If you have watched Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away; you have seen High Court Enforcement Officers in action—often turning up at the doorstep to recover unpaid debts. But how far can a UK debt collection agency legally go?
At Shergroup, we are proud to have featured in these powerful real-life TV shows, offering an inside look at the legal limits and procedures of debt collection in the UK. This blog will give you a clear, helpful guide to what a collection agency in the UK can do—and, just as importantly, what they cannot.
A registered UK debt collection agency has the legal right to contact a debtor by phone, email, or letter. Their goal is to open communication and encourage voluntary repayment. Respectful and professional conduct is not just best practice—it is the law.
Collection agencies can help negotiate realistic repayment plans between creditors and debtors. These arrangements often help avoid court proceedings and benefit both sides.
If voluntary payment is not possible, a creditor can apply to the court for a County Court Judgment (CCJ). If granted, Shergroup can transfer the case to the High Court and enforce it through a Writ of Control, allowing our officers to attend to the debtor’s property.
This is a common misconception. No debt collector can force entry into a home without proper legal authority. Even with a High Court Writ, Shergroup officers must follow strict legal procedures, entering only through unlocked doors or with peaceful permission.
By law, debt collection must remain fair, respectful, and non-threatening. Repeated or aggressive contact is considered harassment and can be reported to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or Trading Standards.
Even with legal authority, enforcement officers cannot seize essential household goods, such as bedding, clothing, or white goods (like fridges or cookers). We focus on proportional and ethical enforcement.
Featured on Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away, Shergroup offers legal enforcement that respects the law, and the people involved. As a trusted collection agency in the UK, we:
Whether you are a landlord, business owner, or private individual, Shergroup can help you recover what is owed—quickly, legally, and compassionately.
By Phone | 020 3588 4240
Website | www.shergroup.com and you can chat to us from here
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Shergroup: We do not just collect debts—we build resolutions that work
Can’t Pay? Take It Away – What UK Debt Collection Agencies Can and Can’t Do Legally
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