for a Payment Plan

Alex M Adamson Debt Collection is known to agree payment plans with their debtors. You can do the same to spread out the costs of your repayment into more manageable monthly costs.

Before agreeing on a plan, assess your finances so you only commit to paying an amount you can afford. Overcommitment can result in other debts in other places.

If your situation changes, such as losing your job, contact Alex M Adamson Debt Collection and let them know. They may adjust your monthly payments while you seek further employment.

2.      Consider an 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.

3.      Use Another Debt Solution

These are not your only options. There are several other debt solutions available.

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.

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.

Before you start a debt solution

You need to speak to get some financial advice to make sure that you are opting for the best option for you.

I recommend speaking to a debt charity. There are a few different organisations that offer free financial advice and free debt counselling services for free:

• StepChange
• National Debtline
• Citizens Advice
• Debt Advice Foundation.

Is Your Alex M Adamson Debt Statute Barred?

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 a while. 

How Do I Inform Alex M Adamson Debt Collection?

To inform Alex M Adamson Debt Collection that the debt is statute-barred, I recommend writing to them as this makes it easier to keep your records up to date.

Keep in mind that you will need to send a different letter to the debt verification letter I mentioned earlier. You can find all of my free letter templates on the Money Nerd website.

In most situations, Alex M Adamson Debt Collection might know that the debt is statute-barred but are chancing their luck that you will pay upon receiving their first letter because you don’t know your rights. They are allowed to still ask for the money initially because the debt still exists; it just cannot be legally enforced.

Do I Have to Pay Alex M Adamson Debt Collection?

You should always try and clear the money you owe as the debt could ruin your credit score and make acquiring further credit or a mortgage difficult.

But before you pay Alex M Adamson Debt Collection, you should make sure the debt is really yours and check to see if the debt is still legally enforceable. Some debt is not, and you won’t have to pay.

We explain the correct steps to take…

Should I Ignore Alex M Adamson Debt Collection?

No, in no circumstances should you ignore Alex M Adamson Debt Collection letters and calls. They are a legitimate debt collection group and can enforce further action.

Sometimes Alex M Adamson Debt Collection will have made a mistake, but even then, you should take action to make them aware of their mistake.

What you should do is found further down our Alex M Adamson Debt Collection guide.

What If Alex M Adamson Debt Collection Keep Calling?

Alex M Adamson Debt Collection may have more legal powers than most debt collection groups (once a court order is issued) but they still have to adhere to industry regulations.

They cannot:

• Continually call you
• Call at unsociable hours unless directed by you
• Discuss your unpaid debt to others
• Force you to choose a debt solution
• Confuse you with technical language

You can report Alex M Adamson Debt Collection if they do any of these things.

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How Do I Complain About Alex M Adamson Debt Collection?

If you think that Alex M Adamson Debt Collection 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.

The debt collectors’ code of conduct is quite strict. This means that the complaints procedure is quite straightforward!

Make your first complaint to Alex M Adamson 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, Alex M Adamson Debt Collection may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

Alex M Adamson Debt Collectors Contact Details

References

CONC 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

CONC 7.9 Contact with customers