Debt Collection & Excuses in the UK

Barbara Buchanan recounts some of the tales of collection tactics and debtors' excuses in her article in the latest issue of Credit Today. In one instance a consumer owed £1,000, but was unwilling to pay. The creditor sent him a check for one pound, which he deposited in his bank account. When the check cleared, the creditor was able to identify his bank account and freeze it. (Probably not a tactic available in the U.S.)

A creditor recalled a particularly imaginative, but delinquent, consumer: "He advised us that he was the subject of a government conspiracy. He claimed that he had metal plates in his head. The conspirators knew this and arranged for RAF to fly planes over his house every hour to 'interfere' with the plates. This caused such a severe pain that he could not pay the mortgage."