Brighthouse Payment issue

[angerfist]

Hello,

 

Every week I am expected to pay £39 a week for 3 items

(Computer monitor, the desktop tower itself and another touch-screen computer)

and have managed to pay on time most of the time without fail,

 

however this week I was unable to pay and now that Saturday has passed,

 

I am worried that on Monday they will come and threaten to take my stuff away from me.

 

They have done this in the past(not by force, we didn't want any trouble so gave them the stuff)

as I wasn't aware of my rights and they returned the item once we paid everything in full.

 

They said the next time we were late, they would come and take our stuff away permanently with no option to get it back.

 

This is what is worrying me as I cannot pay the bill upfront on Monday,

however, I can pay it on Tuesday but I'm not sure if they'll accept my payment then.

 

I'm also planning to pay off TWO of the 3 items this week (one on tuesday and one on friday)

so I don't have to pay so much per week as there isn't much left to pay on both items

(about £35 to pay on monitor and £100+ on the computer)

 

Can they force their way in and take the stuff?

 

Can they also refuse to accept my full payment on Tuesday since I'm late?

 

I've received no notices in writing and they have never taken me to court.

 

I am planning to pay it,

I just couldn't manage to do it this week and am now left worried that I will no longer have a computer to use after Monday.

 

Should I just avoid all contact with them and wait it out until Tuesday or what?

 

Thanks.

[dx100uk]

wherever did you get the idea theyhave ANY POWERS to take things from you???

 

they ARE NOT COURT BAILIFFS.

 

NO brighthouse staff can EVER do that legally.

 

now back to your issue.

 

I bet you are paying for OSC/DLC and were told you had to have them?

 

you do realise THEY ARE OPTIONAL and EVERY PAYMENT you've made for them YOU CAN GET BACK.

 

as for not being able to pay..TOUGH.. they can wait 24hrs

 

you are under NO LEGAL OBL to answer you door to them

 

NEITHER

are you to answer the phone to them.

 

anysilly beggar that comes a-knocking, tell them to LEAVE your property

or you'll call the plice

 

can I politely suggest you do some reading in this forum that you've posted in.

 

and GET RECLAIM that useless insurance

 

dx

[renegadeimp]

Put simply, if they force their way in to take goods, they are nothing more than common burglars, and you MUST dial 999 immediately.

 

You are fully entitled to keep the goods unless a COURT orders you otherwise. And since you have pretty much nothing left to pay, no court would ever order you to hand them back.

 

Also, if the idiots come knocking, just ignore them and dont answer the door. If they start shouting and continue knocking, call the LOCAL Police and say some unknown people are at your door banging and yelling.

[angerfist]

Thanks for the replies.

 

So I should basically not worry, ignore them (report any disruptive behavior should they turn up) and pay when I can? (that being Tuesday)

[dx100uk]

yep

 

and get those insurances taken off and the money you have paid them BACK!!

 

dx

[angerfist]

also, just to be sure.. because they once took my items before and "held" them for me until I could pay for them (which I did) - This doesn't change anything right? They still cannot force me to give up the items or do anything without a court order or my consent (which I will not give) right?

 

secondly, what if, for example, they DECLINE my offer to pay what I owe on Tuesday? Are they allowed to do this? The guy who came round last time is known to say "no" to every little thing which is the reason why I was worried.

 

lastly, if they DO come round to my home and use these "scare" tactics to trick me into giving them "their" stuff. How long should I leave before contacting legal authorities and what should I tell them? Won't they try and trick the police into getting us to open the door saying we owe this and that?

[BazzaS]

also, just to be sure.. because they once took my items before and "held" them for me until I could pay for them (which I did) - This doesn't change anything right?

 

Correct that it changes nothing. Just because they fooled you once before : don't let them fool you again.

 

They still cannot force me to give up the items or do anything without a court order or my consent (which I will not give) right?

 

Right.

 

secondly, what if, for example, they DECLINE my offer to pay what I owe on Tuesday? Are they allowed to do this? The guy who came round last time is known to say "no" to every little thing which is the reason why I was worried.

 

They can decline your offer, but that would change NOTHING. They still can't force entry / take your goods / put you in prison / enslave your first born child / whatever else they might threaten without a court order.

 

lastly, if they DO come round to my home and use these "scare" tactics to trick me into giving them "their" stuff. How long should I leave before contacting legal authorities and what should I tell them? Won't they try and trick the police into getting us to open the door saying we owe this and that?

 

Remain polite & firm with any BH staff. If you can, film / record events (can you video them on a mobile?).

I doubt they'd then call the police, but you should at any point you feel threatened or they try to gain entry to your property. If you call the police, note that the origin of events is a "civil matter", but you feel threatened or are worried that a "breach of the peace" may occur.

 

Let the police in if need be. If the police insist you let BH in (unlikely!) : remind them the original events are a civil matter. & respectfully ask them to seek advice from a supervising officer.

 

Get reclaiming any extra charges as advised further up the thread.

[Conniff]

If the police insist you let BH in (unlikely!)

 

Don't be too confident saying that, your average bobby knows nothing about these sort of confrontations and think mobsters have a right to enter and take stuff, bailiff or not.

 

[My bold]

[BazzaS]

Don't be too confident saying that, your average bobby knows nothing about these sort of confrontations and think mobsters have a right to enter and take stuff, bailiff or not.

 

 

Which will be why my post saying "If the police insist you let BH in (unlikely!)" qualified that statement with : "remind them the original events are a civil matter. & respectfully ask them to seek advice from a supervising officer."

 

"Officers, they are trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

They have no right of entry, and if you make me let them in, you'll be exposing yourselves to a complaint.

I'll let them in (under protest) if you absolutely insist, but would you consider making your decision after seeking advice from your supervisor / duty inspector?.

It may well avoid a later IPCC complaint and county court damages claim against your Chief Constable"

 

If the person saying this has been polite & respectful to that point, most officers would think "hang on, we've nothing to loose by waiting a few minutes, lets check"

You then get the added bonus that when they check, and hear that the BH staff have tried to get them to do their 'dirty work' for them (and unlawfully, to boot!), the pendulum may swing and the BH staff may find the officers looking for offences to report them for if they don't scarper, pronto.

Edited June 23, 2013 by BazzaS

[ericsbrother]

If they do call the old bill and they claim right of entry tell the police officer that it is a good thing they are there as they can prevent a breach of the peace as your shutting the door in their faces is undoubtedly going to make them commit that offence.