My door locks been changed while I was at work

Miss_Cakey_Bun

PLEASE HELP
Hi Ive just got home from work to discover an unknown person has been in my house while I was at work (Mortgaged property with arrears but repayment agreement in place) The front door lock has been changed and my neighbour got a set of keys from the locksmith for me after telling him I was at work and that my dad had just died last week (both true ) there is no letter in the house and just a blank letter attached to the door with a hand written note saying call Ben to collect my Keys written on the corner. ('Ben' has his phone switched off)

I live alone and am very scared as have no idea who has been in my home

Does anyone know who can force entry to my home and change the locks while Im not there??

I do have debts that Im struggling to cope with and Im working with Step Change (Debt counselling charity) to get some repayments in place but I didnt think anyone could change my locks and im in floods of tears

Any help very gratefully received

[Deleted User]

Take a look at your electricity and gas meters.

Are they different?

If you are in arrears with your energy bills, they can get a court order, allowing them to break in, and replace your meter(s) with pre-payment ones.

Tixy

My initial thought would be to say that nobody could do that legally. All sounds very odd, with you having no prior notice, and no proper details left on note. Might be worth seeing if shelters advice phone lines are still open at this time to see if they can advise whether your mortgage company can do this or might have done this.

Have you tried googling Ben's phone number to see if that brings up any company name?

Did neighbour see if he forced the old lock? see a company name on a van or vehicle or anything?

Regarding the mortgage arrears - how serious has that got? has there been a repossession hearing?

Are you in the house alone now? does your door have an internal bolt that you can lock? (just to help you sleep a bit better tonight).

Miss_Cakey_Bun

Ive just been and looked and they are the same Meters.....buried in the back of a very full under-stairs cupboard

Im most worried that no letter or paper work was left

Miss_Cakey_Bun

My ex Husband has come to an agreement with the mortgage company on the phone I was with him when he spoke to them on speaker phone and the repayments and the terms etc are all agreed, they even taken the first payment etc. So I don't think it can be that.

Ive googled his number and nothing comes up and his phone just says the orange phone Ive called is switched off.

My neighbour says the guys came in 2 vans that were unmarked...he thought they might have been Bailiffs but was on his way to work when they arrived so only saw them in passing.

Im going to lock my door with the key from the inside and then leave the key in the lock so no other key can be put in (and in case of fire :eek:)

Ive got my Dads funeral a week tomorrow and had my car written off last week in the snow....my lucks really vanished

Thanks for your replies tho it helps to make me feel less alone x

happy_bunny_2

No expert here...but would this not be worth a call to the police? They should at least be able to tell you who can do this?

God knows what happens to house insurance due to this...

Do you have the locksmiths name to give to police?

Willing2Learn

As above, if there was no notification from any debtor that they were going to lawfully gain entry then I would report it to the police.

You may also want to consider changing all locks???

I can't imagine how frightened and insecure you must feel right now. Are you able to stay with a friend or neighbour until you have some sort of clarification? You need to feel safe.

Edit: Not sure, but maybe insurance company should also be informed in the event that this is unlawful and preparation for house clearance??? I really don't know....

Tixy

What are relations like with your ex?

As a co-owner he could force entry if he wanted (or if you had changed the locks and not given him a key)? Although it doesn't sounds like things are that bad with him. Could it be worth a call to him if you are on ok terms - just to see if he had heard anything / had any letters to his new address etc.

As far as you can see nothing has been taken or changed? any way you could work out what rooms they might have been in even - e.g doors open that you keep shut?

I too think it could be worth a call to your local police - just to talk it through with them at least.

Sorry to hear about your Dad and that you are going through so much all at once.

Miss_Cakey_Bun

Ive talked to my Ex who Im on good terms with and he is horrified and very supportive, he has no idea whats happened either.

Nothing at all seems to have been taken and they only seem to have been in my living room (only the living room kitchen and bathroom downstairs) I do have a big dog and she is stupidly protective of me so if they tried to get in the house while I was here she would go mental. she will be in the house with me tonight (as always) but she is a bit daft to strangers and thinks they are all nice when they come to the door when she is home alone.....apparently they had a dog handler with them earlier the locksmith told my neighbour

Insurance ??? god alone knows

Police:eek: Ive waited for 40 minutes the first time and 17minutes the 2nd time trying to get someone to answer on the non emergency number....i may be scared but it not life and death so not prepared to waste their time and call 999.

Thanks again it really is kind of you all to help xx

NinjaSavingKat

Please call the police on this one. They may have information about the number left and other instances where this has happened. They can put your address on your screen for cars in the area to be aware of you in case you have to call the emergency line.

spacey2012

Is the back door the Old Lock ?
have they left the old lock barrel, if not then you can report them for the theft of it.