Hi Please could anyone tell me what happens if the bailiffs take your stuff (ie computer, car etc) is it possible to buy the stuff back. Ie do you get a chance to pay the debt off before it goes on sale? If you can only pay part of the bill, what happens then: - do the bailiffs allow you to buy part of it back before the auction (and do they choose which bits you can have back). Also how long do you get to pay the debt before the stuff goes up for auction? Could I attend the auction and bid for my stuff? Do they put reserve prices on the goods? thanks .

Cheers Rory that may be useful in the future, definitely good information to have. Thank you

Hi thanks for message but what kind of strict rules are you talking about? Also you dont happen to know how ccjs need to be served. Was it true that they can send them to the last address they have for you and not by registered post?

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies. I have just got one file back from equifax and awaiting a pin from experian, well at least thats what they have told me., and although I am trying not to keep my expectations down, because experian could hold the nasty stuff, I am completely flabbargasted by the equifax report. It only mentioned one search and apart from a minor problem with the way my current address is wrote in the electoral register/postal service etc the score is a few points away from being 'good', in fact there are no debts, defaults or ccjs showing. however I think this is because they have not linked up my old address with the 2 after it (where I got the debt). I now have to pray that experian shows a similar story, however I have just looked at the Martin Lewis site that sequenci on a different thread I started recommended and I do see that experian really are the major credit reference agency, so things could still be bad. I have felt like a bit of the weight has lifted off my shoulders, but still worried. Thanks very much for the advice, I will keep you informed.

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies and the link. I have just got one file back from equifax and awaiting a pin from experian, well at least thats what they have told me., and although I am trying to keep my expectations down, because experian could hold the nasty stuff, I am completely flabbargasted by the equifax report. It only mentioned one search and apart from a minor problem with the way my current address is wrote in the electoral register/postal service etc the score is a few points away from being 'good', in fact there are no debts, defaults or ccjs showing. however I think this is because they have not linked up my old address with the 2 after it (where I got the debt). I now have to pray that experian shows a similar story, however I have just looked at the Martin Lewis site that sequenci recommended and I do see that experian really are the major credit reference agency, so things could still be bad. I have felt like a bit of the weight has lifted off my shoulders, but still worried. Thanks very much for the advice, I will keep you informed.

Hi everone Hope I am in the right section here. Was wondering if anyone could tell me roughly how much credit information will be contained about a person compared to another credit report. ie roughly how much information will equifax vs experian have and do I need to get a credit report from the other company transnational or whatever its called as I dont know if it is used much in Britain? I am getting my equifax one hopefully today, but I need to wait for the post to get one my experian one. i am wondering whether most of the information will be on the equifax one that I get today. In short is it likely that I will have many more horrible surprises when I eventually open the post in a day or 2 or 3. Is there a large amount of duplicated information in credit reports from experian and equifax. Would any ccjs be in both? thanks very much

Interesting 'make them aktiv runners' (like the name by the way), well it does seem like that is where they may have got the address from. Hmmm. Yes dx100 I am still going to risk it and get that credit report thing now, I was going to do it last night but thought I wouldnt be able to sleep if I knew the true enormity of the debts, however I didn't sleep much anyway. This has made me into a right worrier . 8 Yrs of worry compounded. Thanks both of you will let you know how it goes.

Thank you Martin, Powell and DX300. It is really nice to hear some friendly voices, after sitting in my flat with the curtains closed, dreaming up ways to save my most precious possessions from the hands of the bailiffs and not making a sound for days. Unfortunatly I know I have quite a few ccjs but you are all correct in pointing out it may be verging on the 6 year statutary limitations act, It will be about 6 months on either side, I know the last time I used that stupid topshop card was in July 2000, but then I was trying to pay it off for some time and even got a debt management company involved at one time (yes that was another stupid idea). All this trouble for some clothes that were probably made by slave labour in some sweatshop for pennies. I am not a fan of capitalism at the moment. Well I have lived and learnt I suppose. Thanks again for the advice, I will get my credit report and hope for the best.

Hi everyone, I am sorry if this is in the wrong section. I have never started a thread before, and dont normally use forums. However I was wondering if someone could help answer my question. I am wondering if ge capital bank and capital one are owned by the same people or are capital one and 'Debt Managers ltd' owned by the same people? As it appears that capital one or the credit ref agency have given Topshop debt collectors (Debt Managers Ltd) my new address. I now have a 'urgent final demand' from client Aktiv Kapital FI Topshop-Poweroption' (assume that prolonged name was my topshop card, and a string of debt collectors who have passed the debt between them). Also do you know if I apply for my credit reference file with the credit agencies, will they share my address with anyone that looks at my file? I really want to find out what I owe and make arrangements to pay them in installments, but I am worried sick they are all going to start banging on the door wanting money at the same time. yet I dont know what I owe, till I get my credit file. I have been on the electoral register for 2 years, so wonder why they havent started contacting me sooner. If anyone is wondering, I applied for a (extortionate interest card) capital one card in a moment of craziness a month ago, as I thought I could start rebuilding my credit rating with it. In fact it is the first time I remember applying for credit in the past 4 yrs that I remember. I have let fear get the better of me for years with this and I am really worried about this. I wish I'd dealt with this years ago. Thanks