Restons Solicitors Debt – Should You Pay?

Are you puzzled because Restons Solicitors say you owe them money? You may be asking, ‘Should I pay this debt?’ or ‘Where has this debt come from?’ We know this can feel scary, and you might not know what step to take next. 

You’re not alone. Each month, more than 170,000 people visit our website for help with debt questions. We’re here to help you understand what’s happening and what you can do.

In this article, we’ll explain:

•  Who Restons Solicitors are and why they might contact you.
•  How to find out if the debt is really yours.
•  What happens if you can’t pay or choose not to pay.
•  Ways to talk to Restons Solicitors about a plan to pay the debt.
•  How you might be able to pay less than the full amount you owe.

Nearly half of the individuals who deal with debt collection agencies have experienced harassment or aggression¹, and some of us have had debt collectors asking us for money, too, so we know how it feels. With our expertise, we’ll help you find a way through this.

Why Have They Contacted Me?

Restons Solicitors will have contacted you because they have been asked to collect money that one of their clients believes you owe them.

Debt collection agencies buy billions of debt annually at rock bottom prices – at an average of 10p to £1², so they’ll chase your debt tirelessly in order to make a profit.

The first thing to do is to check that you actually owe the money. There are allegations online that they try to collect money from people even though they know that those debts are owed by someone else.

You can check that you owe the money that is being claimed by writing to Restons Solicitors, asking them to prove the debt. If they cannot do this, they have to mark the debt as settled.

You should not sign this letter in case your signature is used to create a new document that “proves” you owe the money.

Follow our ‘prove it’ guide with letter templates and get them to prove that you owe the money.

I Owe the Money. What Should I Do Next?

If you have received proof from them and you do indeed owe the debt, you can prevent further steps from being taken against you by settling it. If you cannot settle the debt in full, they may agree to a repayment plan.

What Can Restons Solicitors Do If I Do Not Pay?

The first thing to remember is that they are solicitors, not bailiffs. Solicitors can make your life a misery by constantly writing to you, phoning you and texting you, and they may even visit you at your home, but they have very limited powers. If they visit you at your home you do not have to let them in. You do not even have to answer the door to them.

Reston’s Solicitors uphold the fact that they follow procedures and do not harass their customers. They are hired by their clients to collect debts.

They can, however, take you to court to get a County Court Judgment issued against you. You should not simply ignore 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.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can Restons Solicitors make threats?

Restons Solicitors are not legally allowed to threaten you. It is likely that Reston’s Solicitors will contact you with enforcement action if you ignore their letters.

See my debt options overview page outlining all your possible debt options and pros and cons of each.

If It’s Not Possible to Agree on a Repayment Plan

If it’s not possible to reach an agreement on a repayment schedule you might want to consider a Debt Management Plan, particularly if you have other debts that you are also struggling to pay.

Under a Debt Management Plan, a debt management firm deals with your debt on your behalf. They negotiate lower monthly payments with the people that you owe.

You make a single payment to the debt management company each month, and the debt management company pays all of your creditors from that payment.

To better understand how debt collection timelines work, here’s a quick table that can make things clearer.

If You Cannot Afford to Repay Anything

If you aren’t going to be able to repay the debt, either in full or via some sort of repayment plan, insolvency may be your best option. This comes in a number of forms.

For people on low incomes with no assets, a Debt Relief Order means that you can become debt free in a year provided the amount that you owe is relatively small.

People that don’t qualify for Debt Relief Orders might be better off considering an Individual Voluntary Arrangement. An Individual Voluntary Arrangement usually lasts for five years rather than just the one year, but if you have assets such as a home or a car that you own, you usually get to keep them.

A faster way to become debt-free if you don’t qualify for a Debt Relief Order is bankruptcy. If you go down this route it’s quite possible that you could lose your home, your car, and even your job. There is also a £680 fee that needs to be paid up front. However, if you declared yourself bankrupt you would be debt free at the end of a year once you were discharged from your bankruptcy.

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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Other Debt Collectors 

You should check for more outstanding debts that you may have with other companies or debt collectors. Here are four steps you could take: 

1. Check your credit report for other defaults 
2. Check your email and post for reminders or overdue notices
3. Check the court records for CCJs against you
4. Check your bank statements for the names of other debt collectors 

There are hundreds of debt collectors in the UK and each works with different companies to collect debts.

For example, Cabot Financial have been known to collect for the DVLA while Lowell Financial and PRA Group buy debts from various credit card companies like Barclaycard.

If you see a name on your bank statement that you don’t recognise then you can search MoneyNerd to see if they’re a debt collector. 

Restons Solicitors Contact Details

FAQs

References

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

CONC 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

CONC 7.9 Contact with customers