bailiffs and sheriffs

[daveh]

You can refuse to answer door or , if you do refuse them entry - the phrase i was advised to use when involved in a case like this was -"you enter this property at your own risk, i do not invite you in "

[MARTIN3030]

Association of Civil Enforcement Agencies, I complained to them but not upheld, I noticed their memebers are most of the ones I have seen on threads here, Philips, Equita, Rossendales, etc, they can be viewed throught the national debtline link on here, just had a look. The Code of Practice talks of 'highest standards of business ethics' laughable or what?;-)

 

Wonder who pays their wages ?

like the bank ombudsman who the banks tell you to complain to

Ofcom are paid for by the phone ppl

 

The only ones with any real clout seem to be energywatch....it seems they are scared to death of these..!

 

[paulson1985]

Yea exactly,

 

 

If you have read the threads in this forum relating to myself you will know what I have just experienced.

 

 

Whatever you do in this situation is never ever invite these people into your home ever.

 

 

If you invite them in they can and will come back and take what ever they can if they have never been in your home there is not a lot they can do .

 

 

And yes they are like vampires once invited in they can come back at any time and gain entry,

 

So remember never let them in even if they say to you you will be able to pay this at an amount you can afford but we need to do the paperwork first. That is just a ruse to get in to your home, for you to sighn paperwork,Walking possesion and then they will tell you your offer is not enough, but by then they have been in your home and will be able to come back.

 

 

So the lession is NEVER EVER LET THEM IN AT ALL. hope this helps anybody in this dreadfull situation.

[MARTIN3030]

Paul it is great that you now are well versed.I remember your early posts.

By dealing with your probs with them it is good that you are now confidently advising others that is the brilliance of both experience and a will to be a good listener and learner.

What you say is absolutely right and anyone faced with the baliffs are probably scarred for life.

I still go round the house routinely locking all the windows every time I am going out this is not because I am worried about the burglars.....its still etched in my mind about Mr.b

My wife complains about the curtains being closed in the living room but I got so used to them being closed I didnt bother to open them after the baliffs were gone..there is a psychological element that stays with you.

I understand all about not being able to open windows when its 80 degrees,I wont forget that in hurry as our electric bill doubled as we had to use fans to keep cool !!

But its the things you cant explain to the kids.......and they are used to leaving doors and windows open while they are at home.

 

Everyone on here knows their rights.....it takes time to digest but its worth reading and people with baliff probs do just that....this is agreat site for info and I am usually reading stuff on here till 2 or 3 am...and pay for it next morning !

But every time you think that things are noy looking good,think about all those who are not here to get some advice....who take the bsh from the Baliffs and whose lives are ultimately wrecked because of their ignorance to their rights.

I know there are some decent ones but Ive never seen any and for the one who posts here quite often........your comments are welcome but go not very far in the wider picture being dealt with by those who just dont care.:?

[paulson1985]

Hi Martin.

 

 

Yes I do remember my earlier posts, and at the time I was terrified of what the bailliffs would do. But with your advice and Chris who was brilliant by the way I came through.

 

 

And I can only say know your enemy, learn his weakness and fight back you will come through it its not a pleasant experience and as you say how can you stop the

 

 

kids from opening the door and the windows. But the lession here is never ever let them in your home.

 

 

Once again thank you martin for your help and kind words when I needed them most. They were and are a big help.

 

Like my dad used to say What are they gouing to do? Well they can try.

[paulson1985]

O and I forgot

 

Abig thank you to Elsienor for starting this thread in the first place.

[chrismc]

Hi Martin.

 

 

Yes I do remember my earlier posts, and at the time I was terrified of what the bailliffs would do. But with your advice and Chris who was brilliant by the way I came through.

 

 

And I can only say know your enemy, learn his weakness and fight back you will come through it its not a pleasant experience and as you say how can you stop the

 

 

.

 

Thanks PC....and yes know your enemy, my enemy Philips have not responded yet, but the Council have already come back this morning with a second letter and a breakdown of fees given to them by Philips which surprise surprise of course do not match mine at all but they still show they charge nearly £800 on a debt of £1600 - 50% mark up in fees, so they are only a about £200 under my amount, I have to go back and check my figures now, but I am sure I am closer then they are.

 

They now ask me to make an appointment to go and visit the Councils Local Taxation Manager. So I have some more work to do and consider my options and what to do next. See more in my Philips thread.

 

Chris

[elsinore]

Martin, well said mate. That was from the heart wasn’t it?

 

Paul, I have a confession to make. When I started this thread six weeks ago it was for purely selfish reasons. My experiences with bailiffs were all to do with business. Most of the bailiffs that I had contact with were easy-going, reasonable blokes. As long as you played it straight with them they would leave you alone. I was probably more compliant than I should have been, but the last person you want on your business premises is a bailiff. Even so I believed that, in many cases, I had been overcharged bailiff fees. I assumed that there were others like me who would contribute to the forum.

 

Fortunately I have never had problems with bailiffs at home, so I have been astonished and appalled by the stories that I have read here. They are by turns heartrending and alarming. People should not have to suffer the indignity of being besieged in their own home by avaricious oafs. But, as Martin says, think about those who are not fortunate enough to have found help here, many who have no access to a computer. One of the most surprising aspects is the apparent unconcern displayed by local authorities who employ certificated bailiffs and then let them loose on the public, seemingly with no control measures.

 

We have a responsibility to ensure that the information gathered here and on the other important threads is made available to those who can make changes, so that others might benefit.

 

Elsinore

[crasin]

Hi all just spent most of my evening reading this and many other post contained within this thread but really need some quick answers or advice if possible?

 

Have had some (very little) dealings with, well it makes little difference which company and have stupidly allowed and bailiff into my house and signed a walking possesion order for my car (which is not regestered to me or my wife) and a cheap laptop(which has sinse been sold to buy food!) but had a letter today stating that they are going to attend 2morra "with a locksmith and police to gain entry to my property" although i understand that the police won't attend i will be at work (2min away) and my wife will more than likely be at home with young children.

 

My real question is can they force there way in and what rights do we have to stop them? As i am concerened for my familys safety if I am not there at the time? i have stated on the phone if they attempt to get into my house they will have to get past our big german shepherd and that i will bring my 13ton forklift from work and crush there vehicle(said in haste but is very tempting)

 

Please advsie asap where do i stand?

 

many thanks

 

crasin

[crasin]

Sorry forgot to add there is nothing in our house which we own we rent from a family member, we rent it FULLY furnished so they would gain nothing and already know this

[chrismc]

Hi all just spent most of my evening reading this and many other post contained within this thread but really need some quick answers or advice if possible?

 

Have had some (very little) dealings with, well it makes little difference which company and have stupidly allowed and bailiff into my house and signed a walking possesion order for my car (which is not regestered to me or my wife) and a cheap laptop(which has sinse been sold to buy food!) but had a letter today stating that they are going to attend 2morra "with a locksmith and police to gain entry to my property" although i understand that the police won't attend i will be at work (2min away) and my wife will more than likely be at home with young children.

 

My real question is can they force there way in and what rights do we have to stop them? As i am concerened for my familys safety if I am not there at the time? i have stated on the phone if they attempt to get into my house they will have to get past our big german shepherd and that i will bring my 13ton forklift from work and crush there vehicle(said in haste but is very tempting)

 

Please advsie asap where do i stand?

 

many thanks

 

crasin

 

Sounds like there is nothing they can do then, they can force their way in as you have signed a WP, however, what I would do in your position is make sure I had a letter from the family member you rent off stating that he/she owns the house and everything in it and that they rent it to you on a fully furnished basis.

 

Then if they do call show them the letter, they cannot take things that do not belong to you and your wife. (it may depend on the type of debt and whether it is a court Bailiff etc though???)

 

Same with the car, if it is not yours you may have to prove that. They could technically do you for the laptop as once it is on the WP you cannot sell it, but you wil have to cross that bridge if it crops up.

 

You don't tell us what the debt is for eg council tax etc, it would be better if you could as there is other advice here and we could give if you can tell us the whole story.

 

Chris

[crasin]

Sorry should have said its for unpaid council tax and is with phoenix, Slight missunderstanding with car i do technicaly own the car but previous owner has not yet sent off v5 to register to me so in theory not mine wink wink and could i not argue that i need my laptop for work(even though i no longer owe it)

 

Also family member has just wrote a letter stating that everything execpt clothing,bedding,childrens toys and washing up bowl(added for up ya bum satisfaction benefit) was owned by them and rented to us and that anything removed wothout there permission would be theft and would be dealt with by the police!

 

many thanks

 

crasin

[paulson1985]

Sorry to hear about your problem.

 

The main thing to remember here is they do not want your things they are not worth taking they would not even cover there fees.

 

Here is a suggestion that has been tried and does work, Phone the bailiff say you have no money to pay them and you have nothing of value (they possibly will know this anyway) ask them what time they intend coming round as you do not want them breaking in your home when you are not there.

 

I bet you they never show and will go away.

 

Good luck

[chrismc]

I think you have most of the bases covered then, however, the car may be an issue? If they check with DVLA and it shows it is being transferred into your name they could go for it, unless you can prove to them you need it for work etc. Do you know the person who has sold it to you well?? can you delay transfer into your name until you get all this resolved??

 

Maybe worth doing what PC says and calling them anyway, I cannot see it doing any harm.

[crasin]

Sorry to hear about your problem.

 

The main thing to remember here is they do not want your things they are not worth taking they would not even cover there fees.

 

Here is a suggestion that has been tried and does work, Phone the bailiff say you have no money to pay them and you have nothing of value (they possibly will know this anyway) ask them what time they intend coming round as you do not want them breaking in your home when you are not there.

 

I bet you they never show and will go away.

 

Good luck

 

tried calling today but would not accept anything less than £700 which is impossible at that sort of short notice and as far as i can remember only owe about £900 and there total so far is £1945.56

 

Also about the car i bought it about 3-4 months ago and still not had it so would assume he has not sent away and i work on a building site and could be moved to another site at any time so do need car for travelling to work really although do not need this instance

 

many thanks

 

crasin

[paulson1985]

Ok it sounds to me as though they are trying to scare you. Dont let them get away with it call there bluff . Phone them in the morning as soon as you can they are after a nice little earner in fees.

 

You need your car for work they cannot take that they cant take it anyway as its not in your name move it somewhere safe for a while. Just until things calm down.

 

You do need to call there bluff. I believe its a ruse to scare you into finding the money.

 

Oh and I do understand how you feel. Only too well.

[elsinore]

tried calling today but would not accept anything less than £700 which is impossible at that sort of short notice and as far as i can remember only owe about £900 and there total so far is £1945.56

 

 

Hi crasin.

 

Can you be sure about how much you owe the council in unpaid tax?

Have you got any documents, bills or receipts from Phoenix?

How did you pay? Did you get receipts?

 

This is important because, if your figures are anywhere near correct, Phoenix are ripping you off big-time!! The sooner they know that you are wise to their little game, the sooner they will back off.

 

Elsinore

[MARTIN3030]

Martin, well said mate. That was from the heart wasn’t it?

 

Paul, I have a confession to make. When I started this thread six weeks ago it was for purely selfish reasons. My experiences with bailiffs were all to do with business. Most of the bailiffs that I had contact with were easy-going, reasonable blokes. As long as you played it straight with them they would leave you alone. I was probably more compliant than I should have been, but the last person you want on your business premises is a bailiff. Even so I believed that, in many cases, I had been overcharged bailiff fees. I assumed that there were others like me who would contribute to the forum.

 

Fortunately I have never had problems with bailiffs at home, so I have been astonished and appalled by the stories that I have read here. They are by turns heartrending and alarming. People should not have to suffer the indignity of being besieged in their own home by avaricious oafs. But, as Martin says, think about those who are not fortunate enough to have found help here, many who have no access to a computer. One of the most surprising aspects is the apparent unconcern displayed by local authorities who employ certificated bailiffs and then let them loose on the public, seemingly with no control measures.

 

We have a responsibility to ensure that the information gathered here and on the other important threads is made available to those who can make changes, so that others might benefit.

 

Elsinore

 

 

 

 

 

Elsinore I know the story is moving on her but I only just catching up.

One of my more memorable memories of the baliffs was when I too ws in business(although I still am but no one knows ha ha)

I had a shop and fell behind with business rates and they were on my case.

I prked my car over the road and watched them try the door and get back in their car waiting.Just after I had a call from Merseyside Police asking me if I could deliver some fluid for their smoke machines ( they had an account with me following an instal at their training centre.

I said I could not do right away as was busy.

They said ok we will collect in 15 mins

 

 

I was now panicking what to do ????

 

By good luck the baliffs drove off about 30 seconds before a riot van pulled upcomplete with officers ready for a Beslan seige.

 

I didnt let on why I was late..........but to this day still wonder if the would have come in at the same time as the coppers and placed av walking agreement on the smoke fluid for some reason I think NOT

[elsinore]

Great story Martin, Lol!! If it wasn't so bloody serious we could probably make a sitcom.

Yeah, I miss some days on here too. Even at my venerable age I still have to work!

[seylectric]

The laptop broke, you got a quote for the repair and it was more than the laptop was worth, not that you could afford to have it repaired anyway so you dumped it. Had you forgotten???

 

Just for good measure phone up your local PC World and ask if they do repairs, what it would likely cost and so on, keep them talking for a while so you have a good few minutes of call time on your itemised phone bill (shouldn't be too difficult, you will probably be on hold for 20 minutes then transferred to five different departments before eventually being transferred to another store 150 miles away) and that's your proof that you enquired about the repair.

[chrismc]

The laptop broke, you got a quote for the repair and it was more than the laptop was worth, not that you could afford to have it repaired anyway so you dumped it. Had you forgotten???

 

Just for good measure phone up your local PC World and ask if they do repairs, what it would likely cost and so on, keep them talking for a while so you have a good few minutes of call time on your itemised phone bill (shouldn't be too difficult, you will probably be on hold for 20 minutes then transferred to five different departments before eventually being transferred to another store 150 miles away) and that's your proof that you enquired about the repair.

 

Good one seylectric....probably the only time ever that being transferred from department to department is a good thing :) whats the betting the first guy he talks to answers his problem within seconds - sods law!!!

[seylectric]

Yep, every chance, but that's easy, hang up like you were cut off then phone back later; also try Yellow Pages to find other computer repair people.

 

This could actually be important because of the law about not selling goods that you have signed over to them if they decide to get funny about it, your itemised phone bill would be a decent indicator that would back up what you said.

[crasin]

The laptop broke, you got a quote for the repair and it was more than the laptop was worth, not that you could afford to have it repaired anyway so you dumped it. Had you forgotten???

 

Just for good measure phone up your local PC World and ask if they do repairs, what it would likely cost and so on, keep them talking for a while so you have a good few minutes of call time on your itemised phone bill (shouldn't be too difficult, you will probably be on hold for 20 minutes then transferred to five different departments before eventually being transferred to another store 150 miles away) and that's your proof that you enquired about the repair.

 

I like your way of thinking!! 1 pm now and as expected no visit

[paulson1985]

I like selectrics idea good one .. Did you phone them as I suggested? and did they turn up?

 

I have only just got home and I have been thinking about you all day.

 

Hope everything is ok.

[seylectric]

Looks like they need to be sent a bill for your time they wasted now. This is one of the things I intend to get Phoenix on; as far as I am concerned they owe me far more than I owe them.