Baliff Help

Dan12345_2

Hey all. Basically my partner has an outstanding council tax payment and its been given to bailiffs to collect.

We had a knock at the door today and they said they must come in to take an inventory of items, by law.

I refused and told them i'd phone up their office and arrange a payment plan.

They said even if we set up a payment plan and pay off the debt, they still needed to come into the house for this inventory of items, is this true?

I dont like the idea of inviting a baliff into my home and them listing all the items i have in my house. Can i refuse?

I'm happy to pay the debt.

Thanks for any help.

Dan

Sunnylooloo

Hi can't really help but try here

http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/ or PM RobertoMoir as he is an ex bailiff and maybe able to help

Good luck

looktothefuture

You have every right not to let them in! In fact DO NOT let them in!

I had a council tax bill that was sent to the Baillifs for collection - they tried this tactic on me as well and I just refused to allow them into my house. I paid off the outstanding bill over 6 months and they never once set foot in my home! I actually became quite friendly with the Ballif who "visited" over those 6 months!

I highly recommend the website above!

dancingfairy

Yep -they 'need' to come in so they can levy on your goods and charge you an extra couple of hundred pounds in their fees - clever huh? Oh and once they've been if you fail to pay they can legally come back and take items.
Definitely a good move not to let them in. Have a look at National Debtline's website -they have useful info sheets there.
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KingElvis

Council Tax is a dodgy debt to deal with, you're best to just get the damn thing paid off as quick as you possibly can.

Don't let anyone into your house and DO NOT leave doors and windows open. Also, park your car WELL away from your house or they will snag it.

All the best

DarkConvict

Dan12345 wrote: »

They said even if we set up a payment plan and pay off the debt, they still needed to come into the house for this inventory of items, is this true?

The bailiff advice online website as already posted is the best place for information, and it does warn about this behaviour. Basically once they are inside you can't force them out, they can do a levy whilst charging you over £100 for the privilege, and if you fail to make payment they can force entry to recover the goods.

If you do not let them in, they are stuck with very low fees and cannot force entry. They may well try and charge illegal fees like levies not undertaken, or van hire fees without actually having a levy to take goods, these you have to fight as they come with the help of the bailiff advice online website.

Basically you should keep them out, and never let them in, because once they are in you cannot really do much to stop them.

dancingfairy

Oh and if they're trying the 'we need to come in' method -check they don't start making up fees as well - by law there is a set amount they can charge - off the top of my head it's something like 22.50 for a max of 2 visits so 40 something pounds - and don't let them in.
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KingElvis

And don't let the f**kers in so they can "just phone the office"......it's a trick.

Dan12345_2

Thanks for all the fast advice. Im a little worried tbh. Im at home all day with my children and i know they wont try to force entry while im here, but if my partners at home, ive read stories that they can just walk into your house as soon as you open the door, just push past? Does that class as being invited in? If they tried it, would i be within my rights to physically remove them from my property or would 999 be the next step?

i dont paticularly want it to escalate to this, i just want the debt paid and us to carry on as normal, but im reading so many horror stories of bailiffs.

KingElvis

They cannot just push past you, they cannot stick their foot in the door and force it open.

They can go in through an open window or door, it's perfectly legal for them to do this.

Communicate through the letterbox with them if possible (no kidding) and once again, keep doors and windows LOCKED.

Dan12345_2

Awesome, thanks for the help. I'll keep you updated