If you’ve received letters or phone calls from BW Legal, you might be wondering who they are and, more importantly, whether you need to pay them. Firms like BW Legal contact hundreds of people like you every day, but with so many debt collection companies working in the UK, it can be impossible to know if they’re legitimate and what could happen if you don’t pay them.

This guide will explore BW Legal in more detail, including who they are, where they’re based, and what you should do if they’re chasing you for an unpaid debt.

Who is BW Legal?

BW Legal is a debt collection company registered in England and Wales that specialises in consumer debt collection services. It is an independent debt recovery law firm instructed by various clients in matters relating to debt recovery. BW Legal is unique in that it falls into both the debt recovery and law industries.

Its key focus is the recovery of consumer debt, but it also employs solicitors who specialise in debt collection and refer to themselves as a ‘one-stop shop for debt recovery and litigation’.

The company was founded in 2009 and has since grown to become the UK’s largest independent debt recovery firm with around 300 employees. This means that it contacts a lot of people every day, acting as a middleman to recover debts on behalf of another company. It strives to provide an ethical and fair service in helping to recover unaffordable debt from various industry sectors.

Is BW Legal Services regulated?

Because of its unique status as a debt recovery law firm, BW Legal is authorised and regulated by both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in respect of consumer debt. The FCA is the main financial regulatory body in the UK.

It operates separately from the UK government and is wholly financed through fees recovered from members of the financial services industry. It requires its members to act in a manner that is compliant, ethical, and fair. The SRA is the main regulatory body for solicitors based in England and Wales. It is responsible for regulating and monitoring the professional conduct of over 125,000 people working in the legal sector.

What if I can’t afford to pay the debt BW Legal is chasing me for?

If you can’t afford to repay the debt BW Legal is chasing you for, you shouldn’t panic. There are several other options available to you to help you deal with the outstanding amount due, including a formal debt solution. For example, if you have a regular income and owe more than one creditor, you might be eligible for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA).

This is a legally-binding solution that consolidates your unaffordable debt into a smaller monthly payment based on what you can comfortably afford for five years. After you make your final monthly IVA payment, any remaining debt included in the IVA will be written off and you won’t be chased for the debt anymore.

Where is BW Legal based?

BW Legal is based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

The full address is:

Enterprise House
1 Apex View
Holbeck
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS11 9BH

Why has BW Legal contacted me?

BW Legal contacts people whose debts have been passed on from the original creditor. This usually happens after they have continuously failed to recover the money owed. Therefore, if you’ve received a letter or a phone call from BW Legal, you likely have outstanding council tax arrears, utility arrears, or parking fine debt and the company you owe has passed the debt onto them in the hopes that they have greater time and resources to recover the money. Once BW Legal has taken over the debt, they will start chasing you for the debt.

This can be daunting, especially if you didn’t know you owed anyone money or you’ve never heard of BW Legal before, but it’s nothing to worry about. They might write to you to let you know they’re the new owner of the debt or simply start chasing you for payment by sending you letters, calling the number attached to the debt, or visiting you at home.

How can I stop BW Legal from contacting me?

If you’re being harassed by BW Legal and want them to stop contacting you as soon as possible, there are several options available to you. We’ve outlined them below:

• Ask for proof you owe the money
• Before paying anything, you must ask for proof that you owe the money you’re being asked to pay.
• BW Legal should be able to give you details of the debt, including the total amount owed and who the debt originally belonged to.
• Once you’ve confirmed you owe the money, you can pay the debt upfront or set up a payment plan to repay it in regular instalments.
• Arrange payment of the debt

If you’re in a position to do so, it’s always recommended to pay the debt in full as soon as possible. This will put a stop to all debt collection efforts and allow you to work towards a healthier financial future. Otherwise, you should offer to repay the debt in smaller payments that you can afford over a set period (e.g. 12 or 18 months). BW Legal offer various ways to make payments, including their customer portal where you can also access their free simple budget planner.

What if I can’t afford to pay the debt BW Legal is chasing me for?

If you can’t afford to repay the debt BW Legal is chasing you for, you shouldn’t panic. There are several other options available to you to help you deal with the outstanding amount due, including a formal debt solution. For example, if you have a regular income and owe more than one creditor, you might be eligible for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA).

This is a legally-binding solution that consolidates your unaffordable debt into a smaller monthly payment based on what you can comfortably afford for five years. After you make your final monthly IVA payment, any remaining debt included in the IVA will be written off and you won’t be chased for the debt anymore.

Can BW Legal take legal action against me?

One of the biggest worries among those being chased by a debt collector is whether or not the company can take legal action against them for the money owed. The short answer is yes. However, while BW Legal can take legal action against you, this usually only happens if you continue to ignore their attempts at getting in contact with you or refuse to pay the debt despite them providing proof that you owe the money. The most common form of legal action taken by debt collection companies is applying for a County Court Judgment (CCJ).

A CCJ is a court order that creditors or debt collectors can apply for if they believe you owe money but are withholding payment. To get a CCJ, an application must be made to the court and a judge must agree to issue the judgment. If they agree, you will be ordered to repay the money in full or in instalments based on your level of cooperation and the information you provide. CCJs stay on your credit file for six years from the date they’re issued.

During this time, your credit rating will be impacted and you’ll struggle to access most types of credit, including a loan, mortgage, phone contract, and bank account. Failure to repay a CCJ can also result in further legal action being brought against you. This could involve money being forcibly taken from your wages before you get paid with an Attachment of Earnings Order.

Can BW Legal remove goods from my home?

It’s normal to worry about how far a debt collector could go to recover payment of a debt. However, no matter what they claim, debt collectors cannot remove goods from your home. The only way BW Legal might be able to remove goods from your home is if they apply for a CCJ which, if left unpaid, could lead to bailiffs visiting your home to collect payment of the debt. It’s important to note that debt collectors have the same rights as your original creditors. This means that they can only ask you to make payment and can never force you to have over money or remove your belongings from your home.

Can BW Legal chase debts over six years old?

Most unsecured debts become statute barred after six years in England and Wales and five years in Scotland. This includes credit cards, store cards, catalogues, overdrafts, and personal loans. If a debt is statute barred, it means the creditor has lost the right to take legal action to recover it.

However, this only happens if the debt hasn’t been acknowledged or paid during the limitation period. Put simply, if BW Legal are chasing you for a debt you know you know is statute barred, you may not have to pay it. In order for this to happen, however, you’ll likely have to provide evidence to prove the debt is statute barred.

How can I protect myself from debt collection agencies?

Being chased by debt collection agencies can be daunting, but you do have rights. Even if you’re receiving harassing phone calls, letters or visits, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and stop the situation from escalating to legal action. Under the Consumer Credit Act (1974), debt collectors in the UK must recover money owed in a fair manner. This includes following specific rules that prevent them from using aggressive, misleading, or manipulative behaviour.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) also has guidelines that prevent debt collectors from harassing individuals. Failure to adhere to these rules could result in serious legal consequences for breaking the law. Where can I get further help and advice with debt? If you’re struggling with problem debt, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from UK Debt Expert.

As well as supporting you in becoming debt-free, we can give you advice on how to deal with contact from debt collectors like BW Legal. We can also advise you on a broad range of options and help you determine the right solution for you, whether that’s an IVA or a simple budget restructure. Dealing with debt can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Reaching out for help can make it feel like a weight has been lifted and allow you to work towards bettering your financial health.