Help needed asap! Bailiffs been to my door :(

bassjunkie

Ok, yesterday there was a knock at the door. It was a bailiff...I pretended too be someone else and told him that "I" didn't live there anymore.
I live in a shared house with a live in landlady. If she found out that the bailiff came then I would be kicked out and homeless.
Anyway, I told the bailiff (pretending too be someone else) that I didn't live there, that "I" had moved out about 3 months ago.
I told him it was a shared house and that people come and go. he asked for the landladies number which I didn't give him.
He passed me the letter (that was meant for me) and told me too give it to the landlady and that he WOULD RETURN IN 5 DAYS!!!(Monday 25th June)
I am going to the Citizens Advice Bureau tomorrow for their help.
I haven't told my landlady as I know she will hit the roof (understandably).
I have been such an idiot...I should have repied too the Court letters but didn't. I know i've done wrong...please help me.
Will I be able too stop the bailiff from returning and my landlady from finding out? I have friday, saturday and sunday too sort it. What can I do!

marleyboy

Short of offering to repay the bill there is not much you can do. Inevitably the Landlady will find out if you dont do something soon. I imagine she would be even more annoyed if she found out you lied at the door.

Its not going to go away, your going to have to get in touch with them and make some kind of offer.

Gemini33

Hi friend,

I have been in your shoes, I understand your fears and stress.

First thing first, take a deep breathe and try to not get anxious, I think being in debt is no where near as misfortune as being in a wheel chair, so realise it is not the end of the world.

I personally think you have said the right thing for now, but what do you intend to do about the debt. Can you afford to pay the debt? How will you cope with your monthly rent?

Understand that it is your duty and God given right to have access to housing, food and clothing.

Your priority is your expenses like rent, food gas, etc.

What is the debt for?

Be aware that it is not a simple process with the CAB, they are a fantastic organisation but they have a huge workload, so dont sleep on it, get in contact with them as soon as possible.

Please for your own sake, do not ignore the court letters. Ring them up, or even go to the courts, explain to them your problems, it is not a crime to be broke. They can and will accept monthly payments even if it is as nominal as £1 a month but you have to contact them.

Make the phone calls you need to make in order to prevent any further action.

Stay calm

bassjunkie

The money is for university accommodation, it was £2,000 but as the courts added money and some more money has been added (from I don't know where - I'm assuming bailiff fees) it's more than £3,000.

I don't have an issue with offering a repayment plan but this is a lot of money and I feel that any offer I make is going too be turned down.

I am going too Citizens Advice Bureau first thing in the morning. All I pray for is that they can contact the bailiff on my behalf and get him not too come to my door. My landlady will kick me out if she finds out.
The only thing I can think of is trying too move some where else but that's not possible as I haven't got the money.

I just need them not to come to my door as it will result in me being homeless.

Gemini33

Any attempt to pay back even £1 a month has to be accepted. This is a simple fact, I know, I owed money to the courts.

Ignoring the debt will cause you the problems.

You need to somehow give yourself time, I honestly have no ideas what to do with them turning up. Hopefully with some luck she might not be in.

Go to court, explain the situation, say to them you are studying and will be homeless, you can only afford £10 a month, or £5 even. Tell them that the more money they add to this debt the less capable you are of paying it back, explain to them you have nothing.

They have to listen, this is a damn court system, where Justice shall be given, not torture.

Stay blessed

bassjunkie

Also does anyone know what the rules are in living in a house share...there are 6 rooms in the house. The landlady has the living rooms, two of the bedrooms, one of the bedrooms belong too another couple and two bedrooms are empty.

My room is shared with my partner, the stuff in here is his. I have nothing as I left home too come here to live with him.

If I can't prove ownership on the stuff then what can they take?

Gemini33

They cant take nothing. If they turn up and she asks, just tell her they were asking for someone else and say you dont live there no more, I know its not exactly legit but you need to survive right now.

They need proof of ownership otherwise they cant take nothing. If you have a car they will try it, any savings in a bank I would take out, if you have money from Uni take it out from the bank, otherwise they can get the banks to take money from your account.

bassjunkie

I have nothing in the bank, I left university a year ago. I have no savings. I have no job.

I am willing too pay the money back, but it's doubled now...how can they add over £1000 for charges...?
I'm stumped.

Gemini33

I know their charges are unlawful and unjustified in my opinion. How can one add more debt if you cant afford the current debt? It does not make sense.

In writing explain you are unable to pay the debt and explain and prove your financial situation, offer them what you can, thats all there is to it.

Dont be scared of these people, thats how they win the game.

Thanks

duchesspink1

why do you think your landlady will throw you out? im sure she'd not be interested in the fact that you have a debt.

get in touch and make an offer to pay minimal payments.

fatbelly

bassjunkie wrote: »

Ok, yesterday there was a knock at the door. It was a bailiff...I pretended too be someone else and told him that "I" didn't live there anymore.
I live in a shared house with a live in landlady. If she found out that the bailiff came then I would be kicked out and homeless.
Anyway, I told the bailiff (pretending too be someone else) that I didn't live there, that "I" had moved out about 3 months ago.
I told him it was a shared house and that people come and go. he asked for the landladies number which I didn't give him.
He passed me the letter (that was meant for me) and told me too give it to the landlady and that he WOULD RETURN IN 5 DAYS!!!(Monday 25th June)
I am going to the Citizens Advice Bureau tomorrow for their help.
I haven't told my landlady as I know she will hit the roof (understandably).
I have been such an idiot...I should have repied too the Court letters but didn't. I know i've done wrong...please help me.
Will I be able too stop the bailiff from returning and my landlady from finding out? I have friday, saturday and sunday too sort it. What can I do!

bassjunkie wrote: »

The money is for university accommodation, it was £2,000 but as the courts added money and some more money has been added (from I don't know where - I'm assuming bailiff fees) it's more than £3,000.

I don't have an issue with offering a repayment plan but this is a lot of money and I feel that any offer I make is going too be turned down.

I am going too Citizens Advice Bureau first thing in the morning. All I pray for is that they can contact the bailiff on my behalf and get him not too come to my door. My landlady will kick me out if she finds out.
The only thing I can think of is trying too move some where else but that's not possible as I haven't got the money.

I just need them not to come to my door as it will result in me being homeless.

So this is a County Court Judgement for £3000? And this is the Court Bailiff? I take it the 'lettter' is a warrant from the court. If so...

You can vary the order from a forthwith (pay it all at once) judgement to an instalment order using an N245. There's no fee if you're on income based JSA.

Factsheet | Reducing payments or suspending a bailiff's warrant on a county court judgment

There is generally a hearing and the bailiff will wait for the outcome.

When you see the CAB, tell them about all your debts if you have more as it will be best to deal with the whole situation. You'd probably qualify for a Debt Relief Order - see what they say.