A couple of days ago I received a text message from a company called CSL. I instantly assumed they were a debt collection agency but I wasn’t completely sure who they were or why they had contacted me.
Text messages seem to be one of the ways debt collection agencies like to contact debtors now. I guess they must work for them. They are faster than a letter and unlike a phone call they get to you.
Anyway below is what CSL sent to me. It was short and to the point.
This is an important message from CSL for Mr Debt Man, Please call CSL on 0208 763 4514 quoting reference 1234567.
I was intrigued as I haven’t come across CSL before. After some digging round the Internet I found that they were in fact a Debt Collection Agency called Credit Solutions. They advised me that they were collecting my Barclays Bank account debt and asked me if I could pay the balance in full. With the amount owed I said not it wasn’t possible but that I would enter into an arrangement to pay them.
I made a quick payment over the phone as I was expecting to make a payment for this debt anyway and was asked to send an income and expenditure form. I managed to get an e-mail address off them and so I have now sent the form. The arrangement is in place for six months and will be reviewed after then. This common practice and if you can’t increase your payments then you just tell them that at the review. So far I haven’t had any problems with doing this.
My Contact with CSL?
To be fair I found the advisor I dealt with to be helpful and courteous. He asked me if I had sought help from any of the free debt advice agencies which was good, because someone who didn’t know about them could have someone to go to and get help with their debts. I am seeing this more and more with the debt collection agencies I speak to, and it is a refreshing change from days gone by where things were a little more aggressive.
I was advised that I could settle the account for half of what was owed. If I had the money then I would have jumped at the chance but sadly I do not so I had to decline the offer. Hopefully in a few months I can maybe get some money together and then propose a full and final settlement offer. It would be nice to have repaid another debt so I think the Barclays debt is the next debt I will pay.
Do you need help with your debts?
If you have found this article because you are also in debt then there is help available for you. You can visit the Debt Advice Page on this blog to fill in a short form and contact a company who can help you with your debts. There are also links to some of the Debt Charities on the Get Debt Help page as well. Either way you are covered and can get the help you need. Good luck.
