Facing a debt notice from Cohen and Co can be daunting, yet dismissing them isn’t wise—it might just lead to deeper trouble. What options lie ahead for you with Cohen and Co on your trail? Stay tuned, as the next steps could change the game.
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Dealing With Howard Cohen & Co Solicitors Debts
You receive a call, and Cohen and Co are on the other end, claiming you owe money. Should you just accept their word and pay up? Not necessarily. What if Howard Cohen & Co Debt Collectors can’t prove your debt with a valid credit agreement? Let’s take a look.
Debt collection companies use various tactics to get you to pay. Some may call you multiple times, threaten legal action or even harass you. But no matter what tactic they use, it is your right to confirm the validity of your debt.
Sometimes:
In both cases, you might not have to pay. We will discuss this in detail later in the article.
Who Are Cohen and Co Solicitors Debt Collectors?
Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that Cohen and Co Debt Collectors are more than just a voice on the phone. They’re a debt recovery service operating in the UK and is based in West Yorkshire.
They have also been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in order to collect debt across the UK, including England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. So if Cohen and Co reaches out to you, it’s most likely to collect a debt that you owe.
Is Cohen and Co Solicitors a Legitimate Company?
Yes, Cohen and Co is a legitimate debt collection company. They have been given approval to operate in the UK, and they are supposed to strictly follow the guidelines of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Furthermore, they are also obligated to follow the rules of The Office for Fair Trading, which helps to protect debtors from unfair treatment from debt collectors.
Why Are Howard Cohen and Co Solicitors Debt Collectors Reaching Out?
There are two main reasons why Cohen and Co Solicitors might reach out to you:
Creditors are not experts at chasing debtors for money. So, in this case, they will hire a debt collection agency like Cohen and Co to collect the money on behalf of them.
But if a creditor feels like a debt is not worth chasing, they might sell the debt to a debt recovery agency like Cohen and Co. This will help them to reduce some of their losses. The company will purchase the debt for a lower value than what it’s worth.
They will afterwards chase you themselves to recover the money. Once they successfully get the money from you, they make a profit. But if they fail, they make a loss.
This is why you might notice that some debt collection agencies even use harsh tactics to recover the debt. So your financial woes might not sway them; they’re looking at potential profit since they got the debt cheaply.
What Steps Should I Take If Cohen and Co Reaches Out to Me?
If you receive a debt collection letter from Cohen and Co, you should:
Cohen and Co claim you owe money, but is the debt really yours? Don’t rush to pay without proof. Ask Howard Cohen & Co Debt Collectors for the original credit agreement. You can do this by sending a “Prove the Debt letter”.
Many debt collection companies hope that you will pay the debt without asking for proof. But note that it’s crucial you confirm if the debt is yours. This is because mistakes can happen. And there’s a chance that Cohen and Co might be contacting you assuming that you’re someone else.
So, if you pay the debt without confirming, you’re basically paying off someone else’s debt.
As scary as this may sound, it is completely avoidable. Simply send them a “Prove the debt letter”. They should then reply to you with proof, such as the original credit agreement.
But if they fail to show you proof of the debt, you don’t have to pay. If they take you to court after failing to show you proof, inform the judge that you requested them for proof, and they failed to.
Show the judge proof of this. He will:
If Howard Cohen and Co reaches out to you, it is also important that you check if your debt is statute-barred. In the UK, a debt becomes statute-barred if:
- You have not made any payments in the last six years (5 years in Scotland)
- You have not admitted to owing the debt in the last six years
- You have not received a County Court Judgement (CCJ) for it
If your debt is statute-barred, it becomes unenforceable. This means that the court cannot recover it if you don’t pay. The reason this exists is because it is unfair for a creditor to decide to recover a debt after such a long time.
Also, it helps the court to save time and focus more on cases that are recent. Old cases like this can be complicated to resolve as important documents may be lost or misplaced.
But note that there are some debt collectors that even chase debtors for statute-barred debts. So, you might not entirely be free from the burden of debt.
Also, some debts cannot become statute barred. This includes:
- HMRC debts
- Debts that have received a County Court Judgement (CCJ)
Should You Pay Howard Cohen and Co?
If Howard Cohen and Co proves that the debt is yours by sending the original credit agreement or if you find out that your debt is not statute-barred, then you should pay the debt. Note that if you don’t pay the debt in this case, they can take legal action against you. If the situation escalates, they might even get bailiffs to seize your assets.
So, if you’re able to pay, it is wise to pay. But if you’re struggling financially and you’re unable to pay, there are other options you can take. This includes:
- Repayment plans: Request them for a payment plan, and they will provide you the option to pay the debt in affordable monthly payments.
- Debt solutions: Take up a debt solution and if you might be able to write off some of your debt.
We will discuss this in detail later in the article. So keep reading.
What Will Happen if I Ignore Howard Cohen and Co?
If you ignore Cohen and Co, things could get sticky. This is because if you don’t reply, they might take you to court. In this case, the court will issue you a County Court Judgement (CCJ). If you ignore the CCJ, the court will be able to send bailiffs to your house and seize your assets.
Once they seize your assets, they will sell them at an auction and recover the amount that you owe. So, ignoring Howard Cohen and Co is not a wise decision. It can complicate things and worsen your situation. Even if you’re struggling to pay the debt, communication with the debt collector is crucial.
Communicating with them and resolving the matter directly is better than having to go to court and deal with the negative impacts of a CCJ.
A CCJ is a judgement from the court requesting you to pay the debt. It simply means that the court agrees with your creditor that you owe the money. A CCJ includes details such as:
- The amount you owe
- How and who to pay
- The final date to make the payment
Once you receive a CCJ, it negatively impacts your credit report. So, getting credit thereafter will be a task. The CCJ will be visible on your credit report. This is the information that lenders receive from credit reference agencies. So, the lender may use this information to see if it’s safe to lend you credit.
If they notice the CCJ, then they might decide not to offer you credit. This is because it indicates that you have had difficulty paying off debts in the past, and the court had to get involved.
If your CCJ is more than six years old, it won’t appear on the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines.
You might be able to get your entry removed from the register if:
- You’re able to prove that you don’t owe the money
- You manage to pay the debt within one month of receiving the CCJ (you’ll have to show proof of the certificate to prove it, and in this case, it will be marked as ‘satisfied’)
If the court removes the entry from the register, they will inform the credit reference agency. It will then be removed from your record. After it gets removed, you will find it easier to borrow money again.
What if You Can’t Afford to Pay?
If you’re unable to pay, you can request Howard Cohen and Co for a repayment plan. In this case, they will fix up a repayment plan with affordable monthly installments. Note that you don’t have to agree to anything that you cannot afford.
Make sure to check it and confirm only if you’re sure you can pay. If you agree to a repayment plan and fail to make payments again, this might worsen the situation, and they might take action against you.
You can also consider taking up a debt solution if you’re unable to even afford a repayment plan. There are multiple debt solutions available in the UK. Note that while the right debt solution will help you to write off debt, the wrong one can worsen your situation.
So, get some advice before you decide on a debt solution. In this case, feel free to reach out to a debt charity, and they will provide you advice. Alternatively, fill out our online form and our MoneyAdvisor team will guide you.
- Debt Management Plan (DMP): This informal plan lets you pay a single monthly payment towards your debts, without any strict legal ties.
- Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): It’s a formal setup where you pay monthly, and creditors agree to back off. After 5 or 6 years, any remaining debt disappears. But IVAs aren’t for everyone—you’ll need a steady income and you should owe several thousand pounds to multiple creditors.
- Trust Deed: In Scotland, the IVA’s cousin is the Trust Deed. It’s a similar deal but with a Scottish twist.
- Debt Relief Order (DRO): If you’re really struggling, with minimal income and no assets, a DRO puts your payments on pause for one year.
- Bankruptcy: As a last resort, bankruptcy can wipe the slate clean, but it’s got some serious consequences.
How Can I Stop Howard Cohen and Co From Reaching Out To Me?
If you want Cohen and Co to stop reaching out to you, the best option is to make the payment. Note that ignoring them will only make their reachouts more persistent. You can also ask them for a payment plan. If you receive a payment plan, they will stop contacting you. But make sure to pay the instalments on time.
Furthermore, even though there is no other way to completely put a stop to their reachouts, you can limit it. In order to do this, ask them to reach out to you only through one communication mode. You can ask them to contact you only at a specific time by phone, email, etc.
Once you let them know this, they are obligated to respect your request. If they still continue to contact you through other modes, it can be considered as harassment.
What Rules and Regulations Should Howard Cohen & Co Follow?
When it comes to debt collection, Cohen and Co must play by the rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to protect you. Let’s unwrap these rules:
- Fairness Is Key: Cohen and Co should be fair and avoid aggression. They can’t bully you into paying up.
- Clarity Matters: They must be clear and honest. No misleading information is allowed.
- Consideration for Your Situation: If you’re struggling, Cohen and Co need to show some understanding.
- Proportional Actions: They should take into account your ability to pay.
In a case where they break any of these rules or mistreat you, you have the right to report them. Also, make sure to have proof so that it will make the complaint process much smoother.
How Do Howard Cohen & Co Solicitors Debt Collectors Operate?
New to dealing with Cohen and Co? It’s key to know how they operate:
Cohen and Co might call non-stop because they bought your debt cheap and want to make it count. If they fail to collect the debt from you, they make a loss. This means that they profit only if you pay. This is why some debt collectors will do whatever it takes to get you to. They might use various tactics that might even seem illegal.
Note that this intimidation is a trick debt collectors use to get debtors to pay. Just because they’re persistent doesn’t mean you should pay without a plan.
So, Can’t afford it? Talk repayment options with Cohen and Co. They cannot force you to pay a debt that you cannot afford to pay. Some debtors crack under pressure and pay the debt even when they cannot afford it because they cannot handle the intimidation and pressure anymore.
Endless calls from Cohen and Co? That’s a no-go. It’s not just pushy; it’s against the rules. Even though many debt collectors do this, they are not allowed to call debtors at a rate. This is a tactic they use to pressure debtors into paying the debt. Note that in a case like this, you have the right to report them.
Cohen and Co should never use scare tactics. A common tactic that debt collectors use is going from being friendly and understanding to aggressive and pushy. They might even tell lies or threaten you. In a case like this, you don’t have to tolerate them. So, make sure to report such behaviour.
A common rule that debt collectors should follow is that they cannot discuss your debt with anyone other than you. But some may discuss your debts with family members or even coworkers if they pick up the phone instead of you. Note that this is illegal and goes against privacy laws. So, feel free to report them.
How Do I Make a Complaint Against Howard Cohen & Co Solicitors?
If you want to make a complaint against Cohen and Co, first inform the issue directly to them. This will give them time to resolve the matter themselves. But if they refuse to look into your issue or you don’t receive a response from them, escalate it.
In this case, reach out to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will look into the issue and take action against them. They might even have to pay a fine or compensation to you.
Also, note that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulates Howard Cohen and Co. So it is compulsory that they follow the rules of the SRA. Note that you should make a complaint to the SRA only if there is any issue with their legal conduct or legal advice.
Howard Cohen & Co Solicitors Contact Details
Getting in touch with Cohen and Co to sort out your debt is crucial. But how do you contact them, and what should you prepare for the conversation?
| Phone number: | 0113-244 0597 |
| Fax: | 0113-242 1291 |
| Address: | 29 Park Sq West, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2PQ. |
Will Howard Cohen & Co Affect My Credit Score?
The involvement of Howard Cohen & Co Debt Collectors in your financial matters can affect your credit score. When you don’t make payments, credit bureaus will assign them into different categories.
This includes:
- 30 days late,
- 60 days late,
- 120 days late.
The more time passes without you paying off the debt, it will continue to affect your credit score. A debt in collections is one of the most negative items that can appear on your credit file.
This is because it is an indication that your original creditor failed to collect the debt from you, and they sold it to a collector. In this case, it will appear as ‘sold’. So, because of this, lenders will refuse to offer credit once they see this.
Also, some lenders check how frequently your debts were sold to collectors. So, a person who has only one debt transferred to a debt collector might find it easier to receive approval for credit in comparison to someone with multiple debt collections.
But note that this will be visible on your credit report for only six years. After this period, you will find it easier to borrow money again.
Request Howard Cohen and Co to Write off Your Debt
If you’re struggling to make payments, you can request Howard Cohen and Co to write off your debt. You can inform them in writing of your situation and state that there is no possibility of you ever paying off the debt. Include the amount that you can pay and request them to write off the balance.
Also, keep in mind:
- If you offer a higher amount, there is a high chance they will agree to write off the rest.
- If they agree to your offer, do not discard any important information for at least six years.
So, if the debt collection company changes their mind in the future and asks you to pay, you have to proof of the agreement.
Tactics Used By Debt Collectors
When it comes to collecting money you owe, debt collectors might use various methods to get you to pay. But if they feel like nothing is working, they may start threatening or even tell lies. A common lie that debt collectors say is that they are bailiffs or that they have similar powers.
Note that debt collectors and bailiffs are completely different. Debt collectors don’t have the right to seize your assets like bailiffs. Sometimes, debt collectors might even call you, pretending that they are calling from court.
Such lies and behaviour can cause stress and pressure to debtors. Due to this, some debtors decide to pay the debt even when it would worsen their living conditions.
You don’t have to tolerate such behaviour:
- If you feel like they are mistreating you, feel free to report them
- Don’t allow them to come into your house. Make a complaint if they force themselves in.
- If you feel threatened or worried about your safety because of their actions, reach out to the police.
Staying On Top Of Your Debts
When faced with multiple debt collectors, it’s crucial to stay organized. Could Howard Cohen & Co Debt Collectors be using different names, and how do you keep track to ensure you don’t miss any crucial information? Always check your emails and posts to confirm if they are using different names.
A few companies in the UK include:
- Cabot Financial ( Also bought Wescot Credit Services recently)
- Lowell Financial (also owns Overdales and uses both names when collecting debts)
- Robinson Way (Also uses the name Hoist Finance)
- Credit Style (Also uses the name CST Law)
- PRA Group (Uses multiple names)
Additional Help and Guidance
When you’re up against Howard Cohen & Co Debt Collectors and feeling overwhelmed, remember that you’re not alone.
There are many debt charities in the UK that offer free advice. A few debt charities that you can reach out to include:
- National Debtline,
- StepChange,
- Citizens Advice,
- Debt Advice Foundation.
Key Points
- Before engaging with Cohen and Co, ensure they can show a valid credit agreement for the debt they claim you owe.
- Always verify the accuracy of the debt Cohen and Co lists under your name before proceeding with any payments.
- If the debt is indeed yours, strategise to clear it quickly with Cohen and Co, or establish a feasible repayment plan that won’t strain your finances.
- Cohen and Co must operate within the FCA guidelines, ensuring no harassment or breach of confidentiality takes place during their collection process.
- Explore support from free debt advice organisations to understand your options, including the possibility of an IVA, which Cohen and Co should respect as a debt solution.
