Equita

Are Equita Debt Collectors or Bailiffs?

Equita can act in two different roles, which is why contact from them can be confusing.

In some cases, Equita acts as a debt collection agent. This usually happens earlier on, before enforcement has started. When acting in this way, they are contacting you to request payment or discuss a repayment arrangement, similar to other debt collection agencies.

In other cases, Equita acts as enforcement agents, often referred to as bailiffs. This means legal action has already taken place, like a court order or council tax liability order, and Equita has been instructed to enforce the debt. Equita can only act as a bailiff in England and Wales, as bailiffs are not permitted in Northern Ireland.

The powers Equita has depend entirely on why they are contacting you. If they are acting as debt collectors, their authority is limited. If they are acting as enforcement agents, they have additional powers, but only within strict legal limits.

Understanding which capacity Equita is acting in is important, as it affects what they can do and what options are available to you.

What Debts Do Equita Collect or Enforce?

Equita usually deals with collecting debts on behalf of local councils and other public bodies. These debts are often already in arrears and may have reached a later stage of recovery.

Equita may contact you about:

• Unpaid council tax
• Parking fines and penalty charge notices
• Magistrates’ court fines
• Congestion charge and road use charges
• Business rates
• Some HMRC debts

The type of debt is important because it affects what Equita can do and how quickly the situation can move forward. Some debts allow enforcement action sooner than others.

If you’re not sure what the debt is for, you can ask Equita to confirm who the debt is owed to, how much is outstanding, and what stage it has reached.

Equita Bailiffs: What Powers Do They Have?

When Equita is acting as a bailiff, they are classed as enforcement agents. This means they have more authority than a standard debt collector, but their powers are still limited by law.

Equita bailiffs can:

• Visit your address to collect a debt
• Add enforcement fees set by law
• Ask for payment in full or discuss repayment
• Take control of certain non-essential items in limited situations, after lawful entry and in line with strict legal rules

They must follow strict rules when carrying out enforcement. Visits have to take place at reasonable times, and they cannot act in a threatening or aggressive way.

Their powers depend on the type of debt and if the correct legal steps have already been taken. Bailiffs do not have unlimited rights, and many common fears about what they can do are not accurate.

Limits to What Equita Debt Collection Services Can Do

If Equita is contacting you in a debt collection capacity, they do not have enforcement powers.

They cannot:

• Enter your home or ask to come inside
• Visit your property as bailiffs
• Take or list belongings
• Add enforcement fees
• Force payment or demand payment in full
• Claim court action has already started if it hasn’t

At this stage, Equita can contact you to request payment or discuss repayment, but any arrangement is informal.

Limits to What Equita Can Do as Enforcement Agents

When Equita are acting as bailiffs, they have more authority, but strict legal limits still apply.

They cannot:

• Force entry for most types of debt
• Visit late at night or very early in the morning
• Enter if only children under 16 or vulnerable people are present
• Take essential household items
• Take items that do not belong to you
• Use threatening or misleading behaviour

Their actions must follow the law and the correct legal process for the type of debt involved.

What Happens If Equita Comes to My Home?

If Equita visits your home, it’s important to understand why they are there, what stage the debt is at and if they are there as debt collectors or enforcement agents.

If they are acting as debt collectors, you do not have to let them in or speak to them in person. You can ask them to leave, and they must do so. Any contact at this stage should be by letter, phone, or email.

If they are acting as enforcement agents, a visit usually means a legal process has already taken place. They may attend your address to collect the debt or discuss payment. For most debts, they cannot force entry on a first visit and must follow strict rules about how and when they attend.

If you’re unsure why Equita has visited, you can ask them to confirm who they are acting for and provide details of the debt before engaging further.

What Happens If You Ignore Equita?

If you don’t respond to Equita, the debt will usually continue to be chased. Contact may increase over time, and the matter can move to a later stage.

Where Equita is acting in a debt collection role, ignoring them can lead to the creditor taking further steps, which may include passing the debt for enforcement or moving towards legal action.

If Equita is already involved as an enforcement agent, not engaging can result in extra fees being added and further visits to your address.

Addressing the situation earlier tends to give you more control than waiting for it to escalate.

Can I Write Off My Outstanding Debt With Equita?

Equita does not have the authority to write off debt itself. They are instructed to collect or enforce a balance on behalf of another organisation, such as a council or government body.

Depending on your circumstances and the type of debt, you may be able to deal with the debt without repaying the full amount through a formal debt solution like an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). An IVA is a legally binding agreement set up by a licensed Insolvency Practitioner.