Intrum is a debt collection company, who purchase and collect debts for a range of companies and individuals. Intrum collects debts for HMRC, Npower, EE, O2, United Utilities, Virgin Media. Intrum also works with Local Authorities to recover council tax arrears or parking tickets.
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Who is Intrum?
Intrum is a debt collection company, who purchase and collect debts for a range of companies and individuals.
Why is Intrum chasing me?
If you have received communication from Intrum, it is likely that you owe money to an organisation or individual. Due to the fact that your account has been passed to Intrum from another source, it is probable that you will not recognise the company name. There could be a range of circumstances which could lead to your account being passed to Intrum, relating to non-payment of monies owed for goods or services, which may or may not have passed through a variety of collections departments. Your initial communication from Intrum should tell you who your initial debt was with, and when it was passed to Intrum.
Is Intrum a legitimate debt collector?
In short, yes. Intrum is a legitimate debt collector. Do not ignore or bin communication from Intrum. As a member of the Credit Services Association, Intrum has passed a range of checks, including the CSA’s Collector Accreditation Initiative, which is a safeguard put in place to ensure that this company is operating in a legal, compliant and fair manner.
Who does Intrum collect for?
Amongst other brands and organisation, Intrum collects debts for HMRC, Npower, EE, O2, United Utilities, Virgin Media. Intrum also works with Local Authorities to recover council tax arrears or parking tickets.
Should I ignore Intrum’s letters or calls?
It is never wise to ignore communication from a legitimate debt collection agency. Intrum is bound by their code of conduct to allow debtors time to explore options for debt management, as well as working with you to work towards a repayment solution. It is impossible for Intrum to do this unless you talk to them.
It is never wise to ignore communication from a legitimate debt collection agency. Intrum is bound by their code of conduct to allow debtors time to explore options for debt management, as well as working with you to work towards a repayment solution. It is impossible for Intrum to do this unless you talk to them. Doing nothing should never be an option, ignoring an unpaid debt will not make it go away and could cause your debt to escalate. Further action could be taken if letters or calls are not responded to.
Can I stop Intrum from contacting me?
No, this will not be possible. As Intrum are working to recover a debt, they are legally obliged to send correspondence to you from time to time. It is, however, possible to express your preferences for how Intrum contact you. This could be in writing rather than over the phone. Your preferences should be abided by.
Is my debt to Intrum debt statute-barred?
A debt may be classed as statute-barred if a number of conditions apply. Statute barring does not apply to all debts in the UK. If you believe your debt may be statute-barred, it is worth seeking legal advice in order to see if the debt can no longer be enforced.
The three criteria which must be met in order for a debt to be statute-barred are:
• the creditor has not had a CCJ registered against you
• you have not made a payment in the limitation period (six years in England, five in Scotland)
• you have not admitted to the debt in writing during the limitation period
I owe the debt and I can afford to pay Intrum. Should I?
Yes. The faster you can repay the debt, the faster Intrum will stop contacting you, allowing you to continue with life as normal.
I can’t afford to pay Intrum. What now?
There is a range of options to people who cannot afford to repay in full.
Firstly, agree on a payment plan with Intrum. This will slice the debt up into a realistic monthly amount, with a timescale that is manageable. This should be done without unreasonable charges, penalties or interest rates.
Other options including an IVA or declaring yourself bankrupt are available in certain cases, but you should always seek financial advice from a qualified and registered adviser before going down this road.
Can I write off my Intrum debts?
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is available for qualifying individuals, which consolidates all existing debt into a single repayment for a set time period. In order to qualify you must have £5,000 of debt which can be from a range of sources, be able to afford the repayment of at least £90 per month and have liabilities which are greater than your assets.
Seeking an IVA should not be done lightly, and financial advice should be taken in order to ensure that this is the best course of action for you.
What action can Intrum take?
In simple terms, Intrum does not have any more powers than the organisation that your original debt is held with. They are not allowed to harass or contact you at unreasonable times. Intrum may send debt collection field agents to your home to talk in person, but these are not bailiffs, and must not enter your home without permission.
In order to send bailiffs to your home, Intrum must take you to court. Similarly, without a ruling, they may not issue a CCJ against you or apply for a charging or attachment of earnings order.
Could my Intrum debts mean that I lose my home?
It is unlikely that your debts with Intrum could lead to your home being lost. Generally speaking, the debts which Intrum will collect are unsecured debts. If you fall behind with payments drastically, Intrum could apply to get the debt secured against your home, but this is often the last resort taken with accounts who are non-responsive.
If you are worried about debt or have a question we have not covered about a debt collection agency, explore the DebtBuffer site or visit our AI chatbot for answers to your questions.
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