Debt collection has become a hot topic as U.K. regulators pile pressure on utilities and financial services companies to improve how they treat customers in arrears.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), plus sectoral regulators Ofwat, Ofgem, and Ofcom, issued joint guidance last month to companies they regulate about how they pursue debts. The FCA said it fined companies a total of 90 million pounds (U.S. $113…