NCO Europe Debt Collection – Should You Pay?
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.
If you’ve received a letter from NCO Europe Debt Collection, you might be feeling worried and unsure.
Don’t worry; you’ve come to the right place. Every month, over 170,000 people visit our website seeking advice on debt matters.
In this simple guide, we will show you:
- Who NCO Europe Debt Collection is.
- What they do and who they work for.
- If you really owe them money.
- What to do if you can’t afford to pay.
Unfortunately, nearly half of the people who are chased by debt collection agencies have experienced harassment or aggression1. So we understand your worries.
With our experience, we’ll help you learn how to deal with NCO Europe Debt Collection.
Do You Owe Money to Them?
When you receive a debt letter from NCO Debt Collectors, it is natural to think it is a scam. After all, you have probably never heard anything about NCO Europe before.
But NCO Europe is not the company that you owe the debt to.
You owe the debt to their client who has asked NCO to recover the money in the United Kingdom.
Debt collection agencies buy billions of debt annually at rock bottom prices, at an average of 10p to £1! 2. They do this because the original company does not want to commit to chasing you as it could take too long and become expensive.
Typical Process
If you’ve missed a payment, NCO Debt Collectors will call or send letters. This is part of the initial stage of the debt collection process.
We’ve put together this table that explains the key stages and actions involved in the debt collector timeline. 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. |
Check if you really owe it
Are you sure you really owe the money? The first thing to establish is where the debt started and how much you really owe.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form
It is quite likely that the original debt, if there was one, has been inflated by various charges and interest. It could be substantially more than you believe you owe.
You should write to NCO Europe Debt Collection Debt Collectors and demand a copy of your original credit agreement.
If they are unable to provide this you have no obligation to make any payment to them.
Knowing how to deal with debt collectors can make the whole process less scary. For example, they can’t just turn up at your front door!
This person is right – they does not need to open the door or let them in. They may even have grounds for a complaint as NCO are not being at all reasonable!
Follow our ‘prove it’ guide with letter templates and get them to prove that you owe the money.
Can’t Afford to Pay?
The average unsecured debt has increased by 25% year-on-year, rising to £13,9413. So, it’s common for people to struggle with debt.
If that’s your case and you cannot afford to repay the amount of debt on your NCO Europe account don’t worry.
They should be open to agreeing on a repayment plan so you can repay the debt over time.
However, just because NCO Europe Debt Collection is offering you a way to repay over time, don’t assume that this is the best option available to you.
If you have unsecured debts, you may be eligible for a debt solution.
There are several debt relief options available in the UK, so we recommend speaking to a debt charity for some free debt advice. Their advisers will be able to make sure that you choose the solution that is best for you.
Debt Management Plan (DMP)
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.
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.
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.
Is It Possible to Write Off My Debts?
NCO Europe are probably going to be unwilling to write off your debts. But there is no harm in asking!
Negotiating with debt collectors can be tricky so you can use our free letter template as a guide when you write to ask them to accept your settlement offer.
Keep in mind that they are under no obligation to accept your offer.
That said, NCO are going to be more likely to accept your negotiations if you are reasonable and make higher offers.
There are some options to explore that can wipe out some of the debt, and some we have mentioned already. These are:
You can learn more about these in our debt solution guides.
How Do You Complain About Them?
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.
Make your first complaint to NCO Europe 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, NCO Europe may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.
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.
Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.
NCO Debt Collectors Contact Details
| Company name: | NCO Europe Ltd |
| Other names: | NCO Europe Debt Collection |
| Company number: | 03122581 |
| Website: | https://www.ncoeurope.com |
| Phone number: | 0330 060 1500 Mon – Thurs: 8am to 8pm Friday 8am to 7pm Saturday: 8:30am to 1pm Sunday: Closed |
| Email address: | enquiries@ncoeurope.com |
| Registered office: | New City House, 57-63 Ringway, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 1AF |
References
