Anglia Debt Collection & Repossession – Pay? UK Laws

If you’ve got a letter from Anglia Debt Collection & Repossession, don’t worry. This could feel scary, but we’re here to help. Every month, more than 170,000 people come to our site for advice on debt problems. 

In this friendly guide, we’ll talk about:

•  Who Anglia Debt Collectors are.
•  If they’re a real company.
•  Why they might contact you.
•  How to check if you really owe money.
•  What to do if you can pay or if you can’t. 

We know that dealing with debt is tough. We’ve helped many people in your shoes, and we can help you too.

Ready to learn more about Anglia Debt Collection & Repossession and your options? Let’s dive in!

Why are Anglia Debt Collectors contacting you about the debt?

Debt collection is big business, and if you are being contacted by Anglia Debt Collectors about an outstanding debt, you might not even know who they are. In this case, surely you don’t need to pay them back? The answer is yes, you do need to pay them – that is assuming you owe them money, even if you don’t recognise the company.

The reason you may not recognise them is that debt collection agencies purchase the debt from the original company you owe the money. For example, they may purchase the debt from a bank you have an outstanding loan with, or a credit card company you haven’t been paying. The debt collection agency buys the debt as a face value of as little as 20% in some cases, and they only start to make a profit, or indeed, even get their money back, when you start making payments. This shows you why they can be so relentless when they are trying to get you to pay up! They want the money, and they want it now – or as soon as possible anyway!

Do you even owe the money?

The first thing to do before you start making any payments is to get details of the original debt if you don’t recognise it. It may be that the cost is higher because of charges and interest on your account, or you may even have cleared the debt, and the debt collection agency hasn’t been updated. If you are unsure about the debt and if it is yours, you should always get confirmation before making any payments.

You can write to Anglia Debt Collectors and request that they send you a copy of the original credit agreement, including where the debt originated, the cost and any fees which have been added. If they cannot provide this or refuse to do so, you shouldn’t make any payments to your account, as it could be that they are chasing the wrong person.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

How do I Verify Anglia Debt?

If you have received debt letters from Anglia Debt Collectors, but aren’t sure if they’re legit, what do you do?

From my experience, the best thing to do is ask for proof that the debt is yours. I have a free ‘prove it’ letter template that you can use to help you write to Anglia and request evidence that you are liable for the debt that they are chasing.

You are under no obligation to pay for a debt that can’t be proven to be yours.

It is crucial that you respond to legitimate debt collectors quickly. Responding quickly will help you avoid any extra charges or fees. Not ignoring debt collectors also means that you are less likely to face legal action, such as a CCJ.

Is my debt statute-barred?

When you are verifying your debt, keep an eye out for how old the debt is or how long it’s been since you paid anything towards it.

Statute Barred Debt

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 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 Anglia Debt Collectors 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. 

What to do if you can pay

If you receive confirmation that you owe the debt, and you have the finances to pay it, it is best that you just do this, as it’ll not only get the debt collectors off your back, it will also ensure your credit record is not adversely affected. If you can pay, you should try to clear it off.

If not, it is a good idea to make a payment arrangement with Anglia Debt Collectors, where you make monthly payments to the account, until it is cleared. They may ask you to send proof of your income and expenditure. Only pay the debt if you can afford to, do not do this to the detriment of other essential bills, like your mortgage or rent.

Is it possible to write off your debt?

If you have debts that you know you can’t pay, you might need to consider 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.

Starting a debt solution might be enough to get Anglia Debt Collectors off your back.

I have linked a few charities that offer these advisory 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.

Can I write off my debt without a debt solution?

If you don’t think that a debt solution is right for you – or if you are ineligible for one – what do you do?

From my experience, you might be able to negotiate with Anglia Debt Collectors and get an alternative payment plan sorted.

Negotiation often works in these circumstances for two reasons:

1. Anglia Debt Collectors didn’t pay 100% of the value of the debt when they bought it – debts are bought for much less than they are worth. This means that Anglia don’t need to recover all of your debt to make a profit.
2. Legal action is expensive and can quickly eat into any potential profit that Anglia Debt Collectors would have made on your case. Getting some money off you is arguably better for them than spending lots of money to compel you to pay.

This all means that you can negotiate a reduced-cost repayment plan, or even lower your outstanding debt balance. I have a free final settlement letter template that you can use if you need some guidance – offering a one-off lump sum could appease Anglia Debt Collectors so they stop chasing you.

Keep in mind that your credit score might be affected if your settlement offer is accepted. This is because your account will be marked as ‘unsatisfied’ on your credit file which will most likely make you look like a potentially high-risk customer.

Thousands have already tackled their debt

Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.

Natasha

I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.

Get started

Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.

How do I complain about Anglia Debt Collection?

If you think that Anglia 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.

Inapropriate behaviour can include anything from threats or aggressive actions, or just harassment.

Make your first complaint to Anglia Debt 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, Anglia may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

Anglia Debt Collection & Repossession 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