Has anyone here ever had to use a debt collector?

Dep!

What was your experience and did they recover all your money? Ive tried letters and all the usual routes with someone who owes me money and nothing yet after a long time of trying.

I realise this is After Hours so not all (if any) replies will be serious but Im not quite sure where else to post it on Boards.

In general how successful are debt collectors?

The Backwards Man

Dep! wrote: »

What was your experience and did they recover all your money? Ive tried letters and all the usual routes with someone who owes me money and nothing yet after a long time of trying.

I realise this is After Hours so not all (if any) replies will be serious but Im not quite sure where else to post it on Boards.

In general how successful are debt collectors?

Unless it's a massive amount of money it's always more bother than it's worth. If it is a massive amount of money it's usually more bother than it's worth.

Menas

Do the small claims court help here?

kneemos

The old solicitors letter might be worth a try.

For Forks Sake

Dep! wrote: »

What was your experience and did they recover all your money? Ive tried letters and all the usual routes with someone who owes me money and nothing yet after a long time of trying.

I realise this is After Hours so not all (if any) replies will be serious but Im not quite sure where else to post it on Boards.

In general how successful are debt collectors?

You should employ a firm of attitude adjusters. Money back, no questions asked.

Zippie84

Dep! wrote: »

What was your experience and did they recover all your money? Ive tried letters and all the usual routes with someone who owes me money and nothing yet after a long time of trying.

I realise this is After Hours so not all (if any) replies will be serious but Im not quite sure where else to post it on Boards.

In general how successful are debt collectors?

Was there a written contract between you and the person?

The other fella

sledge-hammer.jpg

The Backwards Man

The other fella wrote: »

sledge-hammer.jpg

This would be just as useless at getting your dough back

dodderangler

The other fella wrote: »

sledge-hammer.jpg

Or have someone sing sledgehammer.
They'd have to pay them to stop and there's your money back.

Desolation Of Smug

Dep! wrote: »

What was your experience and did they recover all your money? Ive tried letters and all the usual routes with someone who owes me money and nothing yet after a long time of trying.

I realise this is After Hours so not all (if any) replies will be serious but Im not quite sure where else to post it on Boards.

In general how successful are debt collectors?

Depends on the debtor. You can't get blood out of a stone, even if you beat it. If they're not broke, the mere threat of being beaten like a stone can be very effective, but the smart ones run to the authorities and the authorities tend to beat the beater. Or you'll get a nice, smart judgement from a Court, promising €x per week/month/year/decade and the debtor pays you €0. Then you go back to court and do the dance again. Others fold at the sight of a solicitors letter. It's a complicated field.

Frankly, if it is money you can manage without, forgetting it is easier, and if it is money you can't afford to live without, you probably can't afford to pursue it fully. Also, some people are bigger cnuts than the person/s you hire to "get" the money back. This happens too. That can get interesting as well.

professore

I did once with a customer who got me to do work and then ignored me completely. It was a proper company, not some crowd of ex-cons. They took 30% but they did get the money out of them. I was delighted as I expected to get nothing - also felt good to soften their cough.

Dep!

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Unless it's a massive amount of money it's always more bother than it's worth. If it is a massive amount of money it's usually more bother than it's worth.

Its in the thousands.

Trigger Happy wrote: »

Do the small claims court help here?

Im not sure.

kneemos wrote: »

The old solicitors letter might be worth a try.

Worth a try maybe.

Zippie84 wrote: »

Was there a written contract between you and the person?

I was invoicing them and they sent cheques. All was grand until the cheques stopped coming.

The other fella

If the sledgehammer method does fail, extreme times call for extreme measures... 51Fc4yr474L._SY300_.jpg

Zippie84

Dep! wrote: »

I was invoicing them and they sent cheques. All was grand until the cheques stopped coming.

Wasn't sure if it was just a mate that hadn't re-paid money you'd lent them or what.

Definitely sounds worth pursuing, question, I guess is how. (BTW Think maximum claim at the small claims court is €2k)

Out of interest, cheques stopped coming, but are they responding to communications chasing them / what are they saying?

What were the terms under which you did business with them?

I'm also thinking that may be worth asking in the business management forum if you think that applies, as guessing others there may have had experience of it.

Dep!

Zippie84 wrote: »

Out of interest, cheques stopped coming, but are they responding to communications chasing them / what are they saying?

.

Phone numbers changed and no longer replying to my emails.

Zippie84

Dep! wrote: »

Phone numbers changed and no longer replying to my emails.

are they an organisation or just a person?

Dep!

Desolation Of Smug wrote: »

Depends on the debtor. You can't get blood out of a stone, even if you beat it. If they're not broke, the mere threat of being beaten like a stone can be very effective, but the smart ones run to the authorities and the authorities tend to beat the beater. Or you'll get a nice, smart judgement from a Court, promising €x per week/month/year/decade and the debtor pays you €0. Then you go back to court and do the dance again. Others fold at the sight of a solicitors letter. It's a complicated field.

Frankly, if it is money you can manage without, forgetting it is easier, and if it is money you can't afford to live without, you probably can't afford to pursue it fully. Also, some people are bigger cnuts than the person/s you hire to "get" the money back. This happens too. That can get interesting as well.

Great feedback thanks.

Its the principle of the matter for me, their sheer arrogance is staggering. If it was hundreds Id let it go, but not thousands.

You seem to have a lot of experience in this field. Based on what Ive bolded above, did the debt collector end up turning on you?

Dep!

Zippie84 wrote: »

are they an organisation or just a person?

A limited company that I think has since changed to Sole Trader.

Banjo String

Op seriously, pm me, I'll get your cash back.

Well discuss my commission in the pm.

Dep!

For Forks Sake wrote: »

You should employ a firm of attitude adjusters. Money back, no questions asked.

Wasnt that why Martin "The Viper" Foley's company was so successful?

CruelCoin

Dep! wrote: »

What was your experience and did they recover all your money? Ive tried letters and all the usual routes with someone who owes me money and nothing yet after a long time of trying.

I realise this is After Hours so not all (if any) replies will be serious but Im not quite sure where else to post it on Boards.

In general how successful are debt collectors?

Yes, we've used them.

Once a group we used was quite.....strong??. Effective, but ensured no ongoing business.
New guy we use from time to time, has the worlds most epic gift of the gab, and talks his way into getting us our money.

Both usually got us everything we were owed. There is always the question of "but what if the collectors come across too strong and ruin future busines for you with this customer?". Then again, if they've not paid in over a year, they're not the customers you want anyway.

Desolation Of Smug

Dep! wrote: »

Great feedback thanks.

Its the principle of the matter for me, their sheer arrogance is staggering. If it was hundreds Id let it go, but not thousands.

You seem to have a lot of experience in this field. Based on what Ive bolded above, did the debt collector end up turning on you?

Not at all. My Daughter used to run a collections service for unpaid debts, generally inter-business. I used to hear all about the travails. There's more rules about what the collection agency can't do than what the debtor has to do. I understand your frustration, it is pretty soul destroying when people refuse to pay for work you have done. There's a lot of it out there.

BeerWolf

My mother once got a friend of hers, a really big fella (used to be a contractor[merc]), to accompany her while demanding a tenant to pay [hasn't paid for a number of months... and the place became an absolute state]. Got the message across quick and said tenant left while my mother kept the deposit... which didn't come close to repairing the place.

smash

Debt collectors are scumbags, and legally they don't really have much remit. Threatening behaviour from a debt collector will cause more damage to your business reputation then anything else. If a client isn't paying you, you cut their service and peruse your losses through solicitors and the small claims court. Not by hiring thugs.

listermint

smash wrote: »

Debt collectors are scumbags, and legally they don't really have much remit. Threatening behaviour from a debt collector will cause more damage to your business reputation then anything else. If a client isn't paying you, you cut their service and peruse your losses through solicitors and the small claims court. Not by hiring thugs.

Not paying your bills are we Smash ?

smash

listermint wrote: »

Not paying your bills are we Smash ?

No, I pay my bills. I had dealing with debt collectors once after switching mobile networks. I was out of contract, paid my final bill and moved network. Then I got a letter from my old network stating that I owed them just over €100. I called and queried it, they noted that I had paid my bill upon moving network, also that I was out of contract when I moved, but they didn't cancel my account until 3 months after I had moved. They pushed to get the money and I told them to f*ck off. Debt collects called me and I told them to f*ck off too. I'll never return to the network.

Valetta

Dep! wrote: »

A limited company that I think has since changed to Sole Trader.

Can you establish whether the limited company is still in existence?

If not, then you don't really have a chance.

Going after the individual could land you in serious trouble.

Dep!

smash wrote: »

Debt collectors are scumbags, and legally they don't really have much remit. Peruse your losses through solicitors and the small claims court. Not by hiring thugs.

Not all debt collectors are scumbags. Im sure 70% of them in this day and age use methods within the law.

smash wrote: »

No, I pay my bills. I had dealing with debt collectors once after switching mobile networks.

So a major phone company sent heavies to your door over a 100 euro bill? That doesnt really add up to me.

circadian

The other fella wrote: »

sledge-hammer.jpg

I was expecting this...

sh1tstirrer

circadian wrote: »

I was expecting this...

trust me, I know what I'm doing

listermint

smash wrote: »

No, I pay my bills. I had dealing with debt collectors once after switching mobile networks. I was out of contract, paid my final bill and moved network. Then I got a letter from my old network stating that I owed them just over €100. I called and queried it, they noted that I had paid my bill upon moving network, also that I was out of contract when I moved, but they didn't cancel my account until 3 months after I had moved. They pushed to get the money and I told them to f*ck off. Debt collects called me and I told them to f*ck off too. I'll never return to the network.

You were never going back anyway.

I dont see your point....

sh1tstirrer

There's a couple of gobsh1tes that owe me money 2 and 3 years :mad: One of them have his entrance gates padlocked a persistent offender I'd imagine. Anyone know how to deal with him?

smash

Dep! wrote: »

So a major phone company sent heavies to your door over a 100 euro bill? That doesnt really add up to me.

I never said they sent them to my door. The bombarded me with calls and letters and threats of legal action until they realised they were getting nowhere and finally just stopped.

SEPT 23 1989

the only debt collectors in this country with any powers are the Sheriffs anyone else can be told to fcuk off

Bullocks

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

There's a couple of gobsh1tes that owe me money 2 and 3 years :mad: One of them have his entrance gates padlocked a persistent offender I'd imagine. Anyone know how to deal with him?

Pull the tractor across the locked gates and don't let him out until ye have a chat . Tell him what you are doing and that you haven't a notion of shifting until you get a few pound . I'm sure he won't like a fuss made about it

TheDoc

Be very careful and make sure you do your homework on who you are employing or dealing with.

A good company will normally just have a good legal team working with them for them, it's worth remembering debt collectors have no legal grounds or authority in this country what so ever.

In my last apartment debt collectors came to me on behalf of an irish company. They were looking for the previous tennants who appeared to be very troublesome and by the amount of legal letters and knocks on the door constantly dodged bills. The collectors that arrived in this instance clearly didn't believe me (I'm sure they get every day how they have made a mistake on identity)

Long story short they tried to rush me at the door, ended up in a row and the Guards got involved on assault charges. The company that hired them was also liable for damages and it ended up being way more trouble then it was worth. Again to stress they have no legal or authoritive powers what so ever, so it ended up being a civil action which I won and was awarded damages over.

At best a debt collector will send some strongly worded letters or employ their own solicitors to get involved.

There are proper avenues you can go through here. If the company your dealing with is in liquidation or in financial difficulty, you will be added to a list of creditors. Based on amount and prioirty, as the company in trouble get's stripped/liquidated they move down the creditor list sorting people out. If the company is in serious trouble for serious amounts, you might be high and dry. However if not then you might get a portion back.

However if the company is going through a liquidation/bankruptcy and there are big creditors owed ( investment individuals, hedge funds, banks etc.) then you can expect to get some stern correspondence if you start sending around debt collectors.

TheDoc

Dep! wrote: »

So a major phone company sent heavies to your door over a 100 euro bill? That doesnt really add up to me.

The incident I was involved in, the debt collectors were operating on behalf of a utilities company.

sh1tstirrer

Bullocks wrote: »

Pull the tractor across the locked gates and don't let him out until ye have a chat . Tell him what you are doing and that you haven't a notion of shifting until you get a few pound . I'm sure he won't like a fuss made about it

I know a man that was owed money by a farmer he paid him a visit in the small hours of the morning and took off with a tractor and welder while the farmer was asleep. A few days later he contacted him and told him that he would get his tractor and welder back when he paid his bill, the bill was settled very quickly

yuloni

This post has been deleted.

Bullocks

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

I know a man that was owed money by a farmer he paid him a visit in the small hours of the morning and took off with a tractor and welder while the farmer was asleep. A few days later he contacted him and told him that he would get his tractor and welder back when he paid his bill, the bill was settled very quickly

Ya a mate of mine took a fertiliser spreader and sprayer off a lad aswell for the same reason . Took a few weeks but he got his money in the end

Micky 32

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

I know a man that was owed money by a farmer he paid him a visit in the small hours of the morning and took off with a tractor and welder while the farmer was asleep. A few days later he contacted him and told him that he would get his tractor and welder back when he paid his bill, the bill was settled very quickly

He was lucky he didn't call the cops because that was a robbery, possible jail time and a record...:P

sh1tstirrer

Micky 32 wrote: »

He was lucky he didn't call the cops because that was a robbery, possible jail time and a record...:P

The man that took them couldn't give a fiddlers fcuk about the law or Gardai and the man that owed him money knew better not to get them involved,

Micky 32

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

The man that took them couldn't give a fiddlers fcuk about the law or Gardai and the man that owed him money knew better not to get them involved,

Sounds to me this guy must be a bit of a un- desirable character if he goes around threathening people, makes me think maybe there's a reason he was reluctantly paid....could be wrong though :rolleyes:

In my line of work, thankfully only a very small percentage i get people taking the p**** and without fail they will always have the cheek to phone me for further work , i just don't bother answering the phone...

Dep!

TheDoc wrote: »

At best a debt collector will send some strongly worded letters or employ their own solicitors to get involved.

Wouldnt it be easier then to bypass them and go straight to solicitors who specialise in this field?

smash

Dep! wrote: »

Wouldnt it be easier then to bypass them and go straight to solicitors who specialise in this field?

All a solicitor can do is the same. Send letters and possibly take them to the small claims court. If the limited company has been dissolved you don't stand a chance. If the company is in liquidation or relcievership you stand a very small chance, but depending on the amount owed you could be thrown to the every end of the queue and get nothing anyway and end up having to pay legal fees.

FalconGirl

Debt collectors are no use. If you are anyway law saavy you will know they haven't a leg to stand on. They chance their arm at frightening people and a few do pay up to be fair.

FalconGirl

Debt collectors are no use. If you are anyway law saavy you will know they haven't a leg to stand on. They chance their arm at frightening people and a few do pay up to be fair.

Dep!

FalconGirl wrote: »

Debt collectors are no use. If you are anyway law saavy you will know they haven't a leg to stand on. They chance their arm at frightening people and a few do pay up to be fair.

Martin Foley's company had a reputation for the latter. Ironically it looks like it has gone bust itself.

Grab All Association

Dep! wrote: »

Its in the thousands.



Im not sure.



Worth a try maybe.



I was invoicing them and they sent cheques. All was grand until the cheques stopped coming.

What they do in Dubai is make you write out a couple of years worth of cheques. Say you borrowed XXXXEUR and had to pay XXXEUR per month until the loan was repaid. You'd fill out a load of cheques for the repayments and hand them over to the lender. If the money is not there to cover the cheque and it bounces they would be arrested for giving you a bad cheque.

MarkAnthony

Debt collectors usually buy debts at cents on the euro. They're unlikely to buy one off debts or debts between private parties.

Removal of property is problematic but not wholly illegal IIRC.

Engaging a solicitor - only worth it if any judgement can be enforced otherwise a waste of time. SmCC procedure doesn't cover debt between private parties, has a very limited jurisdiction anyway.

Harassment - illegal and also could result in a nice civil suit landing on the door mat.

Don't loan people money.

Collie D

Interesting thread. I'm currently getting hassled in work by a collection agency. The debt they refer to was paid months ago. However our supplier sold the debt on to a factor who in turn sold the debt to an agency.

We don't usually allow factoring agreements and I hate dealing with third parties for this reason. Suppliers in the past have exaggerated the due dates and we end up looking like bad payers. Now I've to deal with a fourth party when we've actually paid the bloody invoice.

Bear in mind we're a very large Irish company with sales of just under three billion last year and almost 300 locations across Europe. I hold my hand up that invoices aren't always paid on time due to human error rather than any intentional non payment but we're not going to **** about for five grand as is the case here.

/Rant