BLS Debt Collections – Must You Pay? Read Here

Are you puzzled about an unexpected debt letter from BLS Debt Collections? Wondering if it’s real or if you should pay? Maybe you’re anxious about not being able to afford the payment.

You’re in the right place. Here at our site, more than 170,000 people each month find help with debt issues, just like yours.

In this easy-to-read guide, we’ll help you:

•  Find out if the debt is really yours
•  Learn if you can ignore or question BLS
•  Discover how to stop BLS from bothering you too much
•  Look at ways to set up a plan for paying
•  Explore how to wipe off your debt.

BLS Collections is a real UK debt collector and we have the know-how to help you. We understand how you feel because some of our team have had debt collectors chase them too. So, we’re here to help.

Let’s get started!

Why do BLS Debt Collections keep contacting you?

There are so many people suffering from debt issues that the industry has become extremely lucrative for debt collection agencies. Debt collectors come in various shapes and forms, including those who work independently, those who operate as part of the original creditor and sole traders. They work differently, but they have the same goal in mind, and that is to collect the debt.

The end result for them is to get payment, as this is how they make money. They buy the debt from the original credit company, for a small fraction of the original value. This means that they pay a low amount for the debt, and make money when you start to make payment. Unfortunately, this strong desire to get payment can lead to them acting in a way which is against the legislation. They can resort to bullying, harassment, and even threats. There are few morals, as they are not particularly interested in what your personal circumstances are, and whether or not you are facing financial struggles. The Office for Fair Trading discovered that many were adopting poor practices in order to recover the debt.

How do I Verify BLS Debt Collections Debt?

If you have received debt letters from BLS Debt Collections, 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 BLS 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.

This forum user is dealing with a cheeky debt collection firm! They should ignore any more letters that come through about this debt or write to request that they stop reaching out. They don’t owe any money because the company can’t prove anything!

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?

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 BLS Debt Collections 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.

Pay if you can

If you have been sent proof that you owe the debt, it is best to just pay it and get BLS Debt Collections off your back. You should only do this if it won’t affect your ability to take care of your other debts though. If you are struggling to pay essential bills, such as your rent or mortgage, it would be better to come to an arrangement to pay the debt, at a rate that suits you.

Can they visit your home?

Some debt collectors will say that they plan to drop by your home to try and get payment from you. They may even go as far as to say they are calling you from the court, or that they are a bailiff. They may say they have plans to take goods from your home or that they intend to prosecute you. You should not give them permission to come to your home.

If they insist or indeed, they just turn up at your home anyway, you have the right to demand that they leave. If you feel under threat in any way, you should contact the police immediately.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can I write off my debts?

If you are dealing with financial hardship – or know that you would really struggle to manage your debts if you were to pay BLS Debt Collectors – you might be able to write off some of your debts with 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 advisory services for free below.

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 BLS Debt Collectors and get an alternative payment plan sorted.

Negotiation often works in these circumstances for two reasons:

1. BLS 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 BLS 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 BLS Debt Collections 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 BLS Debt Collections so they stop chasing you.

You could even opt for an informal debt solution like a Debt Management Plan.

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.

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.

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How do I make a complaint against BLS Debt Collections?

If you think that BLS Debt Collections 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 BLS 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, BLS Debt Collections may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

Staying On Top Of Your Debts

One of the hardest parts about being in debt is that the industry isn’t at all transparent.

One common tactic used by Debt Collectors is contacting you under multiple names and addresses.

Sometimes, it’s for practical reasons, but even then it can be confusing and intimidating. So it’s important to try to keep a level head and research what’s going on. 

Some of the biggest debt collectors in the UK operate under multiple names. 

• Robinson Way will sometimes contact you under the name Hoist Finance. 
• Cabot Financial Group recently bought Wescot Credit Services
• Credit Style communicate as both Credit Style and CST Law. 
• Lowell Financial also owns Overdales and collects debts under both names. 

In fact, in the case of PRA Group, they’ve been known to use multiple company names. As you can see in the image below.

If you’ve been contacted by a debt collector recently, it’s worth going through your post and emails to check that you haven’t missed anything, just in case they’ve started writing to you under a different name.

BLS Collections 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