Complaints Against HFO Services Ltd

HFO Services Ltd is a debt purchasing and "distressed debt investment" firm which is a member of DBSG (The Debt Buyers and Sellers Group) and/or mentioned in consumer finance forms. They have a legitimate function as debt collections, but there is some indication that some such companies (not necessarily HFO Services ), and especially the debt purchasing element, go a bit too far sometimes and can make people's lives a misery when those same people are at their most vulnerable. We do not suggest that they are acting outside the law, but getting that letter or phone call is not exactly helpful to you right now.

So the first thing you must do if HFO Services is bothering you is not to panic or despair. That's just what they want! They'd love you to call their number and speak to their specially trained sales team for 'advice'. But once you do that you'll be suggestible to whatever they tell you, instead of getting independent advice. While we always say that you should keep an open dialogue with debt collectors, we would recommend that you do so in writing only. This will prevent them 'railroading' you into any action which is not in your best interests, as they so love talking people into doing things on the spur of the moment. Of course, they are only doing their job, but that's hardly a consolation for you in the present situation.

There are several courses that are open to you, and some will suit your own situation better than others. You could use one of these, or even all of them if they are appropriate to your own circumstances.

But first of all, a warning: we DON'T recommend taking out a so-called 'consolidation loan', or at least think carefully if you are offered one. These are fine in some cases, and they look quite rosy in the short term, but they can easily get you in more difficulty than before; after all, this is more debt. Where would you be with this a few years down the line?

A more sensible option, we would suggest, is a debt management plan or even an IVA - which is designed to actually write off a large chunk of your unsecured debt. But you would need to take advice on this and look at your income and expenditure in detail. This option won't suit everyone. There's more on this below.

For a longer term loan you could apply for a 'logbook loan' which many people find a very handy option. It is actually a loan secured on your car, except you get to keep the car and keep the cash as well! That's why some people find it such a good idea, as it unlocks the equity in your vehicle without taking away your means of transport (there's no need to sell the car). To apply for a logbook loan click here.

Yet another option is a no credit-check guarantor loan. This is especially useful because your own credit rating is not looked at; you must find someone else willing to act as a guarantor for you such as a friend or family member. This is an ideal solution if you're at the stage where your credit profile has been downgraded by recent events, etc. So click the following link for Unsecured Loans that don't need you to be credit checked.

If you wanted to try a debt management plan, then we provide a whole-of-market service, with a number of debt management experts on our panel. So whatever your circumstances, your application will find the plan for you, meaning the optimum outcome for your situation. It also means there are no minimum requirements for debt levels or income.

NOTE: If you have at least two accounts in debt, and total debts of £2,000 or more, enter your details below to see if you qualify. (But if you owe less than this, or are on state benefits, then use this link to apply instead.)

Your browser doesn't support IFrames. To view the application form please <a href="http://www.traffic-clearing-house.com/Leadsdb/direct_api/iframes/debt-management-form.php?tchid=e390fc811006d746f209b961a94e8958&subtype=CPA"> click here.</a>

DPC Registry. Consumer Credit Licence number 633327.

Name: HFO Services Ltd
Also Known As: HFO Services Ltd Debt Collectors, HFO Services Ltd Ltd, HFO Services West Byfleet, HFO Services India, HFO Debt Collectors West Byfleet Surrey, etc., etc., etc.
Address: PO Box 342, Lavender Park Rd, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6YX and also 6B Building No. 6, DLF Cyber City, DLF Phase-3, Gurgaon-122002, India.
Telephone: 0203 024 8500
Fax: 844 555 3400
Email: enquiries@hfoservices.com
Extra Data: HFO Services describe themselves on their website glowingly: the usual tosh about being 'industry leaders', etc. In fact the main thrust of their bullying seems to be from their call centre in India where it's cheaper to make lots of calls than in the UK (and it's more difficult to secure a prosecution for making threats if the threats are made from overseas).

They have a relationship with Turnbull Rutherford Solicitors, and they have a trick of purchasing delinquent (usually unenforceable) accounts with which they then use Turnbull Rutherford to 'ramp up' into what is effectively a secured loan by means of a Court Order. We have proof of at least one instance of the Court Order being obtained falsely, the defendant's N9A form having been witheld until after it was too late to submit, thereby creating the impression that the defendant was not mounting a defence. The result was that the Court Order was automatically granted to HFO in the absence of a defence. Hey presto: unenforceable unsecured debt turns into a CCJ overnight!

HFO Services Ltd and the Truth About Your Debt

HFO Services Ltd represents debt collecting companies which purchase debt from the original creditor for a fraction of the original value and is brazenly attempting to recover the full value from you.

HFO Services Ltd will use all sorts of nasty methods to get money out of you in order to profit from you. You may have already experienced bad dealings with them on the phone or by letter. They may call you at strange times when they know it is inconvenient for you and do this lots of times. They may send you official-appearing nastily worded letters or cards threatening to send people round to collect the amount in full or take you to court if you cannot pay. Other tactics may involve saying that they will make a charging order on your property or make you lose your home.

So ask HFO Services Ltd for a copy of the original contract when you took out your loan or credit card.

To find out if you qualify for an IVA or can benefit from a debt management programme, try the IVA Test. It's free to apply, and again you are protected by the consumer laws regarding debt management at all stages. Click here to go to the application form.

Breaking News: OFT "Minded To Revoke" HFO's Licence

We hear that HFO have, at last, had a rap on the knuckles by the Office of Fair Trading (have a look at the OFT's own document here). The OFT have said that they are "minded to revoke" the consumer credit licence of HFO Services Ltd.

Apparently the last straw was when HFO tried to get money from a woman's mother. Unfortunately, the "debtor" had been dead for several years and they were chasing the deceased's daughter for the alleged debt. The debt had apparently been sold on through nine different debt purchasing companies or debt collectors, before HFO bought it, presumably for an absolute pittance (a real class act, those HFO boys!) and had just carried on with the usual bullyboy activities, naturally assuming that they could get away with everything as they had done before.

Matters came to a head when HFO started writing letters to the daughter's neighbour (real class act, as I said) with details of the alleged debt.

HFO is closely allied with Roxburghe (qv.) and these, too, have been given the same treatment by the OFT. Also associated with HFO, of course, are our old friends Turnbull Rutherford, the "debt-purchasing solicitors", whose principals also own HFO Services, and also a call centre in India for extra vexation.

There is an excellent account of the whole process of how the complaint procedure was started when the daughter of the deceased woman wrote to the Consumer Action Group website's forum, and this really started the ball rolling. Despite a lacklustre and unhelpful performance from her local MP the matter gained momentum, mainly because of the sheer cheek of what HFO were doing. You can read about this here. It is an object lesson in what can be achieved against these clowns by people of good courage.

So we toast the OFT on their whacking of HFO's backside (but we also ask, shouldn't they have done this years ago?).

Complaints Against HFO Services Ltd

There are many complaints about HFO Services Ltd and Turnbull Rutherford Solicitors which may be found on the various consumer websites such as the excellent Consumer Action Group site, and also see Tony Hetherington's online Rogue Traders column.

Please be aware that figures entered into the HFO Services Ltd web form, above, need to be accurate by law, and to give the best service to you. It is extremely important that you budget for all necessary expenditure including rent or mortgage, council tax and utility bills, etc., and any other necessary outgoings related to the upkeep of your household and in relation to any specific circumstances which may apply to you or your household. This website only collects data on behalf of debt management professionals, from which it will receive affiliate remuneration for data collection only and does not itself engage in any debt management services. Other debt management options are available and may be more suitable. People entering into an IVA or debt management will have this entered on their credit profile and this may affect their ability to get credit in the short term or even in the long term in some cases. It is free to apply from this website; you will be given advice by debt management professionals and a 'cooling off' period, by law, to decide whether or not the debt management plan is suitable for you, and you should be aware that a fee will be chargeable upon a successful arrangement, as with any commercial transaction. Failure to meet the repayments on an IVA or any debt management programme may result in serious consequences, including, but not limited to, bankruptcy. Bankruptcies, CCJs and similar defaults will be entered into a public register and will remain there for a statutory period of not less than six (6) years.

Take a look at the Insolvency Service's leaflet called 'In Debt', downloadable here.