Spent this afternoon hiding from debt collector at door...

ladyasmo

I'm still shaking a bit!

I know I owe maybe about £800 for 2 seperate debts. Both have been sold to lowell and I havent made a payment for either since 2008. I get a letter about once a month from Lowell. But last wednesday there was a man knocking on my door, I didn;t answer as I thought he was a canvasser, but then i noticed he got straight in a car and left.

This afternoon i saw the same car (i remembered the car reg) coming up the road, so hid in lounge and tried to keep my one year old quiet, while he hammered on the door for a good 10 mins. I sneaked a peek and saw him drive off, but then my neighbour pulled into our street and as he saw that he stopped the car and turned round to come back to the house. We share a drive so I'm assuming he thought it was me. He stopped his car and looked like he was going to get out and talk to them. Luckily he didn't and just drove off.

I'm guessing he is a DCA (Especially after he swung round and drove back like a maniac when he saw my neighbour!). He leaves no card either.

I don't know what to do, I'm frightened of leaving the house now, even to put the bins out im scared, and i dont leave any lights on in the front of the house in case it signals I am in. How long do you expect he will keep visiting?

My front door was also on the latch today, which i only noticed afterwards... is he allowed to enter if the door is open?

HappyMJ

ladyasmo wrote: »

I'm still shaking a bit!

I know I owe maybe about £800 for 2 seperate debts. Both have been sold to lowell and I havent made a payment for either since 2008. I get a letter about once a month from Lowell. But last wednesday there was a man knocking on my door, I didn;t answer as I thought he was a canvasser, but then i noticed he got straight in a car and left.

This afternoon i saw the same car (i remembered the car reg) coming up the road, so hid in lounge and tried to keep my one year old quiet, while he hammered on the door for a good 10 mins. I sneaked a peek and saw him drive off, but then my neighbour pulled into our street and as he saw that he stopped the car and turned round to come back to the house. We share a drive so I'm assuming he thought it was me. He stopped his car and looked like he was going to get out and talk to them. Luckily he didn't and just drove off.

I'm guessing he is a DCA (Especially after he swung round and drove back like a maniac when he saw my neighbour!). He leaves no card either.

I don't know what to do, I'm frightened of leaving the house now, even to put the bins out im scared, and i dont leave any lights on in the front of the house in case it signals I am in. How long do you expect he will keep visiting?

My front door was also on the latch today, which i only noticed afterwards... is he allowed to enter if the door is open?

Usually 3 times then they give up. However, court bailiffs for court imposed fines do not give up. Yes they can enter if the door is open but you can ask them to leave immediately and they should do.

Don't worry about them.. They should be dropping letters or calling cards off.

nimbo

bih hugs. xxxx

ladyasmo

Thanks for your response, i don't have any court imposed fines so I assume he's just a travelling collecter. Its been roughly the same time and i live right by one of the main midland motorway junctions, so i'm guessing perhaps he passed through and stops off.

It was so frightening! I have a heart problem at the moment and I was so scared my heart was going crazy, i thought I would pass out!!

Btw, I'm not condoning the fact I am running from money I owe, if I could afford to pay I would. plus I know that the total value of the debts was only £480....

taffy056

No he is not allowed to enter the house, if he enters without an invite you should phone the police. Debt collecters are powerless and have as much authority as I do at your door. You got an option of telling them via recorded mail that you withdraw their right to visit your home or phone via templated letter, or just ignore their visits.

What by the way is this debt for ?

ladyasmo

Its from a vanquis card..

Will they take me to court do you think for that amount?

taffy056

Well they could take you to court as you owe them the money, can you afford to pay them anything ? Even a token payment of a £1 a month will show you are paying something towards this.

HappyMJ

ladyasmo wrote: »

Thanks for your response, i don't have any court imposed fines so I assume he's just a travelling collecter. Its been roughly the same time and i live right by one of the main midland motorway junctions, so i'm guessing perhaps he passed through and stops off.

It was so frightening! I have a heart problem at the moment and I was so scared my heart was going crazy, i thought I would pass out!!

Btw, I'm not condoning the fact I am running from money I owe, if I could afford to pay I would. plus I know that the total value of the debts was only £480....

The first time I ignored a bailiff at the door my heart was racing as well and I don't even have a heart condition. It's really scary. Just keep on ignoring put the headphones on your head and play some music. They soon go away and keep the door locked.

They won't take you to court for such a small amount. They might but they don't usually. If they did then if you clear the debt quickly within 28 days then it has no affect on your long term credit. Have you done a credit check on yourself to see how damaged your credit is? That might help identify the debt and who owns it.

ladyasmo

I probably could afford maybe £10 a month. I was hoping though to hang on in there till the 6 years are up, as I have now not made contact since 2008...

But if it means i dont have to be scared of leaving the lights on or leaving my house then perhaps i should just get in touch and set up a payment plan.

Can they refuse an offer? like i offered them £10 a month can they refuse?

HappyMJ

ladyasmo wrote: »

I probably could afford maybe £10 a month. I was hoping though to hang on in there till the 6 years are up, as I have now not made contact since 2008...

But if it means i dont have to be scared of leaving the lights on or leaving my house then perhaps i should just get in touch and set up a payment plan.

Can they refuse an offer? like i offered them £10 a month can they refuse?

Yes they can refuse an offer. They will not keep on trying to visit they will give up after the third time just let them visit once more and ignore them then wait out the 2 years and it'll be statute barred and fall off your credit report.

You can leave the lights on and leave the house. They can't do anything. I've told bailiffs (collecting council tax) from the upstairs window to go away as the door will not be answered and they just drop their note and go. I think they have given up on me as a lost cause.

ScottHeron

Im Pretty sure the six year rule only applies if its been six years since the company you owe debt to have made contact with you and NOT six years when the debt started..

Please correct if I'm wrong