Urgent - Help needed with Swift Credit bailiffs

Darkling_angel

Hi guys, I've posted this in the Debt Free Wannabe forum also, as I'm usure where to post this. Sorry!

Hi all,

Apologies if this isn't in the right place - wasn't sure where to post. I desperately need help with bailiffs who are threatening to force entry to my home on Monday.

I first recieved a letter from Swift Credit Services about 5 months ago claiming I owed a debt relating to a magistrates fine. Having not recieved any letters from the Magistrates court about this, I challenged them and wrote to them. They told me it was for a fine for riding a bike on a footpath, and that I would have been handed a ticket. I have no recollection of this, and cannot find a ticket. The court told me they had sent me letters to previous addresses, but I have never had them.

To cut a long story short, I challeneged it and they say the debt stands. They have already sent a bailiff out to me once since this, but I was not in so they left a letter.

Since then, I have accepted to pay the total (over £300 now) as I just want them to leave me alone. I have made numerous offers of what I can afford to pay each month, and all of these offers have been rejected by Swift, saying it is too low.

My only income is Jobseeker's Allowance, and as my Housing Benefit doesn't cover all my rent (I live on my own) I have to pay £55 out of my benefit to cover this. With the rest of my bills and credit cards etc (which are under control - Citizen's Advice Bureau helped me secure token payments) I have £10 a month to spare to offer to pay towards the Magistrate's fine. (I am living on £11 per week for food etc).

I recieved another visit from a Swift Credit bailiff last night, but I was not in and they left another letter. This one is different to the previous letter, and details a time and date that they will return with a locksmith to take my belongings.

I called the National Debtline today and they said to write Swift a letter explaining my situation, enclosing a budget sheet detailing what I can pay, and to send a token payment as a gesture of goodwill. (I called Swift first and they were very unhelpful, saying it was too little, and that I just had to wait for the bailiff to arrive). I sent a letter this afternoon.

The Debtline explained that it is rare that they will force their way in, unless they have good reason to, like refusing to pay, but as I had made repeated attempts to set up payments that I can afford, it should be ok.

I suffer with depression and anxiety and I get panic attacks when I'm really stressed. I'm feeling really low at the moment due to personal things, but this is making me worse. I'm really worried that when they come, I will have a panic attack and not be able to stop them taking my things, or that they will be able to take advantage of me.

My friend says there is legislation somewhere that states if I am in a vulnerable state / distressed, then they must leave the property. I am not registered disabled and am not eligible for benefits concerning my mental health, so I'm worried that I do not qualify for this and the bailiffs won't take it into account. I have previously stated my mental health issues and the fact that this situation was making them worse to Swift in a previous letter, but this has been ignored.

What do I do?

My main concern is that they have said they will return at 3pm on Monday with the locksmith,leaving me little time to get help. I'm considering going to my local police station in the morning to see if they can help me when they turn up. Failing that, I do not know what else to do.

Please can someone help me?

x