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

BAILIFFCHASER

This bill is due a reading etc on the 23rd of march when it will become statue law. In theory bailiffs can start using this straight away despite their being a hold in the law ie when it becomes law.

saverseven

When I first heard about this on the radio, there was a quote from a bailiffs regulatory body saying it was a bad idea to give more powers to enter property and and use "reasonable force". Who decides what is reasonable?

When I had problems paying my water rates, they put my debt into the hands of bailiffs who demanded £70 per week! Which was far more than I could pay.

+++GOOD TIP HERE!+++

I got in touch with CAB who helped me get the weekly payments down to a reasonable amount and also got me onto a payment scheme for people experiencing financial hardship, which meant that I had to pay an amount to cover my current bill and then for every pound I paid from the outstanding debt, the water company equalled it - which meant I paid half! It still took ages to clear, though.

akingsail

The problem lies with the moneylenders, not with the borrowers. It is far too easy to get credit now. If bailiffs had less powers the banks would not be quite so happy to lend money to people who plainly will not be able to pay. All this is pure greed on the part of moneylenders and in addition, they fuel this false economic situation in the UK you all live under. I have voted with my feet and now live overseas. I hate what I see in the police state the UK has now become. Any increase in powers is wholly unjustified. The UK is the laughing stock of Europe. I urge all of you with the ability, get out while you can.

sallyjo_2

Thanks isayoldchap. Best wishes for when the new baby comes! And thank you Martin for bringing this issue to light.

In addition to the following the advice Martin gives, we should all write to our MPs and point them in the direction of the Citizen's Advice Bureau's warning. The CAB has a good reputation and they should take heed. If they don't, and vote for the bill, remember that when you next vote in an election. They are no friend of any constituent with a debt problem.

And where is the CCCS and National Debtline's statements on this matter??? WakeyWakey! I shall write to CCCS myself today. CCCS clients please do the same and get them to stand behind this.

starkj

DAMNOME wrote: »

What if you were owed money and you had an order requesting the bailiffs to collect on your debt. Would you be happy if you were told "sorry you cannot have your money because they wouldn't let us in"

I can certainly see your point but most consumers wouldn't be in this position.

sonee2405

turn 18 and banks and credit card companies offer ridiculous amounts of credit to young people.Obviously at that age not many people are financially aware and just want to ahve a good time.1 or 2 years later may end up with a couple of thousand of debt which cannot be paid.If your still living at home with parents would tht mean bailiffs would be allowed to enter and take the parents possessions and is that fair.No.The companies never ever consider or ask for the parents opinion when offering debt but when they do not get their money paid back its the whole family that are harassed and upset by the constant letters, phonecalls and sometimes bailiffs.Wouldn't it be more sensible to offer less credit at young ages and instead offer incentives to save.Bailiffs getting more powers is really shameful because there are so many people who have got into finacial problems and no matter how much they try or what they do circumstances prevent them from egtting out of difficult and scary debt situations.An example is people who have become victims of identity and credit card fraud, banks do not help at all and it can take a long time/money and effort to sort- usually the bank gets bored and sells the debt to a smaller comapny who do not want to listen about the id fraud they just demand money-in this case would bailliffs take an innocent persons possesions until the matter is resolved.

shamendave

i think the government should be helping its populace dig its way out of the hell hole it has found itself in.

this current financial climate demonstrates that endless credit is a dangerous thing, and should be avoided at all costs.

i also think that steps should be put in place to educate people of the dangers of credit BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY NEED IT!!!

partner br 03/03/07, me br thursday next week.

only 3 creditors to go - yippee xxxx

kanga78

I've just signed the petition because the thought of bailiffs being able to gain entry to my house scares me. I don't have debts but the previous homeowener did and I am receiving letters chasing the money. These have been either returned to sender or forwarded on to the man's new address, but still another letter arrived yesterday. The knowledge that bailiffs might turn up at my home scares me already, but giving them the option to gain access and take my posessions when I'm not there is horrifying.

Just as an aside, what's my best option for stopping these letters? I've found out the phone number and address of the credit agency on the internet, am I best to phone / write to inform them the previous homeowner has moved? I don't particularly want to give out the person's new address but at the same time, I don't want the worry of some debt collector turning up on my doorstep! Hope no-one minds me asking for a bit of advice on this thread. Thanks very much.

leo110303

I think this is disgusting, im sure this will lead in to unneccesary violence as im sure if people were to walk/break,gain access into someones house without permission they the homeowners would not take it to lightly... I know i would not hesitate to use force to get them out.
Plus for people in debt living in there mothers homes or something, then these bailiffs manages to gain entry in to the home and take whats not theres is not the nicest of thing for a law binding parent.. They seriously need to think long and hard if they reckon the world would be an easier place if that rule came in to play.

Storm

I think it's absolutely ridiculous - and a point I thought of that hasn't been raised so far is that there would be no signed agreement on what had been taken. This could lead to unscrupulous bailiffs taking stuff and not putting it on the list, or alternatively people accusing bailiffs of taking stuff that doesn't exist. If bailiffs can enter without the occupier present then they should have to accompanied by the police, who will counter-sign the list of goods taken and be able to settle any disputes.

The industry needs to be regulated properly, and whilst it will never be perfect one measure has to be absolute certainty that the person in the property is the right one!

One question that I wondered though from seeing bits of 'Beat the Bailiff' on BBC1 was why do they take all CDs/videos etc even though they won't raise any money - surely the bailiffs must know what sells & what doesn't, and if it's not going to pay off the debt it appears to me to be more a form of punishment than anything else!