It is perfectly reasonable for someone you owe money to ask for it back, however sometimes demand for repayment can take unpleasant forms.

Under Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 "the Act" harassment is defined as "trying to coerce a person to pay a contract debt by making demands for payment" subjecting debtors to "alarm, distress or humiliation by the frequency, publicity of manner in attempting to collect the debt".

The following are generally regarded as harassment: -

• a creditor claiming non-payment of a debt is a criminal matter
• calling repeatedly at unsociable hours
• calling at the debtor's place of work if requested not to (advising the creditor that you are under threat of disciplinary action and may lose your job can often stop them calling)
• using abusive or threatening behaviour and threats of violence.

Harassment is a criminal offence.

.