File Debt Collector Complaint
Report Debt Collector Misconduct, a complaint to the Debt Collectors Council must be in the form of a written affidavit and must state the date, time and particulars of the incident in question, the name of the debt collector and the name of any witnesses to the incident in question. Within fourteen days of receiving the complaint, the Debt Collectors Council must inform the debt collector concerned of the complaint. The debt collector then has five days within which to respond to the complaint.
What debt collection practices are unacceptable?
Debt collectors are acting illegally if they:
- commit assault, intimidation, trespassing and harassment;
- use physical force against you or to enter your property;
- block access to your premises;
- trespass on your premises after you have asked them to leave, or return after you have told them they are not permitted on your premises;
- embarrass or intimidate you through other people;
- engage in misleading conduct;
- pretend unpaid debts are a criminal offence involving the police or possibly jail;
- provide you with false notices designed to look like court documents;
- threaten that they are going to tell other people about your situation;
- use abusive, racist or obscene language designed to demoralise or humiliate you;
- attempt to tire you out by phoning you more than two or three times per week, late at night or very early in the morning;
- contact you at work, even though you have asked that you not be contacted at work and have, in fact, given alternative contact details to the debt collector.