Debt collectors pursued wrong people

Action has been taken against one of the UK's biggest debt collection agencies after it pursued the wrong people for money owed.

An Office of Fair Trading investigation found that Aktiv Kapital had been chasing people for disputed debts without properly investigating the situation.

It also found people being chased for money felt "unreasonably pressured" by the firm. The OFT has called on the group not to pursue people where it has been notified that the debt is disputed until the situation has been investigated. If the company fails to comply, it could be fined £50,000 for each breach, or have its licence revoked.

The OFT said the wrong person being pursued for a debt was a common theme in the complaints it received. It said inaccurate or incomplete data was often passed on when the debt was sold or its collection was sub-contracted.