Pre-Bailiff?

redgirl_3

Hi, looked around on here as much as I can but can't really find anything that answers my situation, so hoping someone can help and hopefully soonish.

Got home from work tonight to find a card addresed to my partner through the letter box. Card was printed and had "intrium justitia" printed but crossed out and "CL Finance" written instead, asking my partner to contact Mr XXX on a mobile number "regarding an important matter: Pre-Bailiff", and that if my partner did not contact him, he'd call again at "Thurs/Sat am/pm".

I'm not quite sure what this means, it says PRE-bailiff. So obviously not the full bailiff? Can they gain entry IF we answer the door - have read advice before that says do not let anyone in or pretend to be out.

Partner's debts are quite high, he's been refusing to call creditors back, been ignoring the phone, not making payments, not conctacting them at all really, the old 'bury your head in the sand'. Mostly it's loan debts/credit cards but I think the CSA have written to him (he has a young son living with his ex-partner elsewhere and although having a private agreement with his ex often doesn't pay her as he is so short of money). I think he also has a CCJ recently. It's not a council tax default, I take care of paying that and we're not in debt with that.

We rent our home through a letting agency and have no assets apart from two old cars (one not being used as not MOT'd or taxed) and the obvious PC, TV, Sky box etc. Can a bailiff approach the letting agent/landlord and demand entry to retrieve goods? And if so, how on earth can we prove who owns what? We no longer have receipts for items as they were bought ages ago.

Please, your advice, does anyone know what a pre-bailiff visit means, advice on what we should do, apart from partner obviously admitting his debt problems and dealing with them - unfortunately he's very down at the mo with work and health problems - isn't it always a long story, but he's a bit on the edge right now - as I am too it's beginning to seem.

I cannot help him anymore financially as I have done for a long time, he pays half the rent and the phone bill but I pay all else (council tax, electric, water etc) as I have my own financial issues to deal with.

Thanks for any advice or help someone can give.

Redgirl.

jakemuk

sounds like a doorstep collector

from intrum justitia

ive had one before he was very pleasent and i explainded i disputed it and he sorted it for me went to extreme lengths id say,

best thing id say is ring the number yourself maybe and see what the guy says,

id tell him to get in touch i use to do same bury head in sand

know im battling to pay all mine off, feels so good when u pay em off

bonnie_2

i heard on watchdog that baliffs cant enter unless they have a court order, if they havent then there not legit am i correct.
dont let them in unless they have correct paperwork.

keith_lard

They need Court Permission to enter your house.
Sounds like they need to know whts happening with an account, if your partner has a CCJ (I have two) offer only what he can afford. Any Debts that are in his name aint yours!

I had my head buried deep, but he aint alone ( I thought I was)
Contact CCCS they will tell you the 'best' option.

Picking up the phone was hard, stopping my smile after speaking to someone was even harder!!


hope this helps.

K.

creditcardking_2

bonnie wrote:

i heard on watchdog that baliffs cant enter unless they have a court order, if they havent then there not legit am i correct.
dont let them in unless they have correct paperwork.

If they need a court order, do the baliffs usually come with the Police or alone? how can you determine if they are legit?

keith_lard

they will have the court order with them, ALWAYS get police help if you feel they aint baliff's, true baliff's will not mind one bit if you wish police help.

keith_lard

@redgirl

Just wanted to point out what I went through and 'maybe' your fella is

When It all went wrong for me, the debt was not the main problem but telling my other half was, I lost my job and was getting nowhere on the interview scene, things was bad, letters coming daily from debt collectors, phone calls every night......it was terrible. :eek: :eek:
Then 2 CCJ's..............Contacted CCCS at this point, should have done it sooner. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
what I wanted the most was simply 'understanding' from my partner, in which in the end she was great, that ment a hell of a lot! Belive me it did, within my house I felt that I was not alone, I never asked for any money from her, it was my problem and I started to get sorted. :T

That was 12 months ago, now I am back in employment, and making everyone laugh how I save money! :rotfl:

There aint any quick fix soultions, but better in a team than on your own. :T

I know I aint the same situation as him, but tell him there are ways and it even can be fun to get out of debt! Never give in.

Keep Trying :A :A :A

K.

Jen_Jen_5

its a debt collector with no authority to enter your house.

a genuine bailiff will happily explain who they are and why they are there and that the work for the court (will often tell you to fill in the appropriate form so he doesnt have to come out again) NOTE: this only applies to county court bailiffs not private bailiffs who collect council tax, fines etc - they are different entirely!!!!

as to getting your OH to deal with it, call national debline and ask for their booklet, its a very good self help guide and tell him he can get it resolved and less worry etc etc

alternatively - sledgehammer.......

redgirl_3

Thanks to all for the replies, very very much appreciated. Haven't yet told OH about the card as he's away with work until tomorrow night so will do my best to have a chat with him then. As much as I want to, and need to, sometimes he's not that easy to talk to (ostrich tendencies which he NEEDS to sort out asap).

Again, thanks, it's good to know there are people out there who have advice and some who have had similar experiences.

BUBBLES4U

Can someone help me! I have received a similar card through the door, but I have been making regular payments but the last payment was a few days late and the company are still sending a pre-bailiff visit and told I have to pay £120. What should I do?

RAS

Bubbles and redgirl

There is no legal entity called a pre-bailiff visit. None.

There are strict rules about charges that can be made by a bailiff and £120 for a first visit is NOT one of them.

is there a CCJ involved? Have you been paying? On time?

If this company are trying to charge you £120 for a doorstep collectors visit, you need to talk to CAB, the OFt and your local Trading Standards or the one nearest the office you are getting the letters from

Will be back in a mo with more links.

And if they start talking about bailiffs for real, then read this before you do anything.


www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk