Credit reference agencies, court orders and complaints
At present, the Benefits Service do not provide debt or money advice but we have listed some details below that you may find helpful.
Credit Reference Agencies
Common Credit Reference agencies include
When you take out credit or fall behind with payments, the lender may send this information to a credit reference agency.
County Court Judgements and formal arrangements such as debt relief orders, bankruptcies and Individual Volunteer Arrangement's (IVAs) are always recorded at credit reference agencies. Once information is on your record, it remains there for six years, unless you successfully challenge it.
When you ask for credit, the lender will probably check your record at a credit reference agency. Based on this and other information about you, the lender will then make their decision as to whether to lend to you and how much.
Find out more about credit reference agencies from the Information Commissioners Office.
Magistrates’ courts and County courts
County courts deal with civil cases, including most cases about personal debt. They are not there to decide whether someone is “innocent” or “guilty” and there are no juries. County courts do not issue fines and do not imprison anyone for debt. The court generally deals with County Court Judgements by post, with no court hearing.
Possession hearings such as mortgage or rent arrears, are usually held in private, with just the judge, claimant, defendant (and perhaps their representatives) present.
The county court for Redbridge is Romford County Court
The High Court deals with more complex civil cases, including bankruptcy. Other than this, cases about personal debt rarely go to the High Court.
Magistrates’ courts deal with criminal and some civil cases, including not having a TV licence, Council Tax arrears and Child Support arrears. The magistrates can impose fines for, for example, traffic offences. The magistrates’ court for Redbridge is Barkingside Magistrates’ Court. The magistrates’ court for Redbridge is Barkingside Magistrates’ Court
The Crown Court deals with serious criminal matters.
Complaining about a creditor
Nobody likes being chased for debts, but there are some instances in which you may have a valid reason to complain. You may for example wish to complain to a creditor or debt collection company if they are:
- Pursuing you for money that you do not owe
- Demanding unreasonably large collection charges or
- Calling you at a time of day you have asked them not to call.
The Financial Ombudsman Service can help. They provide information on how to complain, can tell the creditor about your complaint and, if you have not had a satisfactory response within eight weeks, can look at your complaint.
