BF Glad for this particular advice. I have debts of over £10,000 and thisafternoon received a call out of nowhere from HB. Over the next hour or so, after being caught completely off guard and bombarded with niceties I began to feel they were actually pretty human and genuine - so much so that I've asked for one of their bankruptcy team to contact me in three days time. Hmmm, seems however that I've made a big boo-boo! Desperation and worry do that to you! In all honesty, two thirds of this amount is owed on CT arrears (£3000plus) and priority utility bills (also that amount), but with my monthly income less than £1000 (rent £670 let alone daily living/travel costs) my only option by this point truly has to be bankruptcy but who really will be the best people to put this in place please? Regards Silvercat

Hi dx Trouble is, as far as I was concerned the application had been cancelled with my having hit the relevant button at the sight of the fee (not shown till the last page) so I didn't even consider speaking to the bank about refusing any payment applied for! 'Cancel' should mean, well, 'cancel' by my reckoning - but heigh ho, just hand me the lint to dress my burned fingers with yet again!! However, what else beggars belief is that there's allegedly no direct telephone contact for Loans Direct head office AND that their immediate call centre/customer service supervisors will not speak on the 'phone to you when asked for - realising that the advisor I spoke with was absolutely bottom of the chain of command and (just maybe) didn't have the authority to give out the HO number I asked to speak to the next 'link' up, then found myself on hold for five minutes till he returned with that further unbelievable bit of 'supervisor' info Off now to further attend to the burned fingers! Regards Silvercat

Same boat! I am shaking with anger at the moment having spent the last twenty minutes trying to stay calm on a call to Loans Direct after finding this morning that almost £70 has gone from my card account. Yes, I applied to them on line, filled out every detail on the form (you can't progress to the next page anyway unless that's done of course!) but there, only on the final page is the information regarding the charge - however, there's still a 'cancel' button which I duly hit thinking it the end of the story - until this morning. I was informed that I now need to write to Loans Direct Head Office and can expect a reply within ten days When I asked for a phone number the adamantly stubborn response came back "we don't have one, they only deal with paperwork" Now, I found it very hard to believe that such a large company cannot contact it's own head office by 'phone and - unsurprisingly - pointed out as much, asking to speak with a supervisor! A five minute line hold then took place before I was informed that 'team leaders' do not deal with phone calls either.......!!! What the h**** kind of company is this?? No, no, let's not even go there!

......just dialled the first 0800 number asking to speak with a LOANS DIRECT team only to be told "never heard of them" - so which number deals with Loans Direct please? Regards Silvercat

Same boat! I am shaking with anger at the moment having spent the last twenty minutes trying to stay calm on a call to Loans Direct after finding this morning that almost £70 has gone from my card account. Yes, I applied to them on line, filled out every detail on the form (you can't progress to the next page anyway unless that's done of course!) but there, only on the final page is the information regarding the charge - however, there's still a 'cancel' button which I duly hit thinking it the end of the story - until this morning. I was informed that I now need to write to Loans Direct Head Office and can expect a reply within ten days When I asked for a phone number the adamantly stubborn response came back "we don't have one, they only deal with paperwork" Now, I found it very hard to believe that such a large company cannot contact it's own head office by 'phone and - unsurprisingly - pointed out as much, asking to speak with a supervisor! A five minute line hold then took place before I was informed that 'team leaders' do not deal with phone calls either.......!!! What the h**** kind of company is this?? No, no, let's not even go there!

Please keep the information coming all you 'Caggers' - I'm absorbing it and am very grateful to you - I hope I just may be able to return the favour one day! Regards Silvercat

Wow! Hallowitch, I thought I was done and dusted on this but thanks for the even further information Regards Silvercat

Hi TT I'm back with a sigh of relief as the council have intervened with Chandlers (at the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute) to stop the removal. It would definitely have been illegal, but only given MY personal circumstances which other 'Caggers' who may find themselves in a similar type of situation should be aware of I still have to set up an affordable repayment agreement with Chandlers which is a legal requirement - although have to say when I had asked this of their bailiff, despite being aware of my need to retain the car he was completely unbending and refused the request. When all's said and done, I've been subject to three days of extreme stress and sleepless nights because of this supposed 'professional' who chose to ignore the rules and act illegally. I have sent a complaint to Chandlers but am naturally not going to hold my breath about him even being disciplined! Anyhow, many many thanks for your advice 'TT' and keep up the good work! My thanks also to all you other 'Caggers' who have responded to my thread so promptly - it's sure opened a can of worms! Regards Silvercat

Sorry, I hadn't realised that that's a 'no no' and will refrain from doing so in future postings but ( just out of curiosity and with respect) why is that when there are likely several other 'victims' who have fallen (or may yet fall) prey to this particular bailiff who was acting illegally for perhaps not the first time? I say that, because thankfully the council have contacted Chandlers half an hour ago (at the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute) to stop the removal as it would in my case have been illegal Regards Silvercat

Hi Hallowitch Hmmm My car is probably only worth £1300 at retail value, so, no, it certainly wouldn't cover the arrears after all costs - but then knowing this, why would Mr [edit] specifically set today as 'removal day' Regards Silvercat

TT They're supposed to be calling me back within the hour, but how do I stand if Mr [edit] arrives in the meantime?

Hi Uncle Bulgaria - unfortunately my village is too small and off the beaten track to be able to hide the car, more's the pity!

Hi Tomtubby and thanks for the quick response I was fairly certain that my car could not be removed as a (provable) necessity for my continued employment (and daily living) but needed some legal confirmation. I have contacted the council by e mail over the weekend and received automated acknowledgement with a reference number All Mr [edit] left with me on Saturday was a notice of attendance - but I guess the notice of seizure will arrive with him today, I did not allow him to enter my home and signed no walking possession form, also, no costs are shown on the liability order I will now contact the council directly. Just before picking up your thread I had spoken with a Magistrates Clerk about a repayment plan, but she too referred me to there. Regards Silvercat

Apologies, but my head is swimming with so many threads I'm posting here in the hope its right!! Can a bailiff remove your car if it's an absolute necessity to daily living and continued employment? I find myself in this position following a visit from Mr. Gxxxxx of Chandlers yesterday (Sat 7th Sept) demanding immediate payment of CT arrears totalling £1350 - which is impossible for me to find - or my car would be removed tomorrow (Mon 9th Sept) I work full time night duties, 2300-0800 five or six times a week with a commute of thirty miles every shift. The village I live in is off the beaten track with no public transport available - and the closest town is seven miles distant. As an aside, I also suffer arthritis, diabetes and depression which I have been treated for over several years. My car is a genuine necessity for daily living and continued employment. I explained the above to Mr Gxxxxx who responded that the car was not a necessity but a luxury and would still be removed on Monday - adding the sarcastic remark "so you'll just have to move closer to work then won't you". With that comment he walked off saying he'd be back on Monday. With Mr Gxxxxx demand yesterday, today being Sunday, and the deadline tomorrow, I have been unable to directly approach anyone for face to face advice. I have e mailed both the council and Chandlers, but of course no one is available till after 0900 tomorrow which will likely be too late for me. I also 'phoned and left a desperate request for a company called 'Action Credit Management' to contact me first thing tomorrow as their website seemed very convincing and professional. All these contacts aside, I'm absolutely terrified that Mr Gxxxxx will still remove myvehicle which is so vital given my circumstances and location.

Hi again TT Sorry, should have added that in my letter of complaint about Mr Hamptons attitude I did mention the fact that I'd made the repayment offer and had asked for 72 hours lenience as the wire was coming from Canada As an aside, I also e mailed SRS a few days back asking for details of where the vehicle could be collected from - no response from them thus far either

Hi TT I'm not terribly PC literate so and your post isn't covering exactly the problem I'm facing, but the nearest thing I can find on this site! Back to everyones favourite debt collectors, Marstons. About three weeks ago one of their bailiffs visited demanding immediate payment of a fine totalling £625 dating back to JANUARY 2008 or seizure of goods would take place there and then. The original offence was for driving an untaxed vehicle, albeit that less than a month had passed since the renewal date. I have moved twice since then, so no surprise that the fine had been forgotten after a five year gap. I explained that there was no way I could pay that amount immediately, and asked if a repayment plan was an option - I was told "no", that I'd had adequate time to clear the fine, on top of which a reminder notice had been sent in 2011 "which you chose to ignore" Quite frankly, I do not recall that reminder at all (although he had a copy on his trusty clipboard) I then offered to pay the full amount out of my next salary, which was also refused. Mr Hampton said he was going to immediately seize goods, however, I already have a walking possession order in place from another company which I showed him. He then said that in that case there was nothing more he could do and my next visitor would probably be an 'Arrest Officer' and with that remark left my doorstep. Imagine my shock, almost a fortnight later to find Mr Hampton back again and clamping my car. I was informed that it was to be removed the next day unless the £625 was paid immediately - I again said I would pay the full amount (by then in just six days time) - when my salary hit my account, and again the offer was refused as in his words, "following my first visit absolutely no attempt has been made to resolve the issue". H-e-l-l-l-o, I'd been resigned, on his own say so, to an 'Arrest Officer' arriving - not his return. My car is a necessity (perhaps even a 'tool of the trade') as I work 2300-0800, have a 30 mile commute, and live in a small village with no public transport daytimes, let alone nights! Anyway, that reasoning also fell on deaf ears and I was told I needed to borrow the full amount for payment the next day or else the car would still be removed. After he left this time, the only person who I could ask for help was my sister in Canada. She wired the money but it was going to take 48-72 hours to arrive in my account. Mr Hampton duly returned the next morning and I told him about the wire, asking if he'd at least leave the car, albeit clamped, on the drive rather than remove it as the money would now be through quicker than my salary - after all it had been over five years so another two or three days was irrelevant. Guess what, he said no again and without further ado called up SRS Services to collect. Needless to say, the collection has added a further £200 costs, plus storage charges, so I'm still having to wait till payday to settle the full amount as although told costs would be incurred I wasn't given the exact figures which Mr Hampton must have known in his capacity as a bailiff. One more thing, although I refrained from rudeness at every meeting, Mr Hamptons attitude was scolding (I am nearly 60) and 'couldn't care less'. I reported this to Marston four days ago, but what a surprise, there's been no response at all........