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Indigo Michael Ltd Debt – Should You Pay?

For free and impartial money advice and guidance, visit MoneyHelper.

When a surprise letter from Indigo Michael Ltd lands on your doormat, it can be a shock.

But don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Every month, over 170,000 people just like you come to our website for help with debt matters.

In this article, we are going to help you understand:

  •  Why Indigo Michael Ltd might be contacting you
  •  If you should pay the debt they say you owe
  •  How Indigo Michael Ltd loans work
  •  Your rights against any unwanted visits or calls from them
  •  Possible ways to manage or even write off some of your debt

We understand the worry and confusion you might be feeling right now. But remember, knowledge is power. By learning more about your situation, you can make the best choice for you.

So, let’s dive in and find out more about dealing with Indigo Michael Ltd debt.

Why is Indigo Michael Ltd contacting you?

If you have an outstanding debt with SafetyNet and have missed payments, it’s likely that you’ll eventually receive contact from Indigo Michael Ltd.

Usually, the company will let you know when they are attempting to take payment from your account.

Remember, SafetyNet has access to your bank transactions, so they know when you have sufficient funds to repay the amount you borrowed plus interest.

However, they will also take partial payments when possible. Again, they usually give you notice of at least 48 hours before they attempt to take any money.

If they are unsuccessful in taking back the funds you owe from your account, they may reach out to you in different ways.

It could be because you have cancelled the debit card tied to your repayments or it has expired.

See this message posted by someone on a popular online forum.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

What is open banking?

Open Banking refers to standards and technologies that allow you to securely share your account details and information with a third party.

In this instance, you’d be dealing with Indigo Michael Ltd who’d have access to your account information.

An example is through a banking app. When you opt to work with Indigo Michael, you effectively authorise the company to access your current account information.

It’s worth noting that only you can choose the kind of information you want to share and for how long.

In short, nobody can access your account unless you give them permission first.

Do I have to pay Indigo Michael?

We all have to repay our debts in some way or another. If you genuinely owe money to Indigo Michael Ltd or SafetyNet, then you will have to pay back that money somehow.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to pay them the full amount all at once.

There are, of course, some exceptions to this. If the debt is older than six years, it may be what’s known as statute-barred.

So, if they’ve not contacted you about it and you’ve not made repayment for six years, it could be written off. Provided there’s no County Court Judgement against the debt.

Similarly, if you’ve already paid the money or you don’t think you owe it in the first place, it’s their responsibility to prove it.

You can write to them and ask them to prove that the debt is yours. Make sure to send a physical letter, and check out the FCA’s Consumer Credit sourcebook for full details.

In some rare instances, the debt may genuinely not be yours. Someone else who has previously lived at your residence may have incurred it, or someone with a similar name could have borrowed the money.

Again, you should contact Indigo Michael Ltd to discuss this matter in full.

How do I check my debt details?

There are 3 credit agencies you can use to check your debt details. These credit reports show what you’ve paid back on money you’ve borrowed.

Experian, TransUnion and Equifax all offer free copies of your credit report.

What options do I have with Indigo Michael?

You have several options when it comes to managing your debt. First and foremost, it’s important not to ignore letters or calls from creditors.

It will only make matters worse, and it could end up costing you far more than the original debt. Missed or late payments can damage your credit history, making it more difficult to gain credit in the future (including mortgages).

If you have the funds to make a repayment and you’re sure you owe the money, it’s a sensible course of action.

However, if funds are short, you may want to reach out to the creditor to arrange a repayment plan. Often, this can be a set monthly amount that slowly pays off your debt.

If your debt is over £5000, you may be able to apply for an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA). This combines all your debts into one and means you can make lower monthly repayments.

Usually, this lasts for 60 months, and any outstanding money is written off at the end.

There are also debt management solutions you can look to. Things like consolidation loans and debt arrangement schemes can help you make regular repayments that you can afford.

As a last resort, bankruptcy is an option. However, it can have some significant impacts.

Will Indigo Michael Ltd visit your home?

It’s unusual for creditors to visit your home in the early stages of debt collection.

However, if you ignore their correspondence or refuse to arrange a form of payment, they may attempt to visit you.

Usually, they have to give you notice of when they’ll come to your house. And, even if they do show up, they have no legal power to enter your property or take your possessions to recover what’s owed.

If they were to call in the bailiffs, the situation would be different.

Bailiffs have certain legal powers. They can:

  • Send you letters, even at addresses you’ve not provided.
  • Apply interest and penalty charges to the amount you owe.
  • Register a default against your credit file. This can negatively impact your credit score.
  • Issue a CCJ. Again, these can significantly impact your credit rating.
  • If your debt is greater than ¬£5000, they can petition you for bankruptcy.

So, writing to you and arriving at your home may only be the start of the action they take against you.

It’s important that you deal with the situation head-on. Ignoring it will only make things difficult.

Has Safety Net Credit gone bust?

Yes. As of January 2023, Indigo Michael Ltd which traded as SafetyNet and Tappily went into administration.

Details were published on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website.

Indigo Michael Ltd contact details

If you need the essential information proving that they’re a legitimate company, you can find it below:

Address: Windsor Court, Kingsmead Business Park, Frederick Place, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1JU
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 08001808559
Companies House Number: 07721420

The Companies House number is particularly important as it shows that Indigo Michael Ltd is a company that’s been registered in the UK.

So, if you’ve had a letter from them, you can guarantee it’s real.

Indigo Michael can be reached using any of the methods listed above. They can provide details of their money advice service as well as any county court judgements (CCJs).

You can also talk to their agents about interest rates.

In general, SafetyNet, the company that Indigo Michael Ltd owns, seems to have a positive rating. On Trustpilot, there are many five-star reviews of the service.

Again, this goes to show that they’re a real business with a positive reputation.

You shouldn’t ignore contact from Indigo Michael Limited, even if they’ve sent you a letter in error.

They will continue to pursue the outstanding debt, and likely escalate their efforts if you ignore them.

References

CONC 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

CONC 7.9 Contact with customers

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The authors
Scott Nelson
Author
Scott Nelson is a renowned debt expert who supports people in debt with debt management and debt solution resources.