Baliffs threatening son who no longer lives here

prepareathome

My son moved out and into his girlfriends family home to be with her and his children ( she doesn't want to leave her mum alone), in 2001. He has always kept my home as his address, as her mum prefers it ( not benefit dodging mother works full time as does son so only benefits in the that house are child benefit ones.

Today I received a letter for son from a baliffs called Marston saying its for a non payment for not obeying a red/green line whatever that means, no mention of what court just a ref number and a date from last year when offence is meant to have happened. Son hasn't any idea and not bothered but I am scared stiff, can a bailiff come and take my goods even though there is nothing in this house that belongs to him. Hubby says I am worrying for nothing as he doesn't live here how can they take anything, but on reading about bailiffs and their tactics here I am not so sure. To say I have not stopped shaking since I opened the letter a couple of hours ago is an understatement. I open the mail for son in case its something important and he needs to deal with it, otherwise can sit there for weeks till he pops in. Would have normally opened it earlier but I have a chronic health condition and today has been a rather bad pain day.

Hubby and son are the type oh all will be ok, and its mean and sons girlfriend that always deal with bills, problems etc.

I have never had anything to do with bailiffs so not sure what to do, how do I prove yes he uses my address as his correspondence address but lives elsewhere. I have read they can take cars, could they take ours, its in hubby's name and he has a different first name from son.

I had said to son a while ago I think he should start giving out his true address and I should tell council his name should be removed from the electroll roll from being down as living here as its a lie, and now I wish I had done it.

Can I do anything or am I going to watch all my belongings being taken for something son doesn't even know what it is.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense as head in a total whirl, I have had debts in my time but never bailiffs thankfully and oh gosh I am so scared. The letter says son has 7 days to pay £175 ( £80 fine and £95 their fees) if not they will seize his goods.

Can anyone advise what if anything I can do?

Thanks

HappyMJ

Bailiff cannot take your stuff. Just be prepared to prove by way of a council tax bill that he does not live at the address if they ever turn up and they will never turn up again. Don't tell them where he lives though let them figure it out. Just say he left home ages ago with loads of debts and you have no idea where he is now.

prepareathome

Thanks council tax bill is in my name and doesn't even mention hubby for some reason, but its for full amount, no discounts.....I just cannot stop shaking, most likely if felt a bit better today would be handling it better. but we had some debts and I worked hard at paying off everything and for first time in years we can hold our heads up and say we owe not a penny and now this.

rising_from_the_ashes

prepareathome wrote: »

I should tell council his name should be removed from the electroll roll from being down as living here as its a lie, and now I wish I had done it.

Ohhh PAH (((hugs))) I know how much you worry about things and how hard you've worked to sort things out...... if DS left in 2001, he won't be on the electoral roll at your house anymore - you have to re-sign / declare who's in the house every year.

I agree it's about time (after 11 years:eek:) that DS started giving out his real address (and in many cases giving a false address is illegal).

They can't take your stuff - just say he doesn't live there anymore.

SailorSam

Bailiffs and debt collectors : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits

andymc29

Sounds like you need to tell your son to man-up and deal with this. It's totally wrong of him to allow his own mother to get worried over threatening mail arriving at her house with his name on it.

You need to tell him to either change all his address details to his new address or deal with this issue. He does not have the option of sticking his head in the sand and telling you not to worry about it.

BlushingRose

andymc29 wrote: »

Sounds like you need to tell your son to man-up and deal with this. It's totally wrong of him to allow his own mother to get worried over threatening mail arriving at her house with his name on it.

You need to tell him to either change all his address details to his new address or deal with this issue. He does not have the option of sticking his head in the sand and telling you not to worry about it.

I agree with this. If he's old enough to move out then he's old enough to deal with any debt issues x

vax2002

do not let the bailiff in to your home.
They will beg, plead and lie, pretend to be ill, ask to use a phone to cancel it, distract you name it they will try.
You do not have to let them in, it is very important you do not.

shop-to-drop

I'm wih the last two. Tell him to deal with it or the next time they come around you'll give them his current address. Oh and I'd mean it!

prepareathome

Thanks everyone, he came round last night and took the letter and said he would deal with it, but until I am sure I am going to be very, very careful about opening the door to strangers.

BlushingRose

prepareathome wrote: »

Thanks everyone, he came round last night and took the letter and said he would deal with it, but until I am sure I am going to be very, very careful about opening the door to strangers.

Good for him. I'm glad he's dealing with it.
I would agree with you to be careful about opening the door to strangers (although you should be careful anyway!) I'd keep in touch with your boy though and see what's being done. Once he's told them his new address, you should be able to relax x