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A creditor is threatening you

There are firm limits on what creditors and debt collectors can do, and a lot of what frightens people is either not permitted or not actually about to happen. Here is exactly what to do, what they can and cannot do, and where to get free help today.

Written by The My Debt Cleared editorial teamReviewed by The My Debt Cleared editorial team Last reviewed 12 August 2026Next review 12 February 2027 Editorial policy
There are firm limits on what creditors and debt collectors can do, and a lot of what frightens people is either not permitted or not actually about to happen. They cannot pretend to be bailiffs, cannot contact your employer about the debt, cannot call at unreasonable hours, and cannot ignore a genuine dispute. If a firm is regulated by the FCA, its behaviour is a matter you can complain about — for free.
You can get free, impartial debt advice

You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation. We would rather you got good advice somewhere than bad advice from anyone.

What to do now

  1. Ask for everything in writing and stop dealing with them by phone. It slows things down and creates a record.
  2. Request a copy of the credit agreement under sections 77 to 79 of the Consumer Credit Act. Until they provide it, the agreement may be unenforceable.
  3. If the debt is more than six years old with no payment or written acknowledgement, ask whether it is statute-barred — and do not acknowledge it in writing until you have advice.
  4. If you are being harassed, complain in writing to the firm, then to the Financial Ombudsman Service after eight weeks. Both are free.
  5. Tell them if you are vulnerable. FCA rules require firms to treat customers in vulnerable circumstances appropriately.
  6. Consider Breathing Space through an authorised adviser — sixty days with interest frozen and most contact stopped.

What else you need to know

Debt collectors are not bailiffs. A doorstep collector has no legal power to enter your home, take anything or force payment, and you can tell them to leave. Only an enforcement agent acting under a court order or liability order has enforcement powers, and even then the limits described on our bailiff page apply.

Where to get help today, free

You can get free, impartial debt advice

You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation. We would rather you got good advice somewhere than bad advice from anyone.

If you are in crisis and struggling to cope, Samaritans can be reached free on 116 123, at any hour, from any phone.

Once the immediate pressure is off

Understanding your longer-term options is the thing that stops this happening again. Eight questions, and we will show you what applies where you live.

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There's a bailiff at the doorA court claim form has arrivedA council tax summons has arrivedYou've been threatened with evictionYour energy supplier is threatening disconnectionMoney is being taken from your wagesYou can't afford food this week
What My Debt Cleared is

We are a marketing introducer. We publish information and, if you ask us to, we pass your details to an FCA-authorised debt advice firm we work with so they can contact you. We do not give debt advice, we do not provide debt solutions, and we do not decide whether any solution is right for you. We are paid by the firms we introduce people to, never by you. Read exactly how we make money.

Sources and further reading

  1. Citizens Advice, Debt and money
  2. National Debtline
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