Bailiff threat

minsteve001

Not sure if I am posting this in the right place so please bear with me!
I had a parking fine in November 2009 and sent off a cheque to cover it then thought no more of it. In February I received a letter from a Bailiff company advising it had gone to Court as I hadn't paid it and had jumped from £45.00 to £90.00. I checked and the chque hadn't been cashed. £90.00 is an impossible amount for me to find. I am a single parent with lots of other debts I am attempting to clear. I contacted them with an offer of monthly repayment but they refused this and said they could not negotiate and it had now been placed with local bailiff and I had to deal with him. I left him telephone messages but he didn't respond and I then had a letter saying he had called at my property and costs had now jumped to £250.00!! I managed to contact him and he said the lowest he would accept was £40.00 a month or he would enter my home and take goods as he had a court order. This is going to be a real struggle for me but I agreed. He then said he would have to visit my home anyway to take note of goods in case I didn't pay. He advised he only worked between 9 an 4 and I told him it was impossible for me to be in then as I work in a school and can't take time off in term time. I arranged for him to visit in the week before Easter but he didn't turn up and I am now back in work. I have left countless mesaages which he hasn't replied to and am now worried in case he visits again when I am not there and this incurrs further costs. In addition, £40.00 a week is really far too much anyway. I asked if it could go back to court to be reassessed and the company refused and just said pay up. I am really losing sleep over this and would appreciate any advice!

Sorry this is so long winded!!

3Dogs

Try Citizens Advice Bureau for advice on tis or do a search for bailiffs on www.cccs/co.uk - sorry I can't be of more help

DEVONLIFE_2

Hi minsteve001
Try to pm herbie21 I think he is the business on bailiffs for this forum. I am sure one of the team will correct me if I am wrong.DL.

McKneff

Start from the beginning and calm down.

Was the 'fine' from the Council or Police

Have you had letters saying that the matter had been dealt with in Court.
Did you have notification of this.

Have you had a County Court Judgement (CCJ)against you.

If 'No' to any of these, they cannot do this to you without a Court Order
and are breaking the law. Go to the CAB for advice.

They are scammers and trying to scare you into paying.

So obviously we need more details if you want some help.

pure_dead_dopey

Minsteve I'm no expert but one thing I do know is DON'T LET HIM IN!!!! they can only take your goods if they have levied and they've got to get in you house legally to levy. Getting in legally means that you have to let them in or leave a window or door open, don't do any of these, just don't let them in and talk to him through the letterbox if he appears. I think you should also move your car away from the house if you have one. Someone who knows a lot more will be along in a mo, but meanwhile, don't let him in.

There is an answer, you just have to find it, good luck.

minsteve001

Thank you all. The original fine was from the police. I sent off a cheque. I had parked for ten minutes outside my daughters school so I hold my hand up to that. I just assumed, wrongly, that the cheque had been cashed, stupid I know! I had no notification that it had gone to Court, just a letter saying it had from this Company.

minsteve001

Oh and not a CCJ either. I do have a car but it's on finance so they can't take that can they?

RobertoMoir

You should be able to find out which court issued the warrant and ask for it to be recalled as you haven't had any notice.

It's a magistrates court fine, I believe, so CCJ not applicable. IIRC they can force entry for magistrates courts fines, though its rare that they do. Or it used to be, probably not so rare now :-(
Lastly, they can only take goods that belong to you... so the car is safe if its on finance and ownership has not yet passed to you.

minsteve001

I got home yesterday to find a Notice of Execution of Distress Warrant through my door. The company is Excel Civil enforcement ltd. It says if I don't pay in full the bailiff will attend and remove goods even if I am not present. can they break into my property? It is a rented house and the landlord would not be best pleased!!

All advice greatly appreciated!

RAS

minsteve001 wrote: »

can they break into my property? It is a rented house and the landlord would not be best pleased!!

All advice greatly appreciated!

Did you ring the court yesterday as advised.

There are certain circumstances when bailiffs can attend with a locksmith, ordered by the court for non-payment of fines.

You really need to get your act together fast - like in the next few hours

Bailiffs are difficult to deal with, and the best place for advice is linked below. Herbie has a phone number on the site so you can ring her.

http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/ - 0906 802 0273 (60p a min)

Given the severity of the threats you are recieving and the limited amount of information we have available, I suggest you call her urgently.

minsteve001

I don't have any details of the court. All I have had is letters from this company saying I have been taken to Court. Nothing from court. how would I find this information?