DCBL Final Reminder Letter? Worst Case Scenario
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
Are you worrying about a DCBL final reminder letter? You’re in the right place for answers. Each month, over 170,000 visit our site for information about their debt issues, just like you.
This article will help you understand:
- The meaning of a DCBL final reminder letter.
- How to find out if a debt is really yours.
- The right way to deal with DCBL.
- Ways to set up a payment plan or write off some DCBL debt.
- Steps to take if you can’t afford a DCBL payment plan.
Research shows that 64% of UK adults find interactions with current debt collectors stressful1. So, we understand how you feel.
Many of our team members have also dealt with debt collectors and financial issues. With our experience, we’ll help you understand your options when it comes to dealing with DCBL.
What is a DCBL final reminder letter?
Typical Debt Collection Process
As mentioned above, DCBL will send a letter or call to request payment. This is part of the first stage of the debt collection process.
To keep them from filing a CCJ against you, it’s important to understand all the key stages in the debt collector timeline. That’s why we’ve put together this table. If you’d like to learn more, please read our specialized guide.
Stage | Actions | What you should do: |
---|---|---|
Missing one or two small payments | Calls and letters from the debt collector asking for payment. They may enquire about reasons for missing payments. | Contact the debt collector and offer to pay what you can. If you are struggling to pay the debt, get in touch with us to explore your options. |
Missing large or multiple payments | Their contact will become more frequent, urgent, and threatening. | Contact the debt collection agency and offer to pay what you can. You may also make a complaint if you think the letters are a form of harassment. |
Debt collector visit | After a few months, if the debt is significant (£200+) you will receive notice of a debt collector visit. They have to notify you before arriving. Debt collectors cannot take anything from your home – they may only ask for payment. | If a debt collector shows up at your home, ask them to show proof of the debt and their ID through a window. Do not open your door or let them in. You can arrange a payment plan with the debt collector, but make sure to get a receipt of this. |
Court | If you still do not pay your debts to the original lender/debt collector agency, they will take you to court and either attempt to: – File a CCJ against you. – File an attachment of earnings order. – File a lawsuit against you. |
You must show up to your court date. From here, you can either dispute the debt, or the judge will likely suggest a manageable repayment plan for you. |
Should I ignore a letter from DCBL?
We always recommend responding to debt collectors – even just to question the debt’s validity. Remember, you have the right to request proof of the debt. They have to prove it or they can’t charge you.
The impact of ignoring DCBL letter will far outweigh any benefits that you mistakenly think you’re getting from ignoring it.
How a debt solution could help
Some debt solutions can:
- Stop nasty calls from creditors
- Freeze interest and charges
- Reduce your monthly payments
A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.
Here’s an example:
Situation
Monthly income | £2,504 |
Monthly expenses | £2,345 |
Total debt | £32,049 |
Monthly debt repayments
Before | £587 |
After | £158 |
£429 reduction in monthly payments
If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.
DCBL final reminder letter – worst-case scenario
What happens if a CCJ is issued?
A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is an order from a judge that states you have to pay the debt. This means that the court agrees with your creditor, and you owe the money.
Your judgement will include the following:
- How much you owe
- How you should pay
- Who you should pay
- Your deadline to pay.
Unless you pay within one month of the CCJ being issued, it will be recorded in the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines for 6 years. If you pay off your debt within these 6 years, you can request that your judgement is marked as ‘satisfied’ on the register.
To do this, write to the court with proof that you have paid off the debt in full.
If you manage to pay within one month of the CCJ being issued, the judgement will not be recorded in the register. You will need to write to the court explaining that you have paid and provide proof.
CCJs are also visible on your credit file for 6 years. This will make it almost impossible for you to get credit during this time.
This is because companies use your credit file to see if you are a ‘high-risk’ customer – someone who might have difficulty paying their bills on time. If you have a CCJ, you have had such trouble paying back your debt that someone had to go to court about it.
Understandably, companies are going to be reluctant to give you credit!
After 6 years, it is no longer visible on your credit report and you should find it easier to get credit again.
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.
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What happens if you ignore a CCJ?
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form
How to avoid litigation
Can you set up a payment plan with DCBL?
The average unsecured debt has increased by 25% year-on-year, rising to £13,9412. As you can imagine, it’s common for people to struggle with debt.
So, if that’s your case and you can’t pay your debt, don’t worry. DCBL will welcome you to offer a repayment arrangement instead of paying the debt in full. The payment plan should show you’re doing your best to repay without causing financial insecurity and hardship.
You could even get a brief internet freeze or similar as part of your payment negotiation with DCBL.
What if I can’t afford to use a DCBL payment plan?
You might be able to write off your parking fine debt with a debt solution or another of the debt relief options in the UK. Keep in mind that this is not guaranteed and depends on your type of fine and its legal status. If you are unsure, you need to speak to a debt charity to be sure.
There are several different debt solutions available in the UK, so we 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.
We 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 fresh financial 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.
How do I complain about DCBL?
If you think that DCBL 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.
Fortunately, the DCBL complaint process is straightforward.
Make your first complaint to DCBL 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, DCBL may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.