Bailiffs and CCJ

Chicca1

Will the banks eventually send the Bailiff around for unpaid credit card & bank debts?

What is a CCJ & at what stage of non-payment does this come into effect? Will I need to appear in court?

Also, I am in the process of moving homes. Once I have given the banks my new address, from which I fully intend to correspond with them as I have done so far...once they realize that I cannot afford to pay them all that I owe them, will they still come looking for me at my previous address? I don't want them bugging my friend who has kindly put me up until now (current address). I'd rather they came to find me at my new address (rented by myself in my own name).

Thanks in advance.

Tixy

Bailiffs can only be appointed after a creditor has taken court action against you and if you still do not pay off the debt in full.

A CCJ is a county court judgement. Any creditor you owe money to and don't repay can take court action against you to try to obtain a CCJ. That doesn't mean they will but they can. Some might do it within a few months of non-payment. Some might never bother. Legally they have up to 6 years to take court action.

You don't need to appear in court, you can reply in writing (to either admit or deny the debt, or not reply at all. If you don't reply at all then the CCJ will automatically be granted. Some people prefer to appear in court to defend against a CCJ, in which case you can ask for this in reply to a county court form.

If you give them your new address and then make repayment and arrangements and don't ignore them, then there would be no reason for them to write to the old address. If they cannot 'finf' you and you did not respond to any requests then they would likely try any address they have on file for you.

Chicca1

Tixy - that's very kind advice. Thank you. I was considering offering token payments. What will I need to do to get the bank to accept token payments of say a couple of pounds a month? Do you know?

Tixy

How long since you last paid towards the debts?

They could have been passed to debt collection agencies by now, so that could alter how you approach this.

If you can only afford token payments then they are most likely to accept these if they believe that you are paying all you can afford and cannot afford to pay anymore. Some will ask to see an income & expenditure account and whilst you don't legally have to provide that information it can help them agree to reduced payments and sometimes to agree to freeze charges.

Chicca1

Tixy wrote: »

How long since you last paid towards the debts?

They could have been passed to debt collection agencies by now, so that could alter how you approach this.

If you can only afford token payments then they are most likely to accept these if they believe that you are paying all you can afford and cannot afford to pay anymore. Some will ask to see an income & expenditure account and whilst you don't legally have to provide that information it can help them agree to reduced payments and sometimes to agree to freeze charges.

Last payment was December last year. I've now missed 5 payments in total. Is it too late to offer token payments? Would it stop them from getting a CCJ AND/OR bailiffs turning up at the house?