Bailiffs are coming for previous tenants debts

butler_helen

Evening All,

My boyfriend has tried to reassure me that everything will be ok but basically I'm scared.

The previous tenant got a parking fine or two after moving out but he hadn't changed his address with the DVLA. Therefore loads of PCN type notices came our way, all of which I forwarded to the council and to the LA to let them know he had moved.

Fast foward 4 months and bailiff letters arrive- I dutifully rang the bailiffs and wrote to them to say that he doesn't live here and gave my tenancy as proof.

Fast foward to now and they were here this morning and left a note to say the previous tenant needs to contact them to pay or they will get 'legal entry even in your absense'.

Now to me, this means they can essentially burgle us and take our stuff for this other guys debt- please tell me I'm reading this wrong. Also, when they come back tomorrow, what do I do? I will be home alone and really don't want to answer the door to strangers, let alone bailiffs who have ignored my tenancy agreement already, I've obviously got ID but my boyfriend won't be in to verify his.

Any ideas? Or just some reassurance would be really really nice! Oh and any ideas on how to stop the letters? clearly the council and the bailiffs don't care that he's moved on and i don't have a forwarding address for him.

thank you in advance

(I did search for bailiffs in the search tab but couldn't find this issue, so I apologise if it's around somewhere )

nikki2804

Im in the same boat (albeit for more than a couple of parking tickets!!)

Just show them proof of your identity, don't let them in and they should just go away. If not then call the police.

If they ask you to prove how long you have been at the address then tell them to !!!!!! off its there job to find out!

They can't do anything to you, its fine.

Can't guarantee they'll be nice though - sorry

nikki2804

nikki2804 wrote: »

Im in the same boat (albeit for more than a couple of parking tickets!!)

Just show them proof of your identity, don't let them in and they should just go away. If not then call the police.

If they ask you to prove how long you have been at the address then tell them to !!!!!! off its there job to find out!

They can't do anything to you, its fine.

They have to visit first, knock on the door and ask to come in. Afterwards (not applicable if you show them your ID of course) they can force entry.

There like vampires, don't invite them in!:rotfl:

Can't guarantee they'll be nice though - sorry

I appear to have quoted myself - oh well

butler_helen

nikki2804 wrote: »

Im in the same boat (albeit for more than a couple of parking tickets!!)

Just show them proof of your identity, don't let them in and they should just go away. If not then call the police.

If they ask you to prove how long you have been at the address then tell them to !!!!!! off its there job to find out!

They can't do anything to you, its fine.

Can't guarantee they'll be nice though - sorry

Can I show them through the window? I'm still not sure I want strangers to be able to possibly get into the house when I'm all alone.

wuckfit

Do NOT invite them in under any circumstances. Its after they have been invited in that they can force entry.
leave the chain on when you open the door if need be. you can show your ID and proof of tenancy then.

jennyjj

Hi, like Nikki said, you should have no problems with REAL bailifs if you tell them that you are not the person they are looking for. BUT........

If the so called debts relate to parking tickets, then they may not be bailliffs, but may be debt collectors pursuing parking charges which in themselves are not even legal. Check out this topic... AHHHH... Bord does not allow me to post links... search this forum or google for 'parking charge notice'

Any debt collector who is not a bailliff should be sent packing. Any true bailiff should not be allowed into your home under any circumstances, because if they get in once, that gives them certain legal rights. Better still, dont let any of these beggers into your home unless they are best friends or close family members )
BEWARE that debt collecters can be sneaky beggers who will not point out to you there true staus and might bully or intimidate you. All the more reason to keep them out of your home.

Take care,
JJ

nikki2804

Yeah show them through a window if you wish. If they make you feel threatened in ANY way just pick up the phone and call the police!

butler_helen

they're debts for traffic acts - i.e. they went down a bus route and something else very similar.

we don't have a chian so I will be armed with ID tomorrow which will hopefully work.

I know not worry but it's still a bit scary- I've read so many aweful stories!

jennyjj

butler_helen wrote: »

PCN type notices came our way, all of which I forwarded to the council and to the LA to let them know he had moved.

Fast foward 4 months and bailiff letters arrive

CHECK... are those bailifs letters really bailifs letters? Are the PCNs 'PARKING CHARGE NOTICES? If SO, THEY ARE A SCAM. Some of these things are made to look like bailifs letters or court documents, but often DEBT collectoers send out very intimidating letters that make you imediatly think 'Bailiff'. Also, Solicitors letters may be from solicitors, but they meen nothing at all in there own right. Some solicitors are in the gangs that do the PCN car parking scams.

Good luck
JJ

prowla

Remember that they have probably had untold people tell them that they aren't the person they are looking for, so they may not believe you to start with.
Best make sure you have the appropriate documentation to hand.
Do not invite them in.
Be civil - they aren't after you!

butler_helen

http://www.collectservices.com/ these people.

I've been civil to their answer phone so I can be nice to the people, but I'd like to feel secure and prepare for the worst

thank you for all the replies!