What a feeling… to do something that you feel is right and truly helpful; It’s not often people can say they do that, from the comfort of their desks, during the working day. But for anyone in the debt industry, helping people is what we do best.
Sometimes, the help needed though, isn’t just to the consumer who is in debt, but to those who she/he turns to for support and advice…in other words, you or your contemporaries.
As Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. You too, as trusted advisors, share the same burden of the masked superhero. When looking for the right network to support you in assisting your clients, it truly is a minefield out there! Researching the debt solution market as best you can, trying to find partners who are ethical and responsible, as well as being geared up to work with intermediaries is not an easy task.
So when we (the Debt Advice Portal and the ClearDebt Group) heard some debt companies were telling consumers they could sell their credit card debt for a pound, and then be free of any legal obligations to pay back their creditors, we nearly fell off our chairs! Once back and seated comfortably, I thought it was time to share and shame with the information.
After some mystery shopping and a collective effort of research, we decided to call the big guns in and the OFT set to work to see what they thought of it all. The rest, as they say, is now history in the making!
This week sees the OFT taking strong action against these types of companies. Companies we have brought to their attention in a campaign to clean up the industry to ensure you’re getting the right support, from the right people.
For more information see the ClearDebt Group’s press release http://www.cleardebt.co.uk/cd_press_1.php .
I’m pleased to see ethics and honesty stand up for something in our sector and…for those who choose not to conduct themselves in this way…a word of warning… what goes around, comes around.
Choosing your business partners is something that needs careful research and planning. I hope the above proves my point that you should never judge a book by it’s cover but get to know your support network thoroughly before placing your full trust in them and what they say. At the end of the day, they represent your brand too. If they are brought down due to unethical trading…they will bring you down with them.
Ethics don’t cost anything, a bit like manners, so make sure whoever you work with have both in abundance.
