Have you experience or a view on what action bailiffs should take?

Softstuff

The idea of this being passed makes me shudder.

I was pursued for a debt that a neighbour had, when she had used my address, but her name with various people. It took me a long time to convince the bailiffs that I wasn't her, and had no connection to her, and that the items inside were not hers. Had they been able to just gain entry they would have taken what they wanted, then I presume it would have been down to me to get it back.

Yikes :eek:

tomterm8

This might force people into homelessness and consequent destitution - they would have to leave their families and / or friends because their mere presence in a house would leave the occupants of the property liable to "legal" theft.

azjh77

We have only been visited once..I explained that I would pay the debt in full in 2 days, when the cheque from my Mother cleared, they however said they didn't have to wait, they could put me in prison and my kids would end up in care if I didn't let them in and pay up straight away. Luckily I ignored this threat, paid the debt 2 days later over the phone with no further problems.

starkj

How can anyone see bailiffs having these powers being a good thing?

Obviously the poeple who think it could never happen to them.

How many innocent people will suffer?

It won't save police time, apart from the police ignoring claims of people being assaulted by bailiffs. Police have to be there to control the two parties.

The key lesson is companies should not lend to people who already have poor credit history.

hollydays

If Bailiffs had ever proved themselves worthy of being given extra Powers,there might be a case to answer.They havent,so to unleash them on the most vulnerable is madness.


If you had a naughty child that kept stabbing other kids with a fork,would you give them a sharp knife instead?

They should concentrate on getting them thoroughly regulated first,not introducing some half baked regulation where they ignore the consultations and go ahead anyway. When regulation has been proved to work,then they can look at what problems are left.

starkj

Did any one spot that the consultation questionnaire can be faxed to the Government?

Using an 0870 number, great stuff.

Don't think they are going to be too interested in hearing from the JustSayNoTo0870 campaing.

WorkingHard

This scares me, for many of the reasons stated abouve, with the increase in identity fraud, previous tenants receiving letters or even just the fact people sometimes live in furnished rentals. Can you imagine my landlords reaction if someone broke in and helped themselves to his furniture and ornaments? When I mentioned this to someone they said to show them the inventory, but what if they did it when I was at work?
I could get home to what looks like a burglary, having had them take not only my things, but my landlords and the other people in the houses, then I'd need to track them down to sort it out. WOuld the make the house secure when they left?

Ok thats fictional, but it could happen, and if you are already terrified about trying to pay your debts, and some companies won't accept lower payments no matter what they say they'll do publicly, I'm sure we've all had the discussion with unreasonable collection agents, then some baliff can just break into your home and take what they want when they want? I have to be honest, when I was at my worst with debts, I was so low and terrified that if I had thought they could do what they propose I would have left home and never come back, and if I'm honest maybe even worse.

God only knows how I'd react if a previous tenants debt meant that a baliff broke in and took my stuff when I wasn't there.

I'd hate to think anyone would have to go through either situation, the fact it's not regulated either is just ridiculous.

clairus99

I have my thoughts about this and unless I misunderstand, one or two of the opinions hear are really, honestly very ignorant and stupid. The majority of people do not envisage getting into such hot water.

I've filled in the form but am not clear on where I should be sending it.

fredelliott1978

: I don’t know what I think about this issue but from my experience I have learnt the bad side of not allowing bailiffs to use force. I won a CCJ against a former landlord for over £1000 to be returned to me over one year ago. Do I have the money now? Do I heck. The CC bailiff (not the thuggish ones) went to the office of the landlord and they landlord said that they were not at the address and no matter what they said they could and did refuse entry to the bailiff. Now they have moved from that office and I have no idea where they are anymore. I am deeply, deeply peeved. All I ever read is about the victims of bailiffs but what about honest people who can not enforce a legal judgement.

dodgee

Register your missgivings at the official No10 website for pettions http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Bailiff-Violence/ and make your concerns known.
Just search site with word 'bailiffs' to find other related petitions.
Deadline for signing is 15 October 2007