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Jacobs Enforcement Agents Debt – Should You Pay?

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Scott
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Scott Nelson

Managing Director

MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.

Learn more about Scott
&
Janine
Janine Marsh Profile Picture

Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.

Learn more about Janine
· Mar 13th, 2024
Could you legally write off some debt? Answer below to get started.

Total amount of debt?

This isn’t a full fact find, MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

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.

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Jacobs Enforcement Agents Debt

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 worried about a surprise letter from Jacobs Enforcement Agents? You’re not alone. In fact, over 170,000 people visit our site each month to make sense of debt problems.

This article is here to guide you:

  •  Discover if the debt truly belongs to you.
  •  Understand if Jacobs Enforcement Agents are real.
  •  Learn how to deal with them if you can’t afford to pay.
  •  Find out your rights, including if they can enter your home.
  •  Explore ways to reduce or clear your debt.

We know how it feels to be chased for money you might not owe or can’t pay. Especially when research shows that nearly half of the people who deal with debt collection agencies have experienced harassment or aggression1.

Don’t worry. We’re here to help you understand how to deal with Jacobs Enforcement.

Could you legally write off some debt?

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one for you could write off some of your unaffordable debt, but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out.

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find. MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

Why are Jacobs Enforcement Agents contacting you?

Debt collectors like Jacobs Enforcement Agents are, unfortunately, not particularly unusual, and they may seem relentless in their pursuit to get you to pay up!

This is down to the fact that they buy the debt from the original creditor, sometimes for as little as 20% of the face value, and they need to make this money back.

Unless you make payments, they will have lost money, so they are on a mission to get you to pay up!

The contact from debt collectors can almost cross the line to harassment, and if this is the case, you can report them and get help with dealing with their tactics.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Find out if the debt is yours

The first thing you want to understand is whether this debt is yours.

If it’s not, you should not make any attempts to pay it.

The best way to get confirmation, and peace of mind, is by asking Jacobs Bailiffs Debt Collectors for a copy of the credit agreement.

They should be able to provide this without any issues.

How a debt solution could help

Some debt solutions can:

  1. Stop nasty calls from creditors
  2. Freeze interest and charges
  3. 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.

Get Started

How to deal with Jacobs Bailiffs Debt Collectors

When dealing with debt collectors, it is important to keep a cool head, even if you don’t particularly like the way they are behaving.

In our experience, one of the worst things that you can do is to ignore them. Regular communication with Jacobs will help prevent any further legal action.

Keep in mind that Janine, our financial expert, explained that while debt collectors can visit your home for payments, they cannot come to your workplace, act threateningly, force payment, or discuss your finances with others.

If they violate these rules, you can complain.

Explain your situation

Jacobs Bailiffs Debt Collectors agents will probably try to talk you into making payments which you may not be able to afford.

It is important that you stick to your guns, and don’t end up leaving yourself without any money.

If they try to threaten you, you should not listen as the threats are usually empty. Make sure you explain what your finances are looking like and when/if you will be able to make payments.

Any negotiating with Jacobs Enforcement Agents is always worth a shot as you may be able to lower the final amount that you repay.

Debt collection agencies buy billions of debt annually at rock bottom prices – at an average of 10p to £12, which means that there’s a good chance that they’ll agree to negotiate with you as long as they can still make a profit from what you pay them.

Devise a suitable plan

Obviously, the best course of action is to pay the full debt off to get Jacobs Bailiffs Debt Collectors off your back, but that isn’t always feasible.

If you can’t pay it back, the next step is a partial payment, and following this, you can set up a repayment plan, where you pay a certain amount each month until the debt is fully paid off.

If you negotiate with Jacobs Bailiffs, you must ensure you get any agreement you make in writing before you make any payment.

Keeping hold of this agreement and maintaining good records of your dealings with them will put you in the best position should any disputes arise down the road.

If you are struggling to consistently afford monthly payments, you may want to consider a more formal debt solution.

The right solution could take years off your debt repayments but the wrong one could have your situation become worse.

What is abusive behaviour?

The debt collectors don’t need to be cursing and swearing at you for it to be seen as abuse, they may just keep calling you on a loop or fail to listen when you say that you can’t afford to pay.

This could still be seen as harassment, and you may be entitled to make a complaint.

Do not let debt collectors speak to you in a derogatory manner or try to make you feel like you need to pay when you can’t afford it. Behaviour of this sort is a clear breach of the OFT guidelines.

If in doubt, tell them that you will report them to the Financial Ombudsman.

The Financial Ombudsman is available to speak to on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123

Can they discuss your debt with others?

The long and short of it is no, they can’t speak to other people about your debt. If they do this, they are breaching both OFT guidelines, and other privacy laws.

If you are aware of this behaviour, and wish to report them, you can do this via the Financial Ombudsman on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123

Know Your Rights

Debt Collectors are bound to specific rules of behavior, and they don’t possess the same authority as bailiffs.

Knowing your rights and those of the debt collectors visiting you is key to having an edge over the situation and preventing being taken advantage of.

Please check out our related article on the topic and take a look at the summarized 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.

What if you can’t pay?

This most common dilemma for debtors is not being able to make the payment to Jacobs Bailiffs Debt Collectors.

They are contacting you relentlessly, but what if you need to tell them you can’t pay?

If this is the case, just ask them to set up a repayment plan and make monthly payments at an amount you can afford, until the debt is cleared.

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.

What is the difference between bailiffs and debt collectors?

On the surface, bailiffs and debt collectors seem similar but are actually very different.

The biggest difference is that a bailiff has the legal authority to collect a debt, but a debt collector does not.

A bailiff usually collects debts like council tax or child maintenance arrears, parking fines, or any County Court Judgements (CCJs). A debt collector, on the other hand, is an agent from a debt collection agency.

They do not have the authority to enter your home unless a CCJ has been brought against you.

Jacobs Enforcement agents are both debt collectors and certified bailiffs. This means that they have can have the legal authority to collect your debt on their own.

Bailiffs cannot force their way into your home and they cannot use a locksmith to let themselves in.

While they cannot force their way in, it is important to communicate with Jacobs Enforcement in some way. In our experience, they won’t come back if you arrange a repayment plan and stick to it.

Jacobs Enforcement Contact Details

Phone: 0345 601 2692
Monday to Thursday 8am – 8pm
Friday 8am – 7.30pm
Saturday 8am – 5pm
Sunday 8am – 1pm
Website: https://www.jacobsenforcement.com/
Post: Jacobs 6 Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 4PE
Address: 6 Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 4PE
Monday to Thursday 9am – 5.30pm
Friday 9am – 5pm

FAQs

Who owns Jacobs?
Jacobs is the UK’s largest independently owned enforcement agency. It is owned by Paula Jacobs and Simon Jacobs.
Are Jacobs financially regulated?
Jacobs is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Do HMRC use Jacobs?
Jacobs collects money for some government departments but does not collect money on behalf of HMRC.
Does Jacobs buy debt?
Jacobs does not buy debts. The money it collects is owed to the business or organisation that it is collecting the money on behalf of.  
What happens if you don’t respond to debt collectors?
If you fail to respond to debt collectors when they contact you, they could end up sending doorstep collectors to your home. This is the last thing you want, as they could get a County Court Judgement against you, and this may end up on your credit report.
Will Jacobs be able to take you to court?
Jacobs have the right to take you to court if you owe them money. If they do this, you will receive a CCJ letter explaining everything, and you should make sure you respond to this immediately..
Will you be sent to jail for debt collections?
You shouldn’t worry about going to jail, you will not be sent to jail for money you owe to the debt collectors.
What if I don’t respond to the CCJ?
If you fail to respond to the CCJ you will not end up in prison. You could, however, end up with bailiffs being sent to your door to try and collect the debt payment.
Do Jacobs have the power to issue a warrant?
Jacobs to do have the power to issue you with a warrant for your arrest, and they can’t get you sent to prison for debt. The most they will be able to do is request a CCJ. This could result in bailiffs being sent to your property in order to take items to cover the debt.
Do Jacobs have the same rights as bailiffs?
Jacobs do not have the same rights as bailiffs, as they are debt collectors. However, if deemed appropriate, they may end up getting bailiffs out to your property, but this would never happen without plenty of warning, and only if you continue to ignore letters.
Can Jacobs visit your property?
Jacobs could realistically send agents to your home, although this is not the norm, as they don’t have any legal powers with regards to entering your property. You can ask them to leave, and they can’t do anything about it. They may get bailiffs sent to your property though.
Are Jacobs allowed to force entry?
Jacobs do not have any legal powers to force entry into your property. If you receive a CCJ from them though, you could potentially end up with bailiffs being sent to your home.
Why won’t Jacobs stop contacting?
Quite simply, Jacobs want their money! They will keep contacting you relentlessly until you pay the debt or you make arrangements to pay it. In legal terms, this could go on for 6 years.
Can a debt become too old to collect?
Yes, a debt can become too old to collect. The Limitation Act 1980 states that debt collectors are permitted to try and obtain the debt for up to 6 years. The 6 years applies from the time that you made your last payment or at least acknowledged you have the debt.
What is the longest time you can legally be chased for the money?
The Limitation Act 1980 states that the debt collectors has a legal right to contact you for up to 6 years about the debt, from the last time you discussed the debt or the last payment you made. If you have a CCJ raised by the debt collectors, this term does not apply, and they can chase you for as long as they wish.
Will my debt ever be written off?
Debts collectors may have to write the debt off after 6 years, if there has been no CCJ against you. The other option is if you enter into an IVA, you may be able to write off some of the debt.
How can I get in touch with Jacobs?
Jacobs are available to speak to by phone or email. You can also use the live chat available on their website. The other option you have is to send them a letter or visit them at their office based in Birkenhead.
How can I pay Jacobs?
Jacobs allow card payments either online or over the phone, or you can pay by recurrent card payments. Internet banking or standing order payments are available, or you can pay by posting a cheque, postal order or bank draft. You can also pay via a payment card at Payzone retailers or at a Post Office.
Could you legally write off some debt?

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one for you could write off some of your unaffordable debt, but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out.

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find. MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

References

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

Schedule 12, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcements Act, 2007

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

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

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The authors
Scott Nelson Profile Picture
Author
MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.
Janine Marsh Profile Picture
Debt Expert
Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.