Stop Harassment From First Plus Debt Collectors Quickly

Harassing phone calls and home visits from debt collection agencies do more than just add to your stress level. Such harassment leads to job losses, invasion of privacy, marital instability, and more. Luckily, your rights as a consumer are protected by UK laws.

If you fell behind in paying a First Plus debt and feel you are being harassed by the creditor or debt collectors, DoNotPay can help you take appropriate action to protect yourself. We will help you determine whether your debt collector is compliant with the relevant guidelines concerning debt collections. We will then contact the debt collectors with a demand letter on your behalf if we establish they have breached existing laws.

Does First Plus Use Debt Collectors?

First Plus sold all its unpaid debts to another company called Elderbridge in 2016. Elderbridge doesn't offer its own loans or credit services but only buys outstanding debts from other creditors. They also collect debts on behalf of other creditors and loan companies. If you have received Elderbridge debt letters, you likely have an unpaid First Plus debt.

If you need to get in touch with Elderbridge, here are their contact details:

Can First Plus Debt Chase Me for Old Debts?

If the outstanding debt you are being asked to resolve is really old, it could meet the statute-barred criteria. This means you don't have to pay anything because it cannot go to court. A statute-barred debt is one that meets all of the following criteria:

• The debt is more than six years old
• It has never received a CCJ
• It has not been acknowledged or paid in the last six years

If this is the case, you should send the debt collector a statute-barred letter.

Another way First Plus (Elderbridge) won’t be able to chase you for old debt is when they don't have proof of your debt. You should send them a “prove the debt” letter and if they cannot prove you owe the debt, then they cannot enforce anything on you nor bring you to court.

What Are My Options to Settle First Plus Debts?

If the creditor can prove your debt, the best thing is to find a way to pay. There are several options to help you clear the debt stress-free. These include a payment plan and IVA.

Can I Pay off a Debt With the First Plus PPI Claim?

First Plus used to add Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) onto their loans. During this time, you could claw back a significant amount of money by making a First Plus PPI claim. Unfortunately, the deadline to make a PPI claim ended in August 2019. This means you won't pay off your First Plus or Elderbridge debt with money from PPI claims.

Can Debt Collectors Access My Bank Account Balance?

Debt collectors don't have access to your bank balance. However, they may use other ways to determine your personal circumstances if you fail to keep up with CCJ. However, this can only happen very late in the debt collection process. This means debt collectors don't know anything regarding your personal financial situation most of the time.

What Constitutes Debt Collector Harassment?

Often debt collectors resort to threatening you to force you to pay. The following actions from the creditor or debt collector amount to harassment:

• Use of obscene language
• Threats of violence or legal action
• Harassing texts messages
• A creditor who calls too often
• Visits to workplace
• Informs others, including friends and family, about your debt situation

While you should not ignore debt collection notices, you should also not allow debt collectors to harass you.

How to Stop Debt Collector Harassment by Yourself

The following is a DIY method to stop any debt collector harassment, including Elderbridge which collects First Plus debts:

1. Write a letter: The first step is to write a letter to the DCA or creditor to cease communication.
2. Document evidence: You should then document all contacts and harassment messages. Keep a log of the debt collector's harassment. You can record the conversations with the debt collector or have another person present during calls.
3. File a complaint: If the debt collector continues to harass you, file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman and the FCA.

Get Debt Help With DoNotPay

Whether you were recently contacted or have been harassed for months, DoNotPay can help you determine whether your debt collector is compliant with debt collection laws. After guiding you through a series of questions, we'll help you decide which course of action you should take and contact the debt collectors with a demand letter on your behalf. If you choose to report the collection agency to a governing body instead, we'll file the complaint on your behalf. The following are the steps to get you started:

1. Search "debt collection" on DoNotPay.

2. Answer a series of questions about the debt collectors, including when you were contacted and how you were contacted, so we can determine if they have violated any debt collection laws.

3. Decide which course of action you want to take based on our guidance, such as filing a debt verification request, demanding for the collectors to stop contacting you, or reporting them to a professional trade association.

And that's it! Once you choose the course of action you want to take, DoNotPay will handle the rest. We'll deliver your request directly to the debt collectors via first-class mail or file your complaint automatically with the relevant trade association or ombudsman.

DoNotPay Can Help

Although most debt collectors obey the law, some cross the line and engage in illegal ways to collect the debt. If you believe First Plus or its agents are harassing you over a due debt, take action to protect yourself. DoNotPay can help you build a formidable case to protect your rights.

DoNotPay can also help you deal with other creditors and debt collection agencies, such as:

• Moorcroft Debt Recovery
• Advantis Debt Collection
• Amigo Loans
• Provident Loans
• Marston Group Holdings
• Lowell Financial
• DWP Debt Management

Join us today to learn more!