Complaining to the Office of Fair
Trading.
The Office of Fair Trading issues Consumer Credit Licences to
companies that are in business as Debt Collectors.
This is certainly a “grey” area, with some bailiff
companies denying that they require a licence because they are
enforcing a warrant, not collecting
a debt. For this reason, many claim that they do not have a Licence…..this
is not true!!! Most bailiff companies do have a Consumer Credit Licence.
If you are considering issuing a complaint to the Office of Fair
Trading, you can only do so, if the company that you wish to complain
about currently hold a valid Consumer Credit Licence. By visiting
the Bailiff’s Complaints section
in our Downloads area, you will find
full details of the many bailiff companies
who do have a current Consumer Credit
Licence, together with their licence number, expiry date and details
of where you should address any complaint. This information was
provided to us by the Public Register Department of the
Office of Fair Trading.
In July 2003, the OFT published it's long overdue Debt Collection
Guidance, (details of which are below). This guide caused concern
within the Enforcement Profession, as it became clear that there
could be serious consequences on those bailiff companies that
hold a Consumer Credit Licence if there are a large number of complaints made by the public.
This is because the OFT can issue a warning letter, impose restrictions
on their licence, or; in extreme cases: suspend their Licence
altogether. As the majority of bailiff
companies provide other debt related
services that do require them to have a Licence, they would wish
to avoid complaints, if at all possible.
By clicking on the link below, you will find a copy of the Debt
Collection Guidance issued by the Office of Fair Trading
in July 2003, and further updated in December 2006, which may
assist you in identifying if a complaint can be made.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf
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