Drydensfairfax Solicitors Debt – Should You Pay?

Getting a sudden letter from Drydensfairfax Solicitors about owing money can be a worry. You might be asking, “Do I really have to pay this? Is it real? Can I afford it?”

You’re not alone. Every month, more than 170,000 people come to our website for help with debt problems. 

In this article, we’ll show you:

•  How to check if the money Drydensfairfax Solicitors say you owe is really yours.
•  Ways to stop Drydensfairfax from bothering you too much.
•  Options for paying back the money, and sometimes, even how to get some of it written off.

You’re not the only one who’s had to deal with debt collectors like Drydensfairfax Solicitors. We know it can be scary, as nearly half of the individuals who deal with debt collection agencies have experienced harassment or aggression¹. But don’t worry; we’re here to help. 

Who Are Drydensfairfax?

Drydensfairfax Solicitors is a trading style of Drydens Ltd, which was taken over by Arrow Global Limited in 2019.

Drydensfairfax is a company that works in the debt collection industry to recover unpaid debts to their clients – a very profitable practice, as debt collection agencies buy billions of debt annually at rock bottom prices – at an average of 10p to £1!²

They will contact UK residents who owe their clients money just like any other debt collection agency, and they may threaten legal action if you fail to pay or agree to a repayment plan.

Their clients are diverse. They may be chasing you for money owed to credit card companies, banks, utility providers or even other debt companies. 

Are They Credible?

But are Drydensfairfax a trustworthy debt collection agency?

Yes. Drydensfairfax Limited describe itself as a large regulated law firm that specialises in the recovery of consumer debts for high street banks, building societies, businesses and the government. They are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and are also authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. They are a credible legal company. 

They claim to try and build customer relationships to help you pay off the debt, although there is no proof of this.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Make Them Prove You Owe the Debt

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.

You do not have to pay a debt until it has been proven that you owe the debt. If Drydensfairfax has asked you to pay by saying you owe the money without proving you do, it is time to make them work. By sending a letter asking them to prove the debt, it is now Drydensfairfax’s obligation to supply you with proof. 

You can use this letter template to ask for proof with confidence. Download the form and add your own details and reference number if applicable. You’ll then be able to request the proof and wait to see if Drydensfairfax replies.

If they do not provide proof, you have no obligation to pay. It could take them a while because they will have to go back to their client and ask them to supply it, which buys you further thinking time. This is why you should always ask debt collection agencies for proof, even if you know about the debt. We have added their contact details near the end of this post. 

Drydensfairfax Solicitors Proved it, What Now!?

It might take some time, but Drydensfairfax could reply to your letter with proof and continue to request payment. They are likely to offer you payment options to spread the repayments out over time, which could include interest. 

This could be a good option, but it all depends on your personal circumstances.

Other solutions could save you money and time. See our debt options page to read about the other ways to get out of debt.

Whatever you do, do not ignore Drydensfairfax, especially after they prove you owe the money. 

Know Your Rights

If the situation comes to a point where your debt has been proven, and Drydensfairfax has sent people to your home to collect the debt, it’s important that you know your rights and those of the debt collectors visiting you to have an edge over the process.

Please check out our related article on the topic and take a quick look at the table below.

Debt Collectors Can	But They Can’t
Contact you by phone or mail.	Call you after 9pm or before 8am.
Conduct home visits (on rare occasions) and knock on your door.	Forbily enter your home, or stay if you ask them to leave.
Threaten to take you to court by suing you for payment on a debt.	Harrass you, including threats of violence, repeated calls and visits, or abusive language.
Negotiate a debt settlement. Tip: make sure to get this new arrangement in writing.	Visit your workplace.
Access your bank account, but only after a court judgment has been made.	Take anything from your home or threaten to do so.
Sell your debt.	Speak to other people about your debt without your permission.
Contact you frequently.	Keep doing so if you request that they reduce communications.

How Must Debt Solicitors Treat Me?

When locking horns with Drydensfairfax, it helps if you know your rights.

The law states how Drydensfairfax must act and behave when trying to recover debt from you. They must:

1. Not apply pressure or become aggressive
2. Not make legal threats that are not likely to happen
3. Not pretend they are bailiffs or are able to get a warrant
4. Not make phone calls, email or send text messages if you ask to be only contacted with letters
5. Not make frequent phone calls that could amount to harassment
6. Reply to your complaint in good time
7. Provide information about debt support and advice
8. Consider your personal situation when offering a payment plan 
9. Customer service representatives should be clear and never mislead

If they don’t follow the rules, you may have grounds for filing complaints against Drydensfairfax Solicitors.

3 Reasons to Make a Complaint About Drydensfairfax Debt Collectors

You can complain about Drydensfairfax if they break any of the regulations mentioned above. This should be done directly to them.

If they don’t deal with your matter adequately, you can escalate your complaint. You could complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the Legal Ombudsman, or to the Solicitor’s Regulatory Body (SRA).

If your complaint is upheld by any of these bodies, they may be fined and, in extreme cases, you may be awarded compensation.

Here is what to look out for and keep a record of if you make a complaint.

Aggressive Call Centre Workers

Sometimes the call centre staff of debt collection businesses will be aggressive because they are working for commissions and bonuses on your payments. It is now in their financial interest for you to pay and they could get angry or threatening. The customer service workers at this law company are not as likely to be working for a commission but look out for aggressive behaviour. 

Automated and Silent Calling

Calling too often may be seen as harassment, but some companies will do this using automated calling software. They may even call you and remain silent as a form of intimidation designed to wear you down and make you give in and pay. 

Telling Others About Your Debt

One of the biggest legislation breaches a debt collection team can do is reveal your debt or details to another person. Sometimes they may call your work or house phone number and expect you to answer but someone else does. They then go on to reveal you have a debt to the wrong person, which breaks privacy laws. 

How to Write Off Debt

They will not write off the money you owe. Remember, they do not even own the debt to be able to write it off.

You can write off some or all of the debt using one of these options:

1. Debt Relief Order – can write off 100% of the debt if you are a low earner
2. Settlement offer – can write off 10-20% of the debt if you can nearly pay the full amount owed
3. Individual Voluntary Arrangement – can write off up to 80% of the debt if you have an income and multiple large debts. 

But there is another way to avoid having to make payments to Drydensfairfax. If your debt is at least six years old and you have not made a debt payment towards paying it off over the previous six years, your debt might be too old to be collected.

The wait is 5 years for statute-barred debt in Scotland.

You can reply to their letters by telling them the debt is too old. 

However, if a CCJ was issued before the debt was 6 years old it is not statute-barred. Some debts owed to specific creditors, like HMRC, are not subject to the same rules as other unsecured debts so will be enforceable for much longer.

You also need to keep in mind that the 6-year timer starts from the date of your last payment or your last written communication about the debt. Any payments you make or letters written will restart that timer!

You can read more about this and use our letter template in our statute-barred guide!

You might find that you are contacted by a debt collection company for a debt that is statute-barred.

In this example, this person would benefit from talking to a debt charity to find out if this debt is actually enforceable.

Drydensfairfax Solicitors Contact Details

Company Name:	Drydensfairfax Solicitors
Other Names:	Drydensfairfax
Head Office:	4th Floor, Fairfax House Merrion Street, Leeds LS2 8BX
Contact Number:	01274 378 000 Bradford 0113 823 3443 Leeds
Operating hours:	Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Email:	[email protected]
Website:	www.drydensfairfax.com
Numbers Drydensfairfax Might Call from:	08702407158 01138233370 01138233387

References

1. InDebted, Debt Collectors Survey
2. Jubilee Debt, A Fresh Start After Covid-19