From 1 October, unregistered debt collection agencies will no longer be permitted to charge debt collection fees or interest to individuals in debt. This also applies to debt collection activities relating to sole traders, partners and partnerships. The original debt must, however, still be paid. The register can be consulted at: https://www.justis.nl/registers/register-incassodienstverlening
This brings the final section of the Debt Collection Services Quality Act (Wki) into force. The aim of the Wki is to better protect people in debt from unprofessional conduct on the part of debt collection agencies. The Act therefore sets out requirements regarding the quality and reliability of debt collection agencies. These include training requirements, providing accurate and appropriate information to those in debt, an understanding of how a debt is accumulated and the costs involved in debt collection, and maintaining appropriate standards of conduct.
This refers to debt collection service providers in the broadest sense of the term, namely all parties that send a demand for payment to an individual on behalf of a third party or after having purchased the debt. One of the requirements of the Wki is that a debt collection service provider must register. Bailiffs and solicitors who provide debt collection services are not required to register, as they are already listed in the bailiffs’ register or on the bar roll.