If you’ve been dealing with unaffordable debt for some time, you might have been contacted by a company called Equita asking you to settle your outstanding balance.

Being contacted by a debt collection company out of the blue can be a distressing experience, especially if you’ve never heard of the organisation before or didn’t even know you had missed payments. However, there’s no need to panic. Regardless of your circumstances, you do have options.

This guide will explain everything you need to know about Equita, including who they are, the types of debt they collect, and what can happen if you ignore them. The more you know about your rights during the recovery process, the more prepared you can be for every outcome.

Who is Equita Limited?

Equita Limited is a debt collection agency with the tagline ‘your trusted enforcement partners’. If they have contacted you, it likely means that they have purchased your debt from your original creditor.

Founded in 1996, the firm has over 140 years of experience in providing enforcement and debt recovery assistance to a wide range of UK clients, including local authorities, utility companies, and commercial landlords.

According to their website, they are proud of their track record of delivering high collection rates which enables them to recover over £100 million for their clients each year. Their 1,000-strong team of debt collection professionals made up of enforcement officers and welfare advisors means they can provide a responsive service to their clients regardless of where in the country they are based.

Where is Equita based?

Equita is based in Wirral, England. Whether you want to speak with them about your outstanding debt or you wish to make a complaint, we’ve provided their full contact details below:

Address:

Equita Limited

6 Europa Boulevard

Birkenhead

England

CH41 4PE

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

01604 628 360

Is Equita a regulated company?

Yes, Equita holds several memberships and accreditations. This is a testament to their commitment to ensuring legal compliance and delivering high standards in everything they do.

For example, they are accredited by the Credit Service Association (CSA), the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA), and the British Parking Association (BPA).

Equita is also regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is the main regulatory body for financial service companies in the UK. Its three main duties are to protect consumers, support market integrity, and promote healthy competition between firms.

Why is Equita contacting me?

Equita is likely contacting you because they are trying to recover an unpaid debt of yours on behalf of one of their clients (your original creditor).

They will usually begin by sending you correspondence informing you of their intent to visit. This is called a ‘notice of enforcement’ and should clearly outline your contact details and the outstanding amount owed, which should help you verify the debt.

It’s not recommended to ignore a notice of enforcement. If you don’t respond, enforcement agents will visit you at home to discuss payment of the debt and possibly the removal of goods within seven days.

Should I pay Equita?

If you can afford to do so, it’s recommended to repay a debt collection agency as soon as possible. This will clear the debt and put a stop to any extra interest or fees, allowing you to move on with your life and start rebuilding your finances.

However, before you rush to make a payment, there are some things you should do first:

Ask for proof of the debt

The first thing you should do when a debt collection agency contacts you is to request proof of the debt you supposedly owe. Even if you’re confident the debt is yours, it’s always best to confirm your original creditor and total debt is correct.

Any reputable debt collection agency should be able to provide you with full details of a debt and answer any questions you have about repaying what you owe.

Arrange repayment of the debt

Once you’ve confirmed the debt is yours, you can put a plan in place to repay it. It’s always better to arrange payment before enforcement action begins and extra interest and fees are added.

There are two main ways of doing this: paying your outstanding balance upfront or setting up a repayment plan.

Pay upfront

The easiest way to deal with a debt collection agency is to pay the full amount owed upfront. This can be done quickly and easily when you sign to the company’s website but payment can also be made by post, through BACS transfer, or over their automated payment line where customer service advisors will be available to assist.

However, while this will put an immediate stop to all enforcement action, it’s not an option that everyone can afford.

Repayment plan

Arguably the most common way to pay a debt collector is by setting up a repayment plan where you make regular payments towards what you owe within a timeframe that’s easily manageable for you.

Most debt collectors are interested in discussing a gradual repayment plan if it means they will eventually receive full payment of the debt as opposed to nothing at all.

Does Equita only collect for local authorities, utility companies, and commercial landlords?

Equita primarily collects unpaid debts on behalf of local authorities, utility companies, and commercial landlords, but they also work with a number of other organisations, including solicitors, private parking providers, and central government sectors.

This means that they handle various types of debt, such as council tax, rent arrears, business rates, parking fines, unpaid court orders, and sundry debts (miscellaneous invoices).

Equita also acts on behalf of clients to enforce court orders for property and land possession. In some cases, this involves removing trespassers or individuals who have not vacated the property after the court order has been issued.

What happens if I ignore Equita?

It can be tempting to ignore a debt collection company when they get in touch with you in the hopes that it makes them go away, but this is extremely unlikely. Here are some of the things that could happen when you ignore Equita:

Further fees

When your debt is passed onto an external collection agency, further fees will be added to cover the cost of the additional time and resources used. These fees will be added to your total balance, meaning you’ll need to pay back more than you originally owed.

These fees can be avoided if you cooperate with the debt collection agency from the beginning (e.g. before enforcement agents visit you at home).

Enforcement action

Equita might send bailiffs to your property to discuss payment of the debt if you don’t respond to their initial letters. At this stage, you can negotiate a controlled goods agreement, which is when you agree to monthly payment of the debt in exchange for keeping your belongings.

If you fail to stick to a repayment plan or break a controlled goods agreement, the bailiff might return and access your property to seize your assets. It’s important to note that bailiffs can’t force entry into your home when they first visit you and you don’t have to let them past the door, no matter what they claim. There are also extra rules they should follow if you’re a vulnerable person.

Court action

If you continue to ignore a debt collection agency, they will likely take further legal action against you. In most cases, this will be in the form of a County Court Judgment (CCJ).

A CCJ is a court order that instructs you to repay a debt as per the court’s instructions. They will either serve you with a CCJ forthwith where you must pay your total balance upfront or a CCJ in instaments where you make regular payments towards what you owe.

What if I can’t afford to pay my debt to Equita?

If you want to settle your debt but you can’t afford to make up for the money owed, you have several options. A common way to deal with debt you can’t afford to pay a debt collector is to enter into any of the following debt solutions:

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement with your creditors to pay off your unaffordable debt in regular instalments over a fixed period (usually five years). During an IVA, you make monthly payments based on what you can afford and once you’ve made your final payment, any remaining debt will be written off.

You’ll also be protected from creditor contact and legal action during an IVA, allowing you to focus on repaying your debt without any unnecessary distractions.

To qualify for an IVA, you must owe more than one creditor and be able to pay something (at least £100) towards your debt each month. At least 75% of your creditors by debt value must also agree to the IVA for it to go ahead.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a legally binding agreement that freezes your debt repayments for 12 months. During this period, your creditors can’t take further action to recover the debt without the court’s permission.

Once your DRO period ends, all the debts included in the arrangement will be written off if your financial situation remains unchanged. It offers a chance to make a fresh start from which to rebuild your finances from scratch.

DROs are designed for individuals with a low income and few assets who can’t repay their debts. It’s often described as a cheaper and less formal alternative to bankruptcy.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is a way to make the debt repayment process more manageable for you by consolidating your balance into smaller, more manageable monthly payments.

The money is sent to a DMP provider who then distributes it among your creditors on a set date each month. Because it requires you to repay 100% of your debt, it will last for however long it takes you to clear your balance.

DMPs are best suited to individuals who have non-priority debts and struggle to meet their repayments.

How can I get more advice on dealing with companies like Equita?

Dealing with debt collectors is never fun. While most are committed to helping you deal with your debt with as less stress as possible, others resort to threatening and intimidating behavior to pressure you into paying more than you can afford.

Dealing with debt collectors is never fun. While most are committed to helping you deal with your debt with as little stress as possible, others resort to threatening and intimidating behaviour to pressure you into paying more than you can afford.

Whether you’ve already been contacted by a debt collection company or you’re anticipating collection action, don’t hesitate to speak to us about any concerns you may have. Alternatively, a debt charity should be able to provide additional advice to help you assess your options and decide on the best course of action for you.