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Bailiffs almost beaten.
grahamlaw
Posts: 40 Forumite
Hi all, have a long story about bailiffs but if your in debt it may be worth a read.
On the 16th June I had a visit from "Mr. TA" from Chandlers LTD bailiffs, I caught him looking in the windows and holding a clipbourd. I went outside and closed the door behind me. He gave me a peice of paper and told me if I didn't sign it he would take my possesions on the spot. I told him I am un-employed ( for good reason ) and I told him I am collecting job seekers allowance. The agreement said I needed to pay £357 every fortnight! He wanted the first payment by the 18th June. On that day he visited my house three times asking for the money and I walked to the council four times to complain. On the fourth visit they called the bailiff and put the debt on hold for 28 days allowing me time to claim for council tax benefit.
So, I was rejected benefit by the council on the grounds that my wife is not British. Fair enough, I agree with that. But why can't I claim for benefits?
Today, 7am the door bell rings. It's Mr S from Chandlers and he wants the full amount by 11am. So I found the phone number for Herbie from this forum. She gave me the best advice and insite to bailiffs. It's now 2pm and he hasn't come back. She told me to ring the council again and they have put the debt on hold for another 14 days which is useless as my benefits probably wont be sorted by then. It is a good start though. And now I know that if I put every item on the levy outside in the garden they can not force entry.
I would advise anyone with problems to call her. Now I know there's no need to panic. I will carry on fighting them with total confidence.
Many thanks to Herbie, a real hero!
Oh and my coucil tax bill is £1061.82, with all the bailiff charges £1428.32 and the items on the levy?
1x wooden bench = £30
6x garden chairs = £30
1x garden table = £15
1x red cloth sofa = £worthless
1x exercise bike = £30
1x framed mirror = £5
Getting one over on the bailiff? Of course, priceless!
On the 16th June I had a visit from "Mr. TA" from Chandlers LTD bailiffs, I caught him looking in the windows and holding a clipbourd. I went outside and closed the door behind me. He gave me a peice of paper and told me if I didn't sign it he would take my possesions on the spot. I told him I am un-employed ( for good reason ) and I told him I am collecting job seekers allowance. The agreement said I needed to pay £357 every fortnight! He wanted the first payment by the 18th June. On that day he visited my house three times asking for the money and I walked to the council four times to complain. On the fourth visit they called the bailiff and put the debt on hold for 28 days allowing me time to claim for council tax benefit.
So, I was rejected benefit by the council on the grounds that my wife is not British. Fair enough, I agree with that. But why can't I claim for benefits?
Today, 7am the door bell rings. It's Mr S from Chandlers and he wants the full amount by 11am. So I found the phone number for Herbie from this forum. She gave me the best advice and insite to bailiffs. It's now 2pm and he hasn't come back. She told me to ring the council again and they have put the debt on hold for another 14 days which is useless as my benefits probably wont be sorted by then. It is a good start though. And now I know that if I put every item on the levy outside in the garden they can not force entry.
I would advise anyone with problems to call her. Now I know there's no need to panic. I will carry on fighting them with total confidence.
Many thanks to Herbie, a real hero!
Oh and my coucil tax bill is £1061.82, with all the bailiff charges £1428.32 and the items on the levy?
1x wooden bench = £30
6x garden chairs = £30
1x garden table = £15
1x red cloth sofa = £worthless
1x exercise bike = £30
1x framed mirror = £5
Getting one over on the bailiff? Of course, priceless!
0
Comments
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If they haven't been in your house I don't think they can levy items through the window (I assume the sofa, bike and mirror are not currently in the garden).
Did you sign the levy or WPO or whatever it was? - I'd have thought that you have grounds to complain (to the council & baliffs) for a falsified document.
If they take those goods it will clear basically nothing from your bill after costs so you will still have the same amount outstanding - and nowhere to sit down.A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who giveor "It costs nowt to be nice"0 -
I've decided the sofa is old and needs to go anyway so that is in the garden with a plastic cover. The mirror and the bike are inside the front door ready to be chucked out quick!
Stupidly I didn't know anything about bailiffs and I signed when he told me he would take everything if I didn't. If I put them things in my garden, Herbie said they can no longer force entry.
Letters of complaint to follow. Right now I shouldn't be feeling smug but I am!0 -
Don't answer the door, they CANNOT enter your property without permission (currently :rolleyes: ), but they can enter through an open window etc. Be careful they don't stick their boot in the door and force entry when you answer it, I wouldn't answer the door to them at all myself. Speak to them from an upstairs window if possible.0
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you are on benefits, you fall into the "vulnerable persons" catagory under the bailiffs code of conduct, once you tell them this they shouldnt even darken your doorstep, put it in a letter with proof and post it to em0
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The gate at the end of my garden is locked now. I can walk into the garden.
My main worry now is with the benefits. The coucil want my wife to apply for a national insurance number (she's Chinese). But this doesn't explain why I can't claim. I do except the fact she is not entitled to public funds and I agree with that. But I'm English!0 -
you are on benefits, you fall into the "vulnerable persons" catagory under the bailiffs code of conduct, once you tell them this they shouldnt even darken your doorstep, put it in a letter with proof and post it to em
This I didn't know. Many many thanks. If I ever win the lottery I will pay the council tax of every helpful member on here!0 -
The gate at the end of my garden is locked now. I can walk into the garden.
My main worry now is with the benefits. The coucil want my wife to apply for a national insurance number (she's Chinese). But this doesn't explain why I can't claim. I do except the fact she is not entitled to public funds and I agree with that. But I'm English!
Have you actually been refused benefits? And which ones? (maybe another thread for that?)0 -
hi, hope things are going well. im pretty new to the site, but just read your story and wondered who 'Herbie' is that you refer to and how i could get hold of them for info.
Thanks, and hope you are still winning the fight!0
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