I have desperately searched for the answer to this to no avail.

Does the Housing Act which the council implements in relation to private landlord behaviour and housing standards apply to the councils own housing stock as well?

I read in Credit Today over the Summer that 43% of DCAs are having a hard time and that in the course of the next 12 months some will fold and some will amalgamate with other companies. They are not getting it all their own way and the credit crunch is throwing up a new generation of debtors some of whom have powerful legal connections and won't put up with any snash. I don't think they will stop pursuing smaller debts - I think what determines their behaviour is the level of resistance they meet when they are knowingly pursuing a debt unlawfully. Some stick it out for a while but in my own case I was amazed at how quickly some of them just folded.

Firstly, thanks for all the replies. Sadly it wasn't what I wanted to hear.

Oh well

So Pinky69 when you say 'the level of resistance they meet' does that include just ignoring them for three years?

..............Or maybe not. See the way I see it if I can stick it for another three years.

Then I'm free.

No, if something it'll be the other way round. Banks and credit card companies and the like will be keener than ever to make some sort of money from whatever they have. They can write off bad debts against tax and they can get a few pennies in the pound from selling on the bad debts to the likes of Cabot. They will then pass them onto smaller firms to try their luck. The plans are unlikely to work unless the paperwork is in order.....

Hi there

Thanks for answering but... um

I'm not asking about bank or credit card company behaviour.

As I said in the title and opening post I am specifically referring NOT to them but to Debt Collection Agency Behaviour.

I'm just wondering and I did do a search on here yesterday but found no mention of this.

Because of the current economic problems in Britain and because so many people are in so much debt - bankruptcys, losing houses etc, does this mean that the debt collection agencies might concentrate less on the small debtors?

By small debtors I mean stuff like credit cards say under 2000 pounds.

Or will it go the other way and make them even more aggressive towards smaller debtors because they think they have a better chance of getting money out of them than someone who has just had their house repossessed.

Has any any ideas on this.

Thanks