This isn’t a full fact find, Thrifty Family doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provides information about your options.
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
Did you get a BW Legal British Gas debt collection letter? Are you asking, should I pay or can I ignore things? You’re not the only person to fall behind with bills during these difficult times.
I cover how you should deal with BW Legal in my post so the outcome is more positive. Plus, knowing your rights could make the situation less stressful. Read on to find out more!
Do you have to pay BW Legal?
You might not have to pay BW Legal.
If you genuinely can’t afford your debt repayments then looking into whether you could have your written off might be just what you need.
If you want to find out whether you qualify for having debt written off or payments lowered then fill out the short form below.
This isn’t a full fact find, Thrifty Family doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provides information about your options.
What is a BW Legal debt collection letter?
The energy provider, like several others, sells debts to debt collection agencies. BW Legal is one of them. That said, BW Legal is a law firm that specialises in debt collection.
The law firm can chase debtors for payment on behalf of their clients. Or BW Legal can buy the debt from other companies! In this instance, the energy provider has sold the debt to BW Legal!
If you’re struggling to pay back your debt, then you might qualify for a debt solution. Some solutions lower your monthly payments while others write off a portion of your debt.
To find out whether they could work in your situation, hit the button below.
Is BW regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
Yes. BW is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and must adhere to the law when they call you.
What should you do when BW Legal services limited calls you?
Once the dust settles and you regain your composure, you should check how old the debt is. For example, if the debt is at least six years old, it could be statute barred.
Statute-barred debts cannot be enforced. BW Legal can ask you to pay, but you can refuse. Also, you can’t be taken to court over a statute-barred debt which means you won’t get a CCJ!
If the debt is current, you should respond to BW Legal and ask them to prove you owe the money to the energy provider. The law firm must provide you with hard proof.
It’s not good enough for them to simply ‘tell’ you the debt is yours. BW Legal must provide authenticated evidence in the form of a contract or other relevant document you signed.
Mistakes happen and maybe BW Legal is chasing the wrong person! Moreover, it’s up to BW Legal to prove you owe the money, not the other way around.
No. Not straight away but don’t wait too long either. First, check the age of the debt to make sure it’s not statute-barred. If the debt isn’t statute barred, ask BW Legal to prove the debt is yours!
Don’t admit, sign or fork any money out until you’ve received written confirmation from the law firm the debt is yours!
If you’re put under any pressure you can file a complaint with their head office. Many people file complaints with the Financial Ombudsman Service too!
But remember, a debt recovery company/legal firm may take you to court if you fail to pay owed money.
Can you ignore BW Legal debt collection?
No. Ignoring letters from BW Legal over a debt won’t make the problem disappear. Quite the opposite, it could make a bad situation even worse. For example, you could end up facing:
Court proceedings
Having a CCJ recorded on your credit report which harms your credit rating
Dealing with court-appointed enforcement officers
Having your possessions seized, or an attachment placed on your earnings
Moreover, ignoring letters from BW Legal could mean:
You miss out on being offered a fair repayment plan. One you can afford
Having some of the debt wiped off
Establishing the debt is not yours
Finding out the debt is statute-barred
Check out the advice provided by Money Saving Expert to hundreds of consumers who got letters about money apparently owed:
BW Legal is regulated by the SRA, FCA and CSA. So, the debt collector must abide by the law and the CSA’s Code of Practice. In short, there are things that debt collectors can legally do when they call you.
But there are things BW Legal cannot lawfully do when they get in touch!
Debt collectors may:
Visit your home, contact you by letter or phone
Discuss a debt with you showing empathy and remaining polite
Ask you to the debt directly to them
They cannot do any of the following:
Harass or threaten you with constant phone calls
Force their way into your home
Seize any possessions or clamp vehicles
Talk to your family, neighbours, friends and employer about an alleged debt you owe. It breaches privacy laws if they do
Pretend they are court-appointed bailiffs (enforcement agents) which is illegal and deemed a criminal offence
Use papers and other documents that look like they are court-issued
No. BW Legal has the right to get in touch with you by letter, phone or if all else fails by visiting you at home. That said, you can tell them when you want them to contact you and how they should contact you!
Write the BW Legal telling them when and how to contact you. Make sure you send the letter by registered mail. The debt collector must respect your wishes and if they don’t, file a complaint with the head office.
After this, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service if necessary! Rest assured plenty of people file complaints about debt recovery companies.
What happens when BW Legal proves a debt?
You may have to pay if BW Legal proves you owe the money! If you’re struggling with finances, try to negotiate an affordable repayment plan with them. But before you sign anything, seek independent, impartial advice from one of the debt charities!
The advice provided is free and could help when negotiations on a debt settlement starts!
How do you contact BW Legal?
You can get in touch with the debt collection company if you owe money in several ways which I’ve listed below:
Enterprise House 1 Apex View, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9BH
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm / Sat 9am-3pm
What debt help is there in the UK?
Lots of people are struggling with their finances these days, so don’t try to go it alone when you can’t keep up with the bills. You should contact one of the charities for advice when you need it.
Whether you pay BW Legal or not depends on a few things. For example, how old is the debt? It is statute-barred if it’s at least 6 years old. It means you may not have to pay because it’s not enforceable and there’d be no court action.
Is the debt truly yours or are they chasing the wrong person for payment? Ask the debt collector to prove you owe the money which they must do in writing. The evidence must be authenticated too! In short, they must provide proof you owe the money.
On the other hand, you may have no choice but to pay if BW Legal proves the debt is yours. In this instance, seek advice from one of the debt charities before you admit, sign or pay anything to BW Legal!
Then try to negotiate a payment plan you can afford and one that won’t negatively impact you in any negative way. Remember, debt collectors must allow you enough time to find the best option to resolve a debt!
Thanks for reading my post. I hope the info in the article helps you decide how to cope with a BW Legal debt collection letter!
My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.
How to beat BW Legal debt 