If you have any catalogue or store debt, your creditors may be able to take legal action to recover the money through the courts. The flexible ‘buy now, pay later’ terms offered by catalogue companies are very attractive, but can encourage people into debt if payments fall behind.
That’s why, if you owe money to a mail order catalogue company, it’s important to take action quickly so your financial position doesn’t decline any further.
Catalogue companies such as Very, Littlewoods and Shop Direct, offer special deals with low rates of interest, or no interest added. Repayments can usually be made on weekly or monthly terms, generally over a period of between 20 and 40 weeks. If payments are always made on time, it can be a very convenient way to shop.
Problems arise, however, if a single payment is missed. This often triggers the removal of any 0% interest offer, and the application of a high rate of interest – sometimes as much as 40% APR. You could also be charged a late payment fee, and further charges for chasing the debt.
The prices in some catalogues may also be higher than on the high street, to reflect the convenience of this type of shopping. It’s also worth noting that some companies regularly increase customers’ credit limits, providing an incentive for them to buy more.
Add to this the potentially high rate of interest when a payment is late, and without great care, this combination of circumstances can result in a sudden decline into debt.
A further issue arises if you sell catalogue goods to your friends and family, collect their payments, and send them off each week or month. It’s important to keep these accounts separate from your own, so you don’t become liable for your customers’ debts.
Keeping good accounting records means that if one customer misses a payment, you can send their details to the catalogue company, and shouldn’t be involved in any recovery action taken.
Additionally, you should have a separate credit agreement between yourself and each customer, as well as with the company. It’s interesting to note that if there’s no signed credit agreement between yourself and the catalogue company, they may be unable to enforce the debt.
If you’re unsure about whether or not you signed an agreement, a copy should be requested in writing. The company then has a period of 12 days to send the agreement if there was one - after which time they may not be able to hold you liable for monies owing.
When you know that a payment is going to be missed, you should contact the catalogue company to explain why, as you may be able to negotiate a lower repayment amount. If they’re not open to negotiations, several formal insolvency procedures exist that will help.
In Scotland, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) allows people in debt to pay an affordable amount each month, without the fear of legal action by creditors. This and other options, such as a Trust Deed, freeze all interest and charges so the total amount owing doesn’t increase. At the end of the arrangement, any remaining debt is written off. For more information about the options for repaying catalogue and store debt, contact the team at Scotland Debt Solutions. We’ll guide you on all the available options, and help free yourself from debt.
Our Scottish based team can help advise you on your debt problems.
Our personalised debt report will help you better understand your financial position and see where your money is going.
Arrange a call with an expert advisor at a time to suit you.
We have five offices located across Scotland. Find your nearest one here.
Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy and may be suitable for you if you do not have the money to pay back your debts
A Trust Deed involves making a monthly contribution to your debts for up to four years. After this time any remaining debt will be wiped out.
A Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) lets you pay off your debt through a series of manageable instalments over a reasonable length of time.
Whether you are a sole trader or a limited company director, we can help you work through your current financial problems including money owed to HMRC