The Legal System of Debt Collection Agencies on Behalf of Others

Abstract

Debt collectors and buyers are indispensable necessities in business. Creditors use them as agencies to operate debt collection services on their behalf to implement the necessary procedures with the respective debtors. These agencies save creditors’ time and cost consumed by debt collection, which leads to more focus on the creditors business development. The study has dealt with the legal system of debt collectors and buyers, focusing on the current situation of these agencies. The study has investigated theses agencies in terms of historical backgrounds, legal systems, collection procedures, and their legal effects according to the decision issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia No. 66614, 1436 Hijri year. This unique decree is unprecedented in the Arab region, and it regulates the collection of debt on behalf of others through debt collectors and buyers. Resorting to a Debt Collection Agency (Debt Collector/Buyer) is one of the feasible and economical methods to assure payment of the debtors. This study has reached some significant recommendations, such as the significance of establishing legal procedures for debt collection activities in the Arab countries in general. There are many legal agencies, law firms, and legal business offices that provide debt collection services without implementing specific legal procedures which are designed according to their professional experience. Such deficient practices and lack of clearly implemented procedures have resulted in many illegal cases that can be avoided by adopting specific legal procedures for debt collection.