"Why vote for them?" is a perfect question. I am astonished that Labour put together a piece of legislation that is aimed squarely at destroying the most vulnerable people in society... after all they are allegedly the ones who are supposed to look out for the poorer people. They say that you can gauge the level of civilisation by examining the way they treat their most vulnerable - it seems to me that we are moving backwards at a fair old rate of knots

Can I just ask for clarification... I understand that the processes have changed and that the fees have been substantially increased. What are the variations to our own rights.... for example: A bailiff never used to have right of access to your home... being permitted access through open doors and windows only... is this still the case? Is a person still free to leave the door shut in the knowledge that if the force entry they will be committing an offence or have the new rules also provided the "Enforcement Officer" new powers?

I had similar problems with Equita - I paid their bailiff using a friend's credit card due to a letter the bailiff had left behind that mis represented his powers. He charged me £300 in charges stating that he haad visited and charging for a vehicle to attend. I contacted the woman who dealt with complaints (who would communicate only in writing and could not operate a telephone). When I advised her that I had examined all my CCTV footage going back several weeks... and also pointed out that I icould not be charged for the vehicle since there was no walking posession in place there was a prompt about face and £300 reappeared on my friend's credit card! I know it isn't always this straightforward but there are times when the little guys win and I wish you the best outcome possible!

The council we be reluctant to take over administration of the account until it is handed back by equita. Equita have been facing problems in many areas for their bullying tactics and have been ousted from many of the council contracts that they once enjoyed. Did you let them into the house the last time... when you came to a payment arrangement or is this the first visit from them? It is important that you record the date, time and person to whom you speak along with details of any payment arrangement you propose. If this goes back to court then the council employees will be viewed dimly for turning down any offer of payment no matter how small. On a more personal note: Our problems with bailiffs also began while my wife was pregnant. I know that the stress for you is probably even greater than it i for your partner. I imagine that sometimes you just want to leave the house in case they call back - and evenings can be traumatic never knowing whether to answer to door. Try to remember that you are not alone. Many of us have been through the same experiences and understand what you both are going through. My offer stands and you are both welcome to my personal email address or mobile number if you want to talk through options and stuff. I know that when we went through it we would have been glad of the same thing. Don't let this spoil your pregnancy - it's still the best opportunity you will ever have to get your partner to wait on you hand and foot! All the best Chris

Hi AJ21... In the first place, don't panic. These people behave as though they have rights but in fact they have very few. Under no circumstances let them into your home. They do not have right of entry and although they will try any trickto get in...("Oh I just have to call the office...can I use your phone please" etc.), letting them into your home is a big mistake. They will begin by putting a note through your foor saying that they have called on several occasions and been unable to reach you... and thatthey will be attending within 24 hours to remove you property for auction (or something very similar). This is blatantly untrue, (they can not remove any items from your home unless they have a walking posession previously agreed by you), and since they have no right of entry into your home they are blowing wind hoping to frighten you into paying. They will slap massive charges onto the amount they say that you owe... don't be taken in. The amount that they are entitled to charge is laid out in law. They tried to charge me for several visits, van hire, and all sorts... turned out that the £400 quid chargesthey had made up should have been about £90. Remember that you owe the bailiff company nothing. You have never entered into an agreement with them; neither have you entered any contract with the council that details any payments you might make to a third party. If a bailiff knocks on your door; you have only to tell him that you have no wish to talk to him and that he is not an invited visitor... following which you get straight on the phone and explain that you are pregnant woman being harassed and abused by someone at the door - the police will be there pretty quick. Once they see that you are not an easy mark and are not going to give them lots of money they will move on to their next victim. This is a business andthey are not interested in wasting time... they will simply pass your case back to the council litigation department who are required to try to enter into another agreement with you. Please... Don't let these bullies make life a misery for you, especially at this point in your pregnancy. If you need someone to talk this through with CAB are pretty good, and if you get really worried let me know and I will pass you my number so that you can bend my ear. I have been in your situation and it is not as bad as it seems right now... I promise.

Result... I had an unpaid parking fine that equita was asked to collect. They attended and charged me £400. I wrote to equita explaining that their bailiff, had made up the charges. They wrote to spell out the charges and following info from here i replied explaining that I had CCTV footage showing that he had never visited me previouisly; that he had charged for a van when he had no distraint on my goods; that he had charged for several fictional visits. I got a letter today confirming the over £200 of those charges were unlawful and will be repaid. It seems that they make up a figure and hope you will not question it. A few years ago I had a problem with Dunstable County Council. Their Housing benefit office decided that I owed them a lot of money and equita were called in. When They found out how much the charges were to be... they contacted equita and tolds them to increase the charges because we lived in an afluent part of town. Equita doubled the fee. I wish I had known then what I know now!