Bully-boy fears as firm sends in 22st enforcers to struggling debt families
themselves inn debt deserve to have the support of an understanding society, not to have ‘6ft 8in, 22st’ men at their door.
“The suggestion that this company is willing to bring the families and friends ‘ into play’ is morally repugnant.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “The practice and attitudes of this f irm are horrific and shouldn’t be tolerated.
“Any firm that runs on nothing but bullying and intimidation should be run out of town immediately.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokeswoman Katy Gordon said: “The intimidation tactics this company proposes are unacceptable. It’s unbelievable they’re pushing these hostile bullyboy methods as a selling point.”
Nightfox claims on its website it does not need to be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as “we do not undertake any regulated activities”.
It also claims it will “undertake any legally owed debt” but does not take cases covered by the Credit and Consumer Act 1974.
Myles Fitt, of Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “It’s very concerning to see anyone proposing these kind of tactics to pursue debts. If people feel threatened in any way, they should contact the police.
“We would urge people who are in any kind of debt to seek advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Our expert debt advice is free, impartial and confidential.”
The UK’s leading debt charity, StepChange, slammed the methods used by Nightfox.
Sharon Bell, head of debt advice at StepChange Scotland, said: “Vindictive debt collection helps no one. Intimidating potentially vulnerable people isn’t the way to help creditors recover money.
“The majority of people who turn to StepChange for help with debt have suf fered unfor tunate changes in circumstances. You cannot bully someone out of a position of difficulty.
“The fact that companies using such toxic techniques see them as a selling point shows just how important it is to encourage a more humane and effective debt collection culture.”
A CSA spokesman sa id: “Treating customers (those in debt) fairly must be at the heart of any debt collection activity. The
CSA, which represents 90 per cent of the debt collection market, expects its members to follow a code of practice that embeds this very principle.
“Customers must not be subject to aggressive collection practices and firms must pay due regard to the interests of those they are dealing with.
“Experience shows practices that are aggressive rather than sympathetic are, ultimately, counter-productive for both the customer and the firm attempting to collect the monies owed.
“If customers or businesses find themselves facing practices that are unacceptably aggressive, they should report the firm concerned to their local authority Trading Standard Service.”
After being contacted by the Sunday Mail, Nightfox said it would add an “advice” section to its website offering links to organisations that can offer debtors help.
Nightfox also deleted claims on its website that a “6ft 8in, 22st man” cannot be ignored. The page now says a debtor cannot ignore “a real person”.
A spokesman for the firm – based in Manchester – said
Ni g ht fox wa s a n ethical f irm whose employees were vetted for criminal records.
He added: “The website is a shop window for clients, not a terror window for debtors.
“The debts we undertake are business- related debts either between businesses and businesses or business to individuals and we do not undertake any work under a credit agreement.
“Our website, whilst as you say may imply something it does not, there are many unscrupulous companies within our sector – we are not one of them.
“As we do not undertake credit debts, we have never had a section on our site regarding depression or help charities.
“As we are a very ethical company, we will be implementing a new health page on our site pointing people to bodies such as the CAB a nd M i nd if they are seeking help.”