Fake debt collectors

The press regularly reports about “fake debt collectors”. This is what the type of criminals who try to deceive you are called.How to avoid the being caught?

Fake police officers and other bogus professionals of all walks of life try to steal money using the reputation of these professions. It’s as old as the world. For debt collection offices, lawyers and bailiffs, the method is simple: you are presented with an unpaid invoice and you are urged to pay it immediately to the bank account they give you.

Do you know the debt in question?

If you know the vendor or the debt in question, this is probably a legitimate letter.However, if you have any doubts, nothing prevents you from doing some checks. This is even more useful if you know nothing about the debt in question.

A debt recovery always starts with a letter

Any collection office, lawyer or bailiff always begins its task with a letter. If the debtor is a consumer, it is a legal obligation in Belgium, and it is also compulsory for the sender to wait 15 days after this first letter before taking any other action.

So, if you get a phone call asking you to pay, but you haven’t received a letter (and are in doubt), don’t pay but ask for a copy of that first letter.

Do you know the creditor?

A collection company, bailiff or lawyer should state the name of the creditor and even the creditor’s phone number on the first letter they send you.Be careful, if you have any doubts, do not call this number they give you because it could be a number answered by these criminals.Instead, go online to the creditor’s official websiteand contact them via a phone number or an email address provided on this site. Check to see if the company claiming the debt is acting on their behalf and if you actually have a debt.

The first letter should also include the creditor’s business ID (VAT number). You can check the name and address on the website of thecrossroads bank for enterprises. See if everything matches.

Contact the sender

A well-established collection office, lawyer or bailiff has a website. If in doubt, do a quick search (for example ‘tcm recovery’) and see if the site address (theurl) matches what is stated on the letter, at least the part before the .be, .eu, .com. or other (for example tcm.be…).Check the correspondence for addresses and phone numbers(for example, call the general number listed on the official website and ask to speak to the person signing the letter).

How is the letter worded?

An amicable (out of court) collection letter to a consumermust include, by law, specific information. This includes the contact details of the creditor but alsoa “clear description” of the debtand other details such as the contact details of theFederal Public Service Economyunit which controls these companies.

Phone calls

If you do not respond to letters (for example because your address has changed and the creditor does not know your new address), it is likely that the collection company will call you.They will always refer to a letter preceding their call. If you have not received it, request a copy by e-mail, for example.

A collection company will never ask you for your bank account number or your credit card.Never disclose your access codes to your accounts or other applications.

Do not make a payment at the request of the person calling you, unless you are completely reassured about their identity and their honesty.

What should I do?

A letter from a debt collection office, lawyer or bailiff deserves to beanswered. Otherwise, don’t be surprised that the hassle continues.

• If you do not know about this debt: check and inquire as explained above.
• If the letter or telephone call seems doubtful to you:write to the creditor or to thePublic Federal Service Economy.
• If you know the debt and everything looks normal: make the payment.
• If you dispute the debt: explain it to the sender of the letter.
• If you cannot afford to pay the whole thing in 1x: contact the sender of the letter.
• If you have more questions: ask them!

Questions?Contact us.

The press regularly reports about “fake debt collectors”. This is what the type of criminals who try to deceive you are called.How to avoid the being caught?

Fake police officers and other bogus professionals of all walks of life try to steal money using the reputation of these professions. It’s as old as the world. For debt collection offices, lawyers and bailiffs, the method is simple: you are presented with an unpaid invoice and you are urged to pay it immediately to the bank account they give you.

Do you know the debt in question?

If you know the vendor or the debt in question, this is probably a legitimate letter.However, if you have any doubts, nothing prevents you from doing some checks. This is even more useful if you know nothing about the debt in question.

A debt recovery always starts with a letter

Any collection office, lawyer or bailiff always begins its task with a letter. If the debtor is a consumer, it is a legal obligation in Belgium, and it is also compulsory for the sender to wait 15 days after this first letter before taking any other action.

So, if you get a phone call asking you to pay, but you haven’t received a letter (and are in doubt), don’t pay but ask for a copy of that first letter.

Do you know the creditor?

A collection company, bailiff or lawyer should state the name of the creditor and even the creditor’s phone number on the first letter they send you.Be careful, if you have any doubts, do not call this number they give you because it could be a number answered by these criminals.Instead, go online to the creditor’s official websiteand contact them via a phone number or an email address provided on this site. Check to see if the company claiming the debt is acting on their behalf and if you actually have a debt.

The first letter should also include the creditor’s business ID (VAT number). You can check the name and address on the website of thecrossroads bank for enterprises. See if everything matches.

Contact the sender

A well-established collection office, lawyer or bailiff has a website. If in doubt, do a quick search (for example ‘tcm recovery’) and see if the site address (theurl) matches what is stated on the letter, at least the part before the .be, .eu, .com. or other (for example tcm.be…).Check the correspondence for addresses and phone numbers(for example, call the general number listed on the official website and ask to speak to the person signing the letter).

How is the letter worded?

An amicable (out of court) collection letter to a consumermust include, by law, specific information. This includes the contact details of the creditor but alsoa “clear description” of the debtand other details such as the contact details of theFederal Public Service Economyunit which controls these companies.

Phone calls

If you do not respond to letters (for example because your address has changed and the creditor does not know your new address), it is likely that the collection company will call you.They will always refer to a letter preceding their call. If you have not received it, request a copy by e-mail, for example.

A collection company will never ask you for your bank account number or your credit card.Never disclose your access codes to your accounts or other applications.

Do not make a payment at the request of the person calling you, unless you are completely reassured about their identity and their honesty.

What should I do?

A letter from a debt collection office, lawyer or bailiff deserves to beanswered. Otherwise, don’t be surprised that the hassle continues.

• If you do not know about this debt: check and inquire as explained above.
• If the letter or telephone call seems doubtful to you:write to the creditor or to thePublic Federal Service Economy.
• If you know the debt and everything looks normal: make the payment.
• If you dispute the debt: explain it to the sender of the letter.
• If you cannot afford to pay the whole thing in 1x: contact the sender of the letter.
• If you have more questions: ask them!

Questions?Contact us.