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.
Hollow ring of mutual's caring boast as Nationwide chases cancer sufferer over debt
With its 'proud to be different' and 'proud to be a building society' slogans, Nationwide likes to suggest it is better than the big banks when it comes to customer service and fairness. But the words have a hollow ring for John Stevenson, 61, who feels he has been insensitively treated by Britain's biggest mutual since he hit hard times after being diagnosed with cancer.
John, a writer and playwright, was first struck by skin cancer in 2002. He was treated and monitored, but a reappearance at the end of 2006 meant he had surgery to remove cancerous moles and was unable to work for long periods and slipped into debt. He had another malignant melanoma removed in 2008. The disease has affected John's mood, his sleeping and his ability to write and his doctors say he should not be put under undue stress.
When John, from Walworth, south London, underwent surgery and treatment to remove cancerous moles in 2007, he started to default on credit card payments with three providers - Barclaycard, M&S Money and Nationwide. A combination of high interest and charges built up on the accounts over many months, but as John is self-employed he had no payment protection insurance.
In May 2008, unable to cope, he went to the Community Legal Advice Centre, a free legal aid service. It contacted his creditors and sent them an income and expenditure summary and medical evidence, hoping to negotiate new repayment plans.
But while Barclaycard and HSBC, which owns M&S Money, reacted sympathetically, Nationwide did not. It is now pushing to recover its debt in court despite John's GP saying this increases his patient's anxiety at a sensitive time. With the aid of CLAC, John, who has held each of his credit cards for at least seven years and has always met at least the minimum repayments, suggested new payment schedules until he could get back on his feet. The balance on each of the cards was about £13,000.
Within weeks Barclaycard wrote to John to say that due to his health situation it would 'not be pursuing' his card debt. M&S Money accepted CLAC's offer of a nominal £1 a month payment. But Nationwide - which on its website says it will 'treat you sympathetically and fairly' if you have payment difficulties - dug in its heels. After much wrangling and various suggestions, including monthly payments of more than £400, Nationwide said it wanted a Full and final settlement of £8,000.
John, who is single, is unable to pay this and so Nationwide has now applied for a 'charge' on his two-bedroom terrace house. This means the debt would be secured on John's property with Nationwide reclaiming the money when the house is sold in the future. This would cause difficulties if John needed to remortgage or release equity from his home.
Hollow ring of mutual's caring boast as Nationwide chases cancer sufferer over debt
likes to suggest it is better than the big banks when it comes to customer service and fairness. But the words have a hollow ring for John Stevenson, 61, who feels he has been insensitively treated by Britain's biggest mutual since he hit hard times after being diagnosed with cancer.
settlement of £8,000.
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