Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
I have got myself into a lot of debt with credit cards and an unsecured loan to the total of 32,000. I have a property with some equity and tried to get a secured loan but was refused. I approached National debtline who were really helpful and after working out my budget, suggested a dmp would be the better option as I had £109.00 per month surplus. I have just returned the paperwork and they will be passing it onto payplan. I have never defaulted until this month, where I have sent a letter to all of my creditors explaining the situation with a small token payment. I have had 2 phone calls today from creditors but I didn't answer the call (I am really worried what they will say). I know that the debt is totally my fault and I do intend to pay it all back, but I am worried sick that bailiffs may get called in. Does anyone know when they get involved and what the worst is that could happen to me if the creditors wont accept payplans offer.
I have read some of the posts and replies and there seems to be a lot of people in similar situations as me, just wondered if anyone may be able to help with advise.
Thank you
I can't tell you what the worst is that can happen, but I can tell you that you made the best decision by posting here. The advice on the whole is wide ranging, experience based and will put your mind at rest.
Realistically? The worst that could happen is that you could be made bankrupt and lose the house. That is the VERY worst that could happen. they cannot kill you and unless there has been fraud involved, they cannot jail you eiher.
In real terms I suspect the worst that will happen is that you will pay them at a reduced rate and your credit file will be damaged.
hello there, please stop worrying, we have all been in debt or are still in debt and at the end of the day we have all taken on the debt ourselves so we all have no-one to blame but ourselves. I know that sometimes circumstances take over and this is not the fault of the individual but even so the amount of moeny we borrow is done to ourselves. You are a long way off a visit from a bailiff. You first have to be taken to court and then the bailiff gets called in if you do not pay the amount the court asks you to. Even then the bailiff does not really want to take your goods, they would rather come to some payment plan as well. I suspect your reduced payments will be accepted and so long as you stick to your plan you will be OK. I know that it must seem a hopeless task to you at the moment but believe me you will get there one day. Take care Hils
Providing you maintain token payments on each account, the liklihood of anyone doing much more than hassling you on the 'phone is very small. There is no requirement for you to go through Payplan unless you want to go through a dmp.... you can make negotiated offers yourself and the benefit of doing this is that you'll always know where you stand, that payments have been made, etc. It makes no difference whether companies agree to accept these payments or not in reality.... since they cannot take what you haven't got. They know this really, but pressurise you anyway 'coz that's part of what they're paid to do.
The liklihood of anyone going after your house is also very small providing you maintain token payments.... simply because companies are usually reluctant to go to court and run the risk of a Judge ordering these payments to be even lower; based on what you can genuinely afford.
If a company does decide to play dirty and threaten a Charging Order... they would need a CCJ before they could do it. There's plenty you can do to defend yourself against this if it happens.... and even if they succeeded with a CCJ & Charging Order.... all it would mean is that an unsecured debt becomes a secured debt.
Are these loans with original creditors or debt collection Agencies? How old is each one? Do you have any CCJs so far? If you can break the debts down... it will make the picture a lot clearer for us.
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hi,i wouldn't worry to much i went bankrupt 3 years ago i lost my house i owed £135,000 its taken me 3 years to get back on my feet but it was the best thing i could have done im not saying thats what you should do, but if you did ,well its not the end of the world.good luck.
What is the worst that coulkd happen to me
would be the better option as I had £109.00 per month surplus. I have just returned the paperwork and they will be passing it onto payplan. I have never defaulted until this month, where I have sent a letter to all of my creditors explaining the situation with a small token payment. I have had 2 phone calls
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hello there, please stop worrying, we have all been in debt or are still in debt and at the end of the day we have all taken on the debt ourselves so we all have no-one to blame but ourselves. I know that sometimes circumstances take over and this is not the fault of the individual but even so the amount of moeny we borrow is done to ourselves. You are a long way off a visit from a 
