If you get an email entitled LEGAL NOTICE OF ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS that sounds very alarming…
But this may be the start of a scam and the sender wants you to panic so you will make a bad decision.
Contents
An example of a scam email
Here is one such email:
This is xxxxxx from CBL ( Collection Bailiffs Limited ). Hope you are doing well. I just would like to tell you that we have got a legal complaint against you from your creditors where you are not making the contractual payments or managing just minimum payments towards them.
So this is why these creditors have approached us in order to get the “CCJ” action against you. So that they can have the attachment of earnings with your income of £464.36 every month for these accounts with your income from this month itself, so that they can cover all the money from your side asap because as per the creditors they gave you enough chance to get the arrangements done through the government help known as an “IVA” but you refused to get that help and now they are looking to have legal action against you.
If you do not want to have any sort of legal proceedings and you are struggling with your financial situation and want to get these debts sorted, you do have “three options” left for yourself from these creditors apart from the CCJ.
If you wish to sort-out these debts. we will transfer you to our help desk team to get your finances back on track.
Hope to get a reply soon from your side.
No details of the debt
The person who got this email asked what the problem debt was.
She was then told:
According to the Data Protection Act 1998 we are not liable to share that information. Hope you understand that. But these creditors have transferred all the accounts in my department as you are falling behind or just managing the minimum payments for these debts so, they have decided to do an attachment of earnings of 464.36 from your income or benefits received by you.
A debt adviser can tell this is not from a bailiff
Here are just a few of the reasons:
- it was from a Gmail account, not a firm email;
- the idea that creditors are worried by only getting paid the minimum amounts is absurd. Creditors are happy to get paid the minimum amount – for credit cards and catalogues it means you are paying them a lot of interest;
- it’s nonsense to say that Data Protection stops a bailiff telling someone which creditor is employing them and what the debt is;
- bailiff firms do not take anyone to court – they are only used when the creditor has already been to court;
- no bailiff or creditor would suggest that an IVA is a good idea;
- there is no company with the name Collection Bailiffs Limited;
- they aren’t a firm of bailiffs/enforcement agents. (There is a firm of High Court bailiffs with a similar name, Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd (DCBL), but this email does not come from them.)
This is a phishing expedition from a scammer.
An identical email has come “from the FCA”
This email was sent to a different person. It had the same wording, except it began:
This is xxxxxx from the FCA (Financial conduct authority).
This is again from a scammer. The FCA regulates lenders – it never contacts individuals about their debts.
It has the same number – £464.36 – as the threatened attachment of earnings. That suggests this is standard email sent out to everyone, the sender doesn’t know anything about your debts.
Other scam emails about debts
A variation on this email was supposed to be from the “Credit Investigation Department”.
‘This is xxxxxxx from the Credit Investigation Department. Hope you are doing well. I just would like to tell you that we have got a legal complaint against you from CapitalOne Ltd, 118 Money Payday Ltd, Dot Dot Payday Ltd, Vanquis Ltd, Safety Net Payday Limited, Lowell Financial Group Ltd, Moorcroft Financial Group Ltd where you are not making the contractual payments and all of them are defaulted accounts as well.’
This one actually listed some lenders and debt collectors.
Several of the legal names are wrong though. The sender seems to have taken well-known lenders and just invented a company name to go with them – for example 118 Money is a high cost lender but it doesn’t give payday loans and its corporate entity is Madison CF UK Limited.
There are no legitimate firms that will send you emails saying that several of your lenders have a legal complaint against you.
The emailer wants to be paid a referral fee
It looks as though the emails are trying to scare the victim into agreeing to an IVA. This is a form of personal insolvency in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Unlike the other two forms of personal insolvency, bankruptcy and DROs, IVAs generate large fees – £3,500 or more – for the IVA firms administering them.
These high fees mean IVAs have often been mis-sold to people who have better debt options available to them.
These fees mean IVA firms will pay large amounts to lead generators for the details of people who want an IVA. In 2021 the FCA calculated the average referral fee paid for an IVA lead to some firms regulated by the FCA was £930.
That is what the emails are for – so the scammer can be paid a referral fee.
Which IVA firms are buying these sorts of leads?
That is the important question. An IVA firm should never take a lead that has been obtained by lying.
But someone is paying money for these leads, otherwise this sort of scam would not happen.
There may be a chain here – these emails generate referrals to a lead generator who then sends your case to an IVA firm. But the problem is the same – people have been scared into thinking an IVA is their best option and the IVA firm is not properly checking the source of every referral it is sent.
The Insolvency Service needs to ban the payment of referral fees (or marketing fees or however they are dressed up) by IVA firms.
What to do if you get an email like this
You could just delete it!
This also applies to similar emails mentioning IVAs from other important-sounding senders – a government department, the Bank of England, the Financial Ombudsman etc.
The only genuine emails about your debts will come from a creditor, a debt collector or, if the debt has already been to court, a firm of bailiffs. All of these people will give details of the debt, not be vague.
Any email referring to debts vaguely, or listing a lot of lenders names should be regarded as suspicious and probably a scam.
You can check whether a firm of bailiffs is genuine by searching the list of CIVEA members and the list of HCEO members. If the name looks valid, use the contact details from those lists to get in touch with the firm – do not reply to a suspicious email or use a phone number in that email.
But if you are worried because you do have problem debts, talk to a real debt adviser. Go to a local advice service such as Citizens Advice or phone National Debtline on 0808 808 4000.
What to do if you get a Court Claim Form
Could a Debt Relief order help you?
Choose between an IVA and a DMP
Katerina Blake says
The IVA companies have made way too much money just like Insolvency companies. Only difference is the former charge certain amount and the the latter add interest plus charge extortionate amounts per hour, some £500-600 per hour.
All costs are added to the bankrupt so the only one winning financially is both of these type of companies.
They are professionals and deliberately prolong cases so that they make more money. They convince creditors to side with them and give them back peanuts. Time to end this vulture culture
MR MARTYN J POPE says
Message received & understood Sara, with great thanks for your work. I will keep up to date on any emails by IVA/Creditors which may be one of these. They are not very convincing b/c of the phrases they use for a start but best to be aware. Also the fact they always put £464.36 is a giveaway!!!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Of course they may see this article and now change that to a different amount and change some other wording…
But the fact remains that ANY emails from bailiffs or important sounding organisations that seem to be suggesting an IVA should be treated as very suspicious and probably a scam
Jill H says
This is so alarming and I would like to share on my socials. Thanks to your excellent advice some years ago I sorted all my debt issues MYSELF but I am concerned that there are people out there struggling with debt management. A combination of your template letter and using the ombudsman has got me in a good place financially. Thanks for all you do
Anthony h says
I had this email and did reply but the gmail thing did make me think it was a joke
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Did you find out what they wanted you to do next?
b murphy says
I have emailed the company back a lot now asking if they can provide me with the contact details for me to call. And details of the company and more information. The person has been very dismissive and wont provide me with any form of communication to speak to anyone. They keep quoting the data protection act and the same amount. As a limited company provide basic details such as telephone and department wouldn’t be a problem. They are harassing me and wont leave me alone
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You have had one of these emails? Which variation – from a “bailiff” or from “the FCA” or someone else?
B murphy says
Gracewalkercbl@gmail.com
Collection bailiffs ltd, checked and not a listed company they wont provide me with any details
Sara (Debt Camel) says
then I suggest you phone National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 or go to your local Citizens Advice. They will be able to advise you on whether this is a scam email and what you should do.
Kevin Leame says
Schoolboy English composition. Very poorly constructed letters. These are details to look at when deciding if scam or not – together with all others you rightly suggest.
carol says
I just got the above example email today they think people are stupid . How and where do I report this to please ?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The problem is that there is nowhere useful to report this to because we don’t know which IVA firm is paying for these leads.
Lucille says
At the moment the best thing to do is forward to report@phishing.gov.uk where the national cyber crime team will investigate.
Brian Stevens says
I just received an email exactly the same as above but the person was named Leanne Brown from the FCA.
Stacey says
I just got the CBL email today from “Lauren Dean”.
I emailed back saying it’s obviously a scam as they are emailing from a gmail account and not a business one but nice try haha.
These scammers do love to come out more and more near Christmas time, stay safe people
Curtis says
I would just like to say thank you I got this exact email today and at first was worried but very hesitant and I also asked about which creditor and they replied with due to Gdpr 1998. So this has been very useful Thankyou 🙏🏻
Tracey Hills says
I recieved one today same amount as all from
Kelly Taylor @ Cbl
No contact nos
No business details
vanessa adams says
Hi received one today exactly same and no contact details etc
Charlotte Frank says
I received one like this last week and this one today
Hi Charlotte
Hope you are well
I just would like to tell you that we have got a legal complaint against you from your creditors where you are not making the contractual payments or managing just minimum payments towards them.
So this is why these creditors have approached us in order to get the “CCJ” action against you. So that they can have the attachment of earnings with your income of £464.36 every month for these accounts with your income from this month itself, so that they can cover all the money from your side asap
If you do not want to have any sort of legal proceedings and you are struggling with your financial situation and want to get these debts sorted, you do have “three options” left for yourself from these creditors apart from the CCJ.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
So this is just a scam. You can ignore them. if you are nervous about doing this, phone National Debtline on 0808 808 4000
Charlotte Frank says
Thank you thought they were both scams
Angie P says
I got the same one this week word for word cbl Nicola Morris £464.36
I replied in large letters SCAMMER and said I was contacting the police then blocked them
Hazel Spencer says
I received the email on 30th December 2023 from a Mark Martin from CBL ( Collection Bailiffs Limited ).
I replied asking which creditors to be told they cannot give me the information under GDPA! It takes days for them to reply as well. I have sent an email back stating I think it’s a scam due to the poor English used (have received similar before and nearly fell for it!), and under DPA I can request the information.
Got the following today:
We are going to terminate this conversation now. Unfortunately, We won’t be able to hold your complaint now. I am going to forward your case to my higher authority so they can have an attachment of earnings with your income of £464.36 every month for these accounts with your income from this month itself.
A little worried but not as much now after reading the above comments. Will play safe and contact National Debtline
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Good move to talk to National Debtline if you are worried.
Hazel Spencer says
I’m 99% convinced it’s a scam!
Sharron says
I have had the same email new was a scam after they spelt my name wrong and the email was a personal one they nearly had.me at the beginning as the email was large type at top etc…but with the mis spellings and bad pronounced grammar and the fact that they did not mention who the creditor was and no contact details …just an email.me ur income etc was a give away…..bastards
Jacqui says
I had the same email today must admit I got very worried but after reading all the comments I guessed it was a scam so hopefully nothing will come of this
adrian says
Ive just received an email word for word as above, but with a name change to ‘Chloe Bradley’ from DCL (direct collection limited). I panicked of course as I am actually in an IVA. Im glad after searching I’ve managed to find that this is a common scam email and that I haven’t provided them with any information.
Gemma says
I received this exact same email from a woman ‘named’ Chloe Bradley. I believed it until I thought I would Google search and then saw the exact email word for word!
I have literally about 5 minutes ago received a reply saying I have 3 days!! The next email I’m sending in a minute will be too offensive to put here
Julie Glynn says
I’ve just had one from a david barugh from a Gmail
L says
Just had one from this person too from first enforcement bailiffs. I have asked him to send me more information but the Gmail address made me wonder if was a scam and now I believe this to be reading these comments
Paula Morris says
I’ve just had one from BARRY DYSON
Also from a Gmail account.
Gemma harrison says
Yep the one I got was from a gmail account too. I reported it to action fraud. And not only this email but they claimed to send me over to the help desk so I had a WhatsApp message pretending to be from debt advice service but I done some digging and recognised the logo they are using is slightly different and the number they are using is registered to something else so I also sent that to action fraud. I contacted the real debt advice place and they are investigating as they said it’s not real and they are scamming. Scammers are being so clever with it that it actually looks real so be warned if you end up getting a WhatsApp message pretending to have your details from the so called help desk!
Rebecca Powis-rogers says
I’ve just received 1 of these from someone called Hannah young. Told them I will be seeking legal advice as they won’t tell me who the companies are
Craig Lewis says
I’ve jus had the same email from Daniel MillerCBL had me for a sec then after he refused to give me details of the debt or didn’t ask me for any data to complete DPA it twigged and I found this thread – very sneaky
Barbara says
I received the same e-mail yesterday from Lewis Wallace from DCL (Direct Collection Limited) which is actually the same company as DCBL (Direct Collection Bailiffs Limited) and a registered company but it’s the exact same email as mentioned above and came from gmail. So I believe they are using the actual existing company to look more real.
V Watson says
I’ve had this one yesterday, sent me into a blind panic until I did some research and realised it was a scam. This was my reply.
Lewis,
1 have done some research and found out what you’re all about. I hope you realise that there is such a thing as judgement day and you will not favour well. I will now be deleting my iCloud email because I hardly use it; therefore, any future emails will not be seen. I suggest in future when you send your emails to innocent people that they won’t include lots of grammatical errors (you should use a capital letter after a full stop) Lastly, you make people’s lives misery, but that won’t bother your heart of stone will it.
Jo Fig says
I had one today from Melissa Cornwell CBL.
I recognized it as scam in a instant.
First of all because I haven’t any debt at all and second because I had one from someone FCA years ago.
So I wasn’t worried but angry and disappointed as such people deserve to be in jail.
They scam people hoping to find someone vulnerable.
Of course I replied her:
Ahahahahahahahahahahahah
SCAMMER
Do you think people are stupid?
Why you scam trying to scare someone that could be vulnerable?
Make it a sense to your life?
What you are trying to do is disgusting and abominable.
Stay away from me and my email address or I will report you to the police.
Hope you’re not well.
FW says
I have received the exact copy/paste of the example provided (including the amount-can you be any lazier). emailed a few times and had the data protection response and now awaiting a contact number to speak direct…this person will not be getting any details from me. thankyou for this forum-found it as i was suspicious of the gmail account and fact i have had debt issues in the past and know the process of such enforcement also the blue text in response where they have copy/paste answers and not been bothered to change formatting (again how lazy) for reference this scammer was Mandy Davidson claiming to be from DCL (Direct collections Limited).
This type of scam is appalling as if you are in genuine difficulty you would 100% think this was a possibility and probably end up in even more trouble.
Lauren Mackintosh says
I have just received this exact email- I have asked for them to provide me details of said creditors but doubt I’ll receive any response
Luce M says
If you would like to report any suspicious emails like this one, you can forward them to report@phishing.gov.uk – they investigate all emails.
The latest one was from Norman Collection Ltd with a figure of £399.99 AOE within the month!
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-email
Lisa says
I received an email today from a David Smith @first enforcement bailiffs @gmail.com saying that they will be sending someone round immediately to collect goods from my home as they have received a legal notice against me and I have ignores it so I can pay in full get a loan out or arrange a payment plan when I replied with who the creditor is they won’t tell me this has to be a scam?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Why won’t they tell you who the creditor is? You should not pay a debt you do not recognise.
Abby says
I just had one from them have been so stressed only found this when I googled the company after it’s been a few days and they didn’t respond.
Ellis says
I had a similar one sent to me yesterday from a Norman Collection Limited (NCL), sent by Leigh Taylor
Enforcement Manager. Which the email was very similar to the example piece provided with the example given on this page. When I asked which company sent it to them, I end up getting a reply stating it would be going against the data protection act.
After seeing this I decided to ask for their company information due to stating it’s a limited company and wanting to make sure it’s legitimate or a scam and never received a reply.
One thing I did noticed was that this email came from a GMail account and not from a business address.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
that sounds like another scam
Lucille Horsnell says
My client had an email from Norman Collection Ltd too. Definitely a scam.
Gemma says
I have received the same email today at 1921 from First Enforcement Bailiffs, Paul Smith. Stating exactly the same. When I asked questions, told them to send me a letter to the address they must have on record and explained that I was aware of a scam going around, they have failed to reply.
ffionpearl says
Followed this thread from Workplace.. Can we find out what these fake companies want the so-called “debtors” to do next? I would be happy to follow a chain to see where the trail ends.. Sara mentioned a while back that someone MUST be profiting from these leads. I’m keen to know who that is because logic dictates it must be an IVA firm. I immediately know which firms I would suspect (***) and I know other IVA firms that I would like to think would not engage in this. But while it goes on a taint of suspicion clouds all of the IVA firms. That is terrible for the decent IVA sellers out there, such as… err …(thinks who might fit bill)… Uh Payplan or Angel ??
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The problem is that once someone knows it’s a scam, they naturally tend to disengage as fast as possible. We really want someone to play along and see who they get referred to. I can’t imagine who is doing this except lead generators… so we also need to know which IVA firm they are then passed on to…
daniel brocklehurst says
Hey i got one for £399,99 Norman Collection Limited they dont exist…..
Calum says
My partner got one today same thing of 399.99 from a person called Grace Robinson
Ben smith says
I got Grace Robinson
Suzanne Tardivel says
I’ve got one from Norman Collections for 399.99 too! Kerry Naylor is the name!
Nomi says
I have just received one from Norman Collections for 399 too. The ‘enforcement manager’ was called Mollie James
Paul Ewers says
I got one too came into my junk inbox
maria alexandra says
I got the exact same email exact same amount £399.99
Her name was “Megan White”
Kelly Gallagher says
I have received similar today from Norman collection limited !! I believed it at first, I then noticed the grammar – something I noticed whilst checking this out is Norman collecTIVE limited is on the .gov site – simply pointing this out as our eyes usually scan over words rather than actually reading them – thanks
anna says
i just had exactly same email but from Travis Hall from CEL ( County Enforcement Limited ). Thank god for this website as i amost had a heart attack!
Ben W says
Just got one for 399.99 from Daniel wood who supposedly works for (Bailiff Collection Limited) Yeah right lol
Tracy Manning says
Had the exact same one and same amount. Name of Paul Clayton. Copy and pasted the email above 😂
Sara C says
Hi all I received the below today:
This is Paul Carson from BCL ( Bailiff Collection Limited ). Hope you are doing well. I just would like to tell you that we have got a legal complaint against you from your creditors where you are not making the contractual payments or managing just minimum payments towards them.
Creditors have approached us in order to get the “CCJ” action against you so that they can have the attachment of earnings for the total of £399.99 every month from your income, so that they can recover all the money from your side asap because as per the creditors they gave you enough chance to get the arrangements done through the government help known as an “IVA” but you refused to get that help and now they are looking to have legal action against you.
If you do not want to have any sort of legal proceedings and you are struggling with your financial situation and want to get these debts sorted, you do have “three options” left for yourself from these creditors apart from the CCJ.
If you wish to sort-out these debts. we will transfer you to our help desk team to get your finances back on track.
Hope to get a reply soon from your side.
Kind Regards!
Paul Carson
Enforcement Manager
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Sounds like a scam!
Sara says
I emailed back and asked him to give me his companies contact information etc, he hasn’t replied 🤦🏼♀️😂
Jody says
I have had the exact email sent several times but from Daniel woods, replied and asked what its concerning and just get the same email sent back.