What is creditor harassment?

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) produced a code of guidance in 2006 which all banks should follow when trying to collect unpaid debts.

Under this code a number of actions by creditors are considered to be harassment

To find out more, continue reading below.

OFT debt collecting code of guidance

• Contacting you at unreasonable times (for example at work or late in the evening) even when asked not to.
• Contacting you too frequently
• Pressurising you to pay in full or in large instalments you cannot afford
• Trying to embarrass you in public or threatening to tell a third party about your debts such as your employer, a neighbour or your family.
• Refusing to deal with an adviser acting on your behalf
• Not accepting reasonable offers or passing on payments you make
• Implying action can be taken that is not legally possible such as implying they could take your property (based on non payment of unsecured debt)

In addition to the Office of Fair Trading code of guidance, banks are obliged to adhere to the law when it comes to the harassment of their clients.

Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act deals with punishing creditors for the unlawful harassment of their indebted clients.