Some 90% of the estimated 2,500 debt collection agencies in the Netherlands may not be registered with the justice department screening authority, which they are now required to do by law, justice ministry inspectors have told consumer rights programme Radar.

The inspectors checked out 30 agencies and found 28 were either not registered or were flouting rules against intimidation and phone harassment.

Chief inspector  Hans Faber told the programme the proliferation of agencies is “worrying”. When the rules for collection agencies came into effect, their number was estimated at 500. In reality, the total is five times as high.

Inspectors have received over 300 complaints about debt collectors acting illegally since the beginning of 2024. They will either be fined or forced to stop trading. They will also be forced to register, so clients are protected by a code of conduct and have access to a complaints procedure.