Every individual in the UK who gets a debt letter from the Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collection agency does not end up settling the debt. However, it’s not a wise decision to ignore their debt letters as well. It’s because ignoring their debt letters can escalate to a situation where you might not be able to settle the debt easily.
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Getting a surprise letter from Shakespeare Martineau Debt Recovery might leave you feeling anxious. Fear not. We’re here to demystify the situation for you.
Questions might be swirling in your mind:
- “Do I really owe them?”
- “Do I have to settle the debt?”
- “What will happen if I’m unable to pay?”
The answers to these questions are crucial and might just change how you view your next steps with Shakespeare Martineau.
But what are these answers, and how will they impact your situation? Stay tuned to find out.
Who Are Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collectors?
Shakespeare Martineau is a law firm that provides debt collection and credit management services in the UK. They offer their debt recovery services to individuals as well as to Corporate organisations, including Business to Business, Credit Agreements, Mortgages (inc shortfall), Rent, Telecoms, and Utilities.
Below are all the listed services offered by them.
Additionally, below are some of the facts that may help you to verify their legitimacy.
- They have registered their business in the Companies House of the UK under the company name “SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLP“.
- Their Companies House registration number is OC319029.
- Their Company registered address is No 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham, England, B4 6AA.
- They are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) under SRA number 442480.
- They are a member of the Credit Service Associaton (CSA).
As you can see, Shakespeare Martineau Law Firm is a legitimate company. Therefore, we strongly suggest you to not to ignore their reachouts, thinking they are a scam.
For that, let us walk you through your options to find a reliable debt solution to your debt issue.
What Do Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collection Want?
There can be mainly three reasons for a debt collection agency, like Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection Agency, to get in touch with you.
Whatever the reason, you need to get in touch with Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection Agency and explore further about their debt letter. But before you get in touch with them, there are some things you need to be aware of first.
Keep reading. You will find out about them eventually within this article.
How Do I Know That This Is My Debt?
You might also get surprised if you receive a debt letter from Shakespeare Martineau Law firm asking you to settle a debt for the first time. Let me walk you through some general steps to follow in these types of situations.
Remember to keep a copy of the request letter and to send it via a traceable mail service. These proof documents come in handy if things escalate to a court issue without you getting a reply from them.
Their reply should at least include a copy of the initial credit agreement you had with your original creditor. Sometimes, even if you find a reference to the debt stating you really owe them from your home. Yet, they might fail to provide you with written proof to verify the debt.
You are not required by law to settle the debt until they provide evidence to prove you owe them.
Sometimes, your debts with Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collection can become legally unenforceable if they are sorted under the Statute-Barred debt category. There are 3 main conditions you need to fulfil simultaneously in order to get a Statute-Barred excuse from the court.
This includes:
Your debt becomes statute-barred if the above three conditions are fulfilled at the same time. As a result, your debt becomes legally unenforceable. However, the debt technically still exists. Simply, it only means that they cannot go to court against you if you decide to ignore paying the debt.
But just because your debt becomes legally unenforceable, it does not mean your credit history will clear your debt as well. Instead, receiving a Statute-Barred excuse for your debt will negatively affect your credit history.
As a result, you may face difficulties in getting new loans and credit cards in the future.
However, not all debts become statute-barred. HMRC debts and debts with a County Court Judgment (CCJ) remain enforceable for extended periods.
Consider seeking legal advice if you’re unsure about how to proceed or if you believe the debt is not valid. A solicitor or a debt advisor can provide guidance on your rights and options.
We have mentioned some of the organisations where you could gain help for free by the end of this article.
I’ve Found Out the Debt Is Legitimate – What Do I Do Now?
The easiest way to stop communication with them is by settling the debt in one go if the Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection proves you really owe them.
Or you can discuss with them to get acceptance for a payment plan if you are facing hardships financially. You need to discuss with them in a manner they get convinced enough that your financial situation is not strong enough to settle the debt in one go.
Surely, they will grant you a payment plan after considering all the facts. Their decision can become strict depending on the current stage of the proceedings. After all, they want to recover the debt.
Therefore, you will surely find a common ground to agree to a mutually agreeable arrangement.
Keep reading there are more ways to handle your debt issue if discussing a repayment plan with Shakespeare Martineau debt agents did not succeed as you expected.
The impact of dealing with debt collectors, including Shakespeare Martineau, can be significant. It’s true. Not all debt collectors play by the rules. Some might use intense tactics, leading to distress and anxiety among debtors.
Remember, it’s not just about the money; it’s about handling the situation in a way that doesn’t harm your well-being. But what about the legal side of things? How are debt collectors regulated? Stay tuned to find out!
What action can Shakespeare Martineau Debt Debt collection agents can take against me?
Let us walk you through how any debt collection agency in the UK, including Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection Agency, will practice their debt collection procedures in general. This explanation will help you understand what will happen to you if you ignore them.
For that, they will send you an initial notice letter noticing their involvement and requesting for you to settle the debt. After the initial letter, they will use all normal communication methods such as letters, emails, and phone calls to get in touch with you and convince you to pay.
Then, they sent you one last letter titled Letter Before Action (LBA). With this LBA letter, they inform you that they will take your debt issue to court if you do not get in touch with them or settle the debt before the due date mentioned in the letter.
Surely, they will take your debt issue to the court to solve it. And the judge will issue a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you if the debts are proven true.
A CCJ makes you legally responsible for the debt. It will be recorded in your credit history and in the public registry for 6 years if you do not settle the debt before passing 30 days of receiving the court order.
Otherwise, the status of the CCJ will be updated to “satisfied” if you manage to settle the debt passing the initial 30-day window.
Receiving a CCJ will negatively affect your credit history. As a result, you may find hardship in getting new loans and credit cards in the future.
The Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection agents will go to court to take a warrant or a writ of conduct to use bailiffs to visit your home and seize belongings if you ignore the initial CCJ conjugation.
Initially, the bailiffs will send you an enforcement notice notifying you that they will visit your home in 7 days. With the warrant in hand, the bailiffs will visit your home and seize your belongings if you do not settle the debt.
Then, the seized goods will be stored in a warehouse and eventually sold in an auction to cover their expenses and total debt.
As you can see, it is not wise to wait till things escalate to this extent. There is plenty of time in between these procedures. We strongly recommend for you to use that time to find a reliable solution.
What You Need to Know About Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collection
Navigating the complexities of dealing with Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collection requires a good grasp of their strategies and your legal rights. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Debt collectors, including Shakespeare Martineau Debt Collection, operate on the basis of profit. They purchase debts at a low cost and employ agents with targets and incentives, motivating them to secure payments.
Hence, their agents may sometimes resort to persistent and aggressive tactics.
Debt collectors are relentless and won’t give up easily. Ignoring letters or calls won’t deter them, and they will continue their efforts until all avenues are exhausted or legal time limits expire. As a result, sometimes you may experience constant phone calls, a number of emails and letters.
They might even do home visits to urge you into settling the debt in extreme cases where you ignore them for a long time in all other normal communication methods. As you can see, it’s not easy to avoid communication with them in the long run.
Sometimes, you may experience the following behaviours from debt collectors.
- Handling Aggression: Encounters with forceful agents can be challenging. They may initially be polite, but this can quickly change if they realise payment isn’t immediate. It’s important not to internalise this aggression.
- Abuse is Not Acceptable: If an agent becomes abusive, it’s crucial to know this isn’t something you should tolerate.
It is advised to document excessive contact (recording their interactions and voice calls included) and report any abusive behaviour to the Financial Ombudsman Service(FOS).
Keep in mind you need strong proof to make a complaint and make an impact on them.
It may be surprising, but certain debt collectors go to the extent of sharing details about the debt with third parties, even if it’s a family member. Such actions are entirely inappropriate.
The debt collector should only communicate about the debt directly with you and no one else. If they engage in this behaviour, they are violating various laws, including privacy laws, and it is advisable to consider reporting them for such breaches.
Most of the debtors tend to think that debt collectors and bailiffs are the same. But in reality, it’s not. Here is a small comparison between debt collecting agents and bailiffs to give you an idea about them.
Role: Hired by creditors to recover unpaid debts. | Role: Authorised by the court to enforce debt payment. |
Authority: Operate within civil law. Cannot enter homes or seize assets. | Authority: Have legal powers. Can enter homes and seize assets. |
Communication: Contact debtors to negotiate and encourage voluntary repayment. | Action: Involved after legal proceedings that may include seizing possessions to cover the debt. |
As you can see, Debtors like you should be aware of your rights and report any deceptive actions.
What Regulations Are They Required to Follow?
As previously mentioned, Shakespeare Martineau Law Firm should operate under the regulatory oversight of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Moreover, they are obligated to adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the Financial Conduct Authority while in their pursuit of debt recovery. This implies that you possess certain rights in your interactions with them.
The following are actions they are prohibited from taking when handling your case:
If you believe they have violated any of these regulations, you have the right to file a formal complaint. It’s better to make a complaint to the Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors head office about the unethical practice their agents conduct on you, giving them a chance to solve the issue internally.
Then, in the event that the issue is not satisfactorily resolved, you can escalate your concerns to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection may end up paying huge fines and compensation if they are proven guilty of your accusations regarding unethical debt collection practices.
Keep in mind always to provide provable proof in order to make your complaint case strong. Otherwise, it will become a waste of time since there is no proof to prove your issue. For that, make sure to document and record every communication you had with them.
What if you cannot afford the payment plan suggested by the Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection?
Sometimes, you may encounter difficulties in agreeing to the proposed payment plans from the Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt Collection Agency, especially if they are financially burdensome.
In such situations, it is advisable to explore alternative debt solutions that can effectively address your debt-related concerns. In the UK, there are various alternative debt solutions to consider.
However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that each of these debt solutions has specific eligibility criteria. Selecting the right one can lead to debt resolution, while choosing the wrong one could worsen your financial circumstances.
Hence, seeking guidance from a professional debt advisor is a prudent step to take if you find it challenging to determine the most suitable debt solution on your own.
if you need personalised assistance based on your current financial situation, please feel free to complete our online form by clicking here to receive help from our Money Advisor Team.
Other Debt Collectors:
You need to be aware of other unsettled debts you have with other companies or debt collectors. Here is a summarised breakthrough for you to follow and track your debts.
Ensure you’re not overlooking any debts. Here’s how:
- Credit Report: Examine it for any defaults.
- Communications: Peruse emails and postal reminders or overdue notices.
- Legal Stand: Look up court records for CCJs you might have.
- Bank Statements: Search for unfamiliar names that might be debt collectors.
Hundreds operate in the UK, each associated with diverse companies.
- Cabot Financial: Often associated with the DVLA.
- Lowell Financial & PRA Group: Famously acquire debts from credit card giants like Barclaycard.
Shakespeare Martineau Contact Details
Effective communication with Shakespeare Martineau can often lead to more favourable outcomes. Here’s how you can reach them:
Website: | https://www.shma.co.uk/ |
Phone: | 0330 024 0333 |
Address: | Birmingham Office: 60 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0HR Telephone: + 44 (0)20 7264 4444Bristol: 6 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4JE Telephone: 0117 906 9400 Lincoln: Waterfront House, Waterfront Plaza Nottingham NG2 3DQ London: 60 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0HR Nottingham: Waterfront House Waterfront Plaza Nottingham NG2 3DQ Stratford Upon Avon: Bridgeway House Bridgeway Stratford upon Avon CV37 6YX |
Debt charities are here to help!
If the complexities of debt have you feeling cornered, remember there’s always help available. Organisations like National Debtline and StepChange provide stellar support to those in need.
Empower yourself with knowledge and seek assistance when needed. You’re never alone in this.
key points
- If you receive a letter from Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt, it’s essential to stay calm and thoroughly read the content.
- There are a number of individuals in the UK who have managed to write off a portion of their debt using debt solutions available in the country.
- The best course of action upon receipt is to verify the claim’s authenticity and, if necessary, seek legal or financial advice.
- Direct communication with Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt can lead to a better understanding and potentially end up taking an affordable settlement.
- While Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt is a notable entity, there are other debt collectors; it’s vital to research and verify each one.
- Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt has its official channels for communication. The Shakespeare Martineau Manchester website provides crucial contact details.
- Ignoring communications from Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt or any other debt collector is not advised. It’s better to understand your rights and options.
- Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt, while one among many, is known for its reputable and legitimate services in the debt collection sector.
- Ensuring you’re informed about debt solutions like IVA can help you navigate challenging debt scenarios effectively.
- Remember, while Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Debt is doing their job, they must respect your rights and work within legal boundaries.