bailifs - urgent help required!

likklegemz

Hi guys I urgently need some help, and I dont know who to turn to.

About 2 years ago, I bought my house with my husband, my dad and his wife (my step mum) where having a rough time and split up andI let my dad stay with us for about 6/7 weeks.

Needless to say it's destroyed what little relationship I had with my father. He was absent most of my childhood and we only got back in touch when I got married 5 years ago to my husband as like every girl, I wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle.

Anyway, within about 7 weeks, we'd had a few rows, he owed me mum and we had a massive row on what was his last night with me to which I ended up throwing him out.

I've hardly seen him since.

In the past 12 months I've been hounded by debt collectors. I've told them repeatedly that he doesnt live here, it stops for a while then starts again.

I've had no letters from them since November, and today I've come home and my neighbour has said, they've had a phone call asking was anyone in as they had a parcle to deliver to my address. I've had a few parcles go missing over Christmas (which I complained to Royal Mail) which is why he said, that he was in all day and could drop it to them.

Thing is I've got no parcles that are coming (and I've checked with my husband) and he's got none coming either.

The kept asking does Mr x x x live here - as my husband works away in the week he at first said yes, then realised that it wasnt my husband when they mentioned my dad's name. They kept pushing him does he live here, in the end he said if you've got a parcle to deliver I'm in and hung up

What's the chance of this being a bailfif? It seems high to me but I may be worrying for nothing. I'm sick of it all and dont know what to do.

I just want it to all go away. I'm only worried as my husband and I are going on holiday on MOnday (which took us forever to save - a romantic break after 2 years of living apart due to work) and I'm scared that they could break in whilst I'm away.

Our house has a mortage to us, all the bills are in our name and I've got no connection to him! Can this stop us from applying for credit? Our fixed term mortgage has just ended and I want to refix but am scared that this could stop us.

What can we do?

Really sorry if this is in the wrong thread, but I've searched the forums and couldnt find the best place! I've posted this in another section just to be on the safe side!

Tixy

Hi

Could be a bailiff, or a doorstop agent for a debt collectors - does sound like the type of thing they would do.

Even if it is a bailiff they cannot break into your house.

Dad's debts won't affect your credit file or you getting credit providing you are not financially associated on your credit files (which would be if you'd had joint credit in the past).

likklegemz

thank you for your quick reply! I'm relieved a bit now - still feel really sick that they've phoned my neighbour. I've explained it to him but felt so ashamed! I'm ex-directory so they couldnt contact me they settled for next door.

Thing is I dont know who they are makes me so angry

What can I do to stop all letters etc coming to my address?

I've never had joint credit with him, but when I got married I kept my maiden name and had a double barrel surname instead - starting to regret that now

Lost2

Don't let anyone in to your home or invite them in
the debt is not yours and your father no longer lives with you
they are trying it on as they must have bought the debt from the lender

iluvmarmite

As was mentioned a bailiff cannot break into your house, you do not have to let them in either, they may try all sorts of crap to get into your home, something like you have to by law let them in YOU DONT, dont believe what they tell you.
If you go out and leave a window or door open then they can lawfully enter your home. If it is the bailiffs and you do let them in they will take a walk round inventory of your possessions, they wont take anything there and then but will give you time to pay what you owe, if you dont then they will be back with a van for your stuff, they cant take things like beds or things you have to use for work, if you have kids they cant take toys or anything that belongs to the kids.

If you can prove your Dad no longer lives with you then they cant get you for his debt, as long as the debt is in his name so dont worry about that, it may not have even been them, but they do play dirty tricks and will try asking neighbours if the person does live at the address, but wont let on they are bailiffs. the most important thing to remember is NEVER LET THEM IN.

Lost2

likklegemz wrote: »

thank you for your quick reply! I'm relieved a bit now - still feel really sick that they've phoned my neighbour. I've explained it to him but felt so ashamed! I'm ex-directory so they couldnt contact me they settled for next door.

Thing is I don't know who they are makes me so angry

What can I do to stop all letters etc coming to my address?

I've never had joint credit with him, but when I got married I kept my maiden name and had a double barrel surname instead - starting to regret that now

If any mail comes for your father just put on it return to sender
and as for phoning up your neighbours they can
get in to a lot of trouble for that as it is bulling I think sometime ago there was a post about this very same subject
what ever you do stand firm and don't be bullied

Good Luck

likklegemz

thanks! if I do let them in - not that I will now after reading your comments (as I'd rather not deal with this on my door step!) surely they cant try to take anything once they know the circumstances (and besides the whole house and possessions are bought by either me or my husband) and the house is in our names!! can they try to take stuff then? I know I'm worrying but I've never been in this situation before. It's causing so much strain on my husband and I!

Locked all doors and windows just to be safe!

jonesMUFCforever

likklegemz wrote: »

thanks! if I do let them in - not that I will now after reading your comments (as I'd rather not deal with this on my door step!) surely they cant try to take anything once they know the circumstances (and besides the whole house and possessions are bought by either me or my husband) and the house is in our names!! can they try to take stuff then? I know I'm worrying but I've never been in this situation before. It's causing so much strain on my husband and I!

Locked all doors and windows just to be safe!

They can only come in IF you ask them or they have a court order.
Don't worry and as others have told you here don't believe a word of what they will tell you if they do turn up.

southcoastrgi

likklegemz wrote: »

thanks! if I do let them in - not that I will now after reading your comments (as I'd rather not deal with this on my door step!) surely they cant try to take anything once they know the circumstances (and besides the whole house and possessions are bought by either me or my husband) and the house is in our names!! can they try to take stuff then? I know I'm worrying but I've never been in this situation before. It's causing so much strain on my husband and I!

Locked all doors and windows just to be safe!

NO NO NO do not let them in under any circumstances, they cannot force their way in without a court order & then the police are sometimes in attendance, you need to invite them in & they will try all sorts of tricks to get you to do that, they cannot come in if you have left a door or window unlocked that is breaking & entering & against the law again without a court order, contact all the credit agencies ie experian etc & write them a letter asking to see who is finacially accosiated with your house & if your father is on there dis-accosiate him with your address (you can get a list from your bank or citizens advice) (sorry for the spelling) i hope everything works out & remember don't let them in even into your porch if you have one

likklegemz

that's brilliant advise! I shall write to the credit agencies and get this sorted once and for all.

sundays

no baliffs from what you have said/ baliffs are often only used in more complex issues, this is self employed debt collectors- look at the rear of sun paper, jobs are always advertised - they have no powers, you could p.. on their head from a window and they could could do zero

your Father has got association to your address prob by telling creditors he is living there.
just invasive debt collectors contacting neighbours , if you can prove it get legal advice and poss and sue them(very costly). ie privacy invasion to neighbours.
Family mediation springs as essential IMO.

Enjoy your romatic break, what can dad have done sold ie the wi , xbox ipad, laptop iphone silver cuttelry tv. Swiss trainers - so lock them away.

if only life was a box of chocs