Bailiff questions

alfred2009

Hi,

I've had a comapny called Roxburge Debt Collections send me a letter claiming I owe an unpaid water bill £1,500. They don't say from which address however. I know nothing about it. They say I have to apy immediately or action will be taken. Until I decide what to do I'm worried that bailiffs will show up at my door. Do Roxburgh have to take me to court first before bailiffs to come to my house? I don't have a car or anything of any real value in my house (which is rented) so I don't see how they would be able to take more tahn a few hundred pounds of value anyway.

I know not to let bailiffs in but I'm still worried they might show up. Can bailiffs only act on a courts authority?

fatbelly

alfred2009 wrote: »

Do Roxburgh have to take me to court first before bailiffs to come to my house?

... Can bailiffs only act on a courts authority?

Yes ... and yes

You don't even know what debt this is? How do you know that it is valid or even yours?

Send them a prove-it letter.

RobertoMoir

alfred2009 wrote: »

Hi,

I've had a comapny called Roxburge Debt Collections send me a letter claiming I owe an unpaid water bill £1,500. They don't say from which address however. I know nothing about it. They say I have to apy immediately or action will be taken.

They always say that. Standard boilerplate.

alfred2009 wrote: »

Until I decide what to do I'm worried that bailiffs will show up at my door. Do Roxburgh have to take me to court first before bailiffs to come to my house? I don't have a car or anything of any real value in my house (which is rented) so I don't see how they would be able to take more tahn a few hundred pounds of value anyway.

I know not to let bailiffs in but I'm still worried they might show up. Can bailiffs only act on a courts authority?

In order for bailiffs to act, you'd need to be taken to court, found guilty and still not pay the debt thus forcing the creditor to apply to the court for enforcement action. In the extremely unlikely event that someone knocks on your door prior to any of that happening they will be a debt collector, which has absolutely zero powers compared to a bailiff (whose powers are limited to acting on court warrants as explained).

Relax and take your time to deal with this properly as you choose (for what my advice is worth, I'd start by following fatbelly's advice).

Remember they can't force you to do anything and you absolutely shouldn't be bullied into paying a debt if it can't be demonstrated that its actually you that owes it.

DarkConvict

They are not allowed to visit your house unless you arrange an appointment, so just refuse to arrange any appointments if they try. As above send the prove it letter, if they can't prove its your debt they have to go away.

Under OFT Guidelines they cant ask you for details to prove you don't own the debt they have to do that. If they give you any further problems or harassment just tell us.