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Need advice, bailiff collecting tomorrow

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Hi all,

I've just gotten home from work to find a note shoved through my letterbox from a bailiff informing me that unless I pay up on a debt (council tax unfortunately) within 24 hours then they will be around tomorrow to come in, whether I'm in or not, and remove goods to the value of the debt.

A little background, this is for unpaid council tax, the amount is £444.27 and there is no way I could possibly pay it off in one go right now. More on that later but I had previously set up a monthly payment to them this time last year, but one month the payment bounced and I basically let it slip and buried my head in the sand again (as I am prone to do)

On the previous occasion, when I had to contact the bailiffs, they came around and we went through the process of me giving them a deposit, giving them my bank details for a direct debit, etc. - she then asked if I had a telly, I said yes and she took the details. She also took the details of my car but I no longer own that car (but own another because the previous one was on its last legs)

I assume that because I let the previous bailiff into my house last year, that this would be classed as allowing them access and they'll be able to enter my property tomorrow regardless of whether I'm here to let them in or not?

Assuming they get in, would they only take what they'd previously valued? (i.e. my tv and car?) or would they just go crazy and take whatever they fancied?

and what if I rely on certain elements for work? i.e. my computer (I will be using this to work from home starting from next month)

The reason I can't currently pay this off in one hit is because I commute approximately 90 miles total to work monday to friday, the cost of commuting means I can't afford luxuries for myself, let alone essentials like food, electricity and gas. Within two weeks of pay day, I'm on the phone to my parents to ask for help so that I can afford to get to work, I pay them back come the following pay day but the amounts are creeping up and up with each month. Basically I'm a text book case of 'live to work' at the moment. Just last week, I was reading books by candlelight until pay day rolled around! That's how dire the situation is.

On the upside, I'm moving out from my current abode at the end of the month and will start working from home and sharing the cost of living with my partner so I will begin to see the benefit of my pay packets finally. But the way things are going at the moment, I'd be surprised if something didn't go wrong with those plans as well!

Basically, to cut a long story short..

I will phone him now but I don't expect any favours from them. But if it all goes to pot then:

- if I've allowed the bailiffs entry to my flat previously, they will be able to enter tomorrow regardless? do I have that right?

- will they only take what they've previously valued? and will they take essentials if I need them? (car / computer)

- where on earth can I find £444.27 on a tuesday night? :)

If they empty my flat.. then I guess it's one bonus... I don't have much packing to do for when I do move :) trying to look on the bright side but failing!...
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Comments

  • FlyingHigh_3
    FlyingHigh_3 Posts: 45 Forumite
    Brilliant, I was just googling for something like that :)
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 35,628 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi also read http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/about_us.htm and send a pm to Herbie21 and she will try to help you.

    Having a Walking Possession Order/levy already done makes things much more difficult, not least as the bailiffs can now charge van fees etc. Also consider trying National Debt Line who are open in the evening, if you can keep dialling.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • FlyingHigh_3
    FlyingHigh_3 Posts: 45 Forumite
    Thank you for that link too RAS :) I don't want to leave it too late to call the bailiff, I'm going to try reasoning with him. I have nothing of any great value other than my TV, car and computer and I'm hoping, against the odds, that he'll be reasonable and understand my predicament. It obviously doesn't look good that I've defaulted on a past payment agreement I made with them but I'm nothing more than an honest fool. Fingers crossed!.. will post again in a minute to confirm what's happened with the phone conversation.
  • FlyingHigh_3
    FlyingHigh_3 Posts: 45 Forumite
    edited 2 June 2009 at 8:12PM
    gah, got his voice mail... cue a night of worry :)

    edit: left a voice message now with my details, hope he checks his voice mail regularly throughout the evening.. what's the point in leaving an notice for me to call within 24 hours if he's not answering his phone? they've put 9am down as the time they'll call at so it hardly leaves me any time to speak to him if I assume his phone is only on during working hours!

    (admittedly he could be on another call I guess)
  • FlyingHigh_3
    FlyingHigh_3 Posts: 45 Forumite
    hehehe, too true :)

    I'm on the verge of giving up for the night, still getting voice mail and I've already left a message, I'm still fairly positive/confident.. in that I'm not going to let it stop me getting a good nights sleep (they seem to be in short supply these days) and I'll tackle the problem head on tomorrow. I think I'll need to pull a sicky and/or just call my boss and let him know I'm going to be late or not in at all so I can get this sorted out.

    My biggest concern is the items I've already mentioned; car, tv and computer.. mostly because I use them regularly for work (except the tv! wouldn't that be a nice job?!) and also whether or not they'd take other items (only thing of any note is a number of books and dvds, other than that it's pretty much all complete tat)
  • costapkt
    costapkt Posts: 428 Forumite
    You could take some stuff to a friends house,what they cant see they cannot take.
  • RobertoMoir
    RobertoMoir Posts: 3,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    costapkt wrote: »
    You could take some stuff to a friends house,what they cant see they cannot take.

    As there appears to have been a levy made on these goods already with walking possession signed, this is incredibly bad advice. Why not just suggest starting a fight with the bailiff and any police that turn up while you're at it?
    If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything
  • costapkt
    costapkt Posts: 428 Forumite
    As it was last year when they noted certain goods, thats their hard luck that it's not there anymore. Thats my opinion anyway
  • costapkt
    costapkt Posts: 428 Forumite
    Anyway they only took details of telly and car, the rest of your property is yours to do as you like with.
  • Righto, I've just done a draft personal budget that I nabbed from the national debt line website, it looks something like this at a rough glance

    income: 1190
    outgoing: 1372

    It's worth pointing out that the outgoings there do not take into account any existing debt repayments (because I'm not payiung any at the moment) and a significant chunk is made up of:

    a.) travel costs (432 pcm)
    b.) rent (425 pcm)
    c.) housekeeping (260 pcm)

    obviously my outgoing is higher than my total income, I should point out that housekeeping is the one that suffers the most and I divert money from that to cover any shortcomings.

    Hopefully Mr Bailiff who hasn't yet returned my call and isn't likely to tonight is reasonable and can see that I'm living by the skin of my teeth at the moment and that anything he takes is going to severely impact upon me :(
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