Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors – Should You Pay? 2022 Guide

Are Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors contacting you about outstanding debt? Are you not sure what to do next?

Don’t let it get to the point where they take you to court.

Read this article for guidance on what to do about debt and how to deal with Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors so that soon you may become entirely debt free!

It’s not your fault. Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman have risen this year from 830 to 2,006, so it’s safe to say that you’re not alone.

Deal with your debt today and feel amazing tomorrow.

Don’t worry, here’s what to do!

You could get rid of Equita Bailiffs by writing off some of your debt.

There’s several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one can take years off your debt, but the wrong one can be expensive and drawn-out.

Fill out the 5 step form to get started.

What you need to know about Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors?

Equita specialises in a variety of debt management services, including local taxation, civil parking enforcement, and debt advice. The company employs more than 1,000 staff members with offices nationwide.

What is the reason for the contact by Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors?

You may not have heard of Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors before, and you might be wondering why they are chasing you about debt.

These debt companies are chasing money on behalf of other organisations you owe the money to.

So, although you don’t owe them directly, they have the right to chase up the debt. They buy the debt from other companies, such as banks, energy companies etc, and they make money when you pay up.

Although contact by these debt collectors is frustrating, you still need to speak to them and sort out the outstanding money.

What’s the first thing to do if I get an Equita debt letter?

Have you received a letter from this debt collector? I’ll buy it off you for £5

The first step in getting your debt sorted from Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors is to ensure you actually owe the debt. If you don’t recognise it, ask them to send evidence, such as the original credit agreement. They should be able to prove the debt, with a breakdown of what you owe. You may find that the value is higher than you thought, due to interest and late payments.

Are they Bailiffs?

Yes, Equita is an organisation that has both bailiffs as well as debt collectors at their disposal. They are not the same thing.

This is why if an agent from Equita visits your home, it’s important that you explicitly ask them whether they’re a bailiff or a debt collector. It’s important to make this distinction because bailiffs have some extra legal powers, whereas debt collectors do not.

Bailiffs hold a certificate that is granted by a County Court Judge which states that they can take control of your goods if needed. These goods would then be sold off in order to pay for your debt.

Equita collects many different types of unpaid debts on behalf of local authorities across England and Wales. These debts include Council Tax, Business Rates, Parking Penalty Charges Notices and Unpaid rent arrears.

Feeling like Chandler?

Is all this information starting to feel overwhelming? Don’t panic! There’s plenty of help available. You can get started below.

Fill out the short form

A Bailiff has Shown Up at My Home

If a bailiff (or an enforcement agent) shows up at your residence at Equita, it’s important that you don’t panic.

The bailiff may visit your home if you don’t pay your debts such as Council Tax debt, parking fines, court fines, etc.

Please note that before sending a bailiff to your home, Equita must send your prior notice at least 7 days before the first visit. This is known as the compliance stage.

Typically, you don’t have to open your door for a bailiff.

The bailiff cannot enter your residence:

• By force, such as by jamming their foot in the door when you try to close it, etc.
• If only children and/or people with vulnerabilities are present at the home
• Between the hours of 9pm and 6am
• Through a window or any other opening. They must enter through the door.

For the most part, Equita bailiffs do comply with these rules but that doesn’t necessarily make dealing with your debt any less stressful.

Carefully consider your options when choosing a debt solution.

Fill out the 5 step form to get started.

Should you pay the debt back?

If you owe the money to Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors, you should make arrangements to pay it back.

If you can’t pay the full amount, they will usually allow you to make arrangements to pay it back. They should allow you to make payments, but they may ask for proof of your income and expenditure.

Debt collectors and their tactics

Debt collectors will often use a range of tactics to try and get you to start making payments. These may include frequent calls, text messages and even letters or a combination of these.

In some cases, this could be viewed as harassment and if Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors are doing this, you may want to consider contacting The Financial Ombudsman.

As they just want to make money they may resort to all kinds of tactics to get hold of you, but they should not bully or harass you into making payments.

What the law says about debt collectors

The Office for Fair Trading (OFT, 2012) published guidelines about debt collectors, and how they should be treating debtors. These are some of the guidelines that they are required to adhere to.

• They should treat debtors fairly, and be honest about any information relating to them
• Clear information and not mislead debtors.
• Understand the position of debtors, and be empathetic to their circumstances.

If you feel that Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors are not sticking to this legislation, you may want to consider reporting them to the OFT, who make revoke their license if they feel that they have been behaving unfairly.

If you want to make a complaint about Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors, you may want to use this online complaint form.

Make sure the debt collectors are clear about the debt, with a breakdown of exactly how much you owe, including interest and any other fees.

Why you should pay back the debt from Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors

If you are wondering if you really need to pay back Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors, these are some reasons why you should make payments.

It will save you some stress

Debt is stressful and if Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors are constantly trying to reach you, it will cause you a great deal of stress.

If you can pay the debt, you should do this as, if nothing else, it will stop the constant phone calls and other contact by the debt collection company.

Do not let debt collectors bully you into paying back more than you can afford, make sure it is a realistic amount that works for you, after you have covered your important bills, such as your rent and energy bills.

If you have spoken to Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors and they are causing you to stress or you feel they are being unfair in their practices, you can speak to the Financial Ombudsman about your concerns.

You can reach them by phone on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123

Your credit rating will be affected

If you fail to make payments towards your debt, it can affect your credit rating, even if the debt is relatively small.

This will make it more difficult to get credit in the future. The sooner you start payments, the earlier your credit score will start to repair itself.

Stop your credit rating from dropping by dealing with your debt head on now.

There are multiple debt solutions that will help you overcome debt and allow you to start building up your credit once more.

Fill out the 5 step form below to get started.

Dealing with debt issues

Debt problems don’t just go away, and because they can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, it is imperative that you deal with any issues you are facing with your debt.

The worst thing you can do is bury your head in the sand when it comes to your debts, as they will end up spiralling out of control. These are some steps to take to deal with your debt.

Work out your budget

In order to be able to deal with your debt and pay anything back that is outstanding, you need to create a budget, with your outgoings and incomings.

Any excess can go towards your debts, but make sure you can cover the essentials, such as your bills and mortgage payments.

If Equita Bailiffs Debt Collectors will not accept your payments, or they are still hassling you despite making payments, you can report them to the Financial Ombudsman on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123

Lies by debt collectors

It is important to be aware of the lies that debt collectors tell to try and get payments from debtors. They will sometimes go as far as saying that they will enter your home and take your possessions.

They are not permitted to do this, they would need an order from the police to enter your premises. Do not give them permission to enter your home, and if you feel threatened by debt collectors, contact the police.

Reduce your stress

Dealing with debt, and debt collectors is stressful, but you should try not to let them affect you too much.

They want to get a reaction from you, but you can only do what you can in terms of paying them back.

Make arrangements or explain your financial situation to them. You can request that they stop contacting you, but you will need to have some kind of arrangement in place, even if you can’t pay until a date in the future.

Can anyone help with your debt?

Not-for-profit organisations exist to help debtors like yourself, who are struggling to cope with their debt. There are also debt management companies that charge for their services. You should go to the non-for-profit organisations first. These are some of them:

• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is a free service to help with your debt. Great advice and support.
  
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP) free debt help and advice to help you cope with debt issues.
  
• StepChange provides free online debt advice and can help you deal with your debt.

What if your debt is out of hand?

If your debt is out of hand and you have no way of paying it, you may want to enter into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA).

This is a formal agreement you enter, and it allows you to make payments and write off some of your debt. It is worth bearing in mind that if you enter into an IVA, you will not be permitted to get credit for up to five years.

Why not look for a local licenced IVA insolvency practitioner here.

A Debt Relief Order (DRO) is another option you may want to try. You must be left with £75 or less each month after you have paid your essential bills, to qualify for this.

If you want to apply for a DRO, you need the help of an authorised debt advisor. This is a list of authorised debt advisors here.

What next

If you can make payments to your debt, it is worth doing this. If you are getting hassle or any kind of bullying tactics from debt collectors, you should seek advice from the Financial Ombudsman.

Harassment pay include incessant phone calls or contacting you via every possible form of communication. Debt collectors can lose their licence if they are found guilty of poor practices.

Who are Equita Debt Collectors?

Equita is a debt recovery and enforcement company who works with a range of local authorities around the UK, some 200 in fact.

They pride themselves on using not only innovative technology to ensure that debt is paid, but also that they have a good hold on the market too, which allows them to spot (and deal with) any problems that can arise.

Their website is aimed towards taking payments for their debt, however, they also work with debtors to provide debt advice and set up payment plans that are going to work for them, as well as ensure that the money is collected.

Are Equita Debt Collectors Legit?

Yes. Working throughout the UK, Equita is based in Northampton. They have been around for some time, which means that they have become experienced and knowledgeable in the industry.

They work hard to try and provide a legitimate service, not only to their clients, but also to those whom they are collecting debt from.

What does Equita Debt Collectors Do?

Straightforward debt recovery and enforcement is the name of the game for Equita. They do not buy debt from other lenders, they simply work with their clients to ensure that debt is paid.

Their main clients are local authorities, which will often mean that the type of debt that they are chasing is rent payments or other fines that could have been given out.

What does Equita Debt Collection Process look like?

More often than not, Equita will sent out letters in order to first make contact with a debtor. They may also call (if they have relevant telephone numbers) in order to discuss the debt with them.

They may ask for a full payment, however, it does seem that they are also able to discuss payment plans with debtors in order for them to make payments that are within their means.

Payments can be made via their telephone line, however, if you want to pay flexibly, then there is also a website portal that can be used in order to make payments quickly and easily.

Summary

No-one likes to be chased for debt, and it seems that amongst a sometimes “”bad bunch”” Equita come out relatively well.

They work with debtors to try and set out a payment plan that is going to work for them and take the time to discuss things with them.

Something that can across well in times of need. They also have flexible online payments, which means that you can make payments as and when you can.

FAQs

References

Schedule 12, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcements Act, 2007

Part 1, Regulation 10, Certification of enforcement agents, 2014.

Gov.uk, CPR – Rules and Directions, 2018.