Bailiff Advice Required

markyboy73

My wife had a council tax debt from before we met. A couple of months ago she received a letter asking for £500 from Jacobs Bailiffs. We contacted the council who advised that there were 2 debts one for £500 and one for £1500. These were for 7 years ago before we married. She spoke to her parents who paid off the £500 debt for us. A few weeks later we received another letter from Jacobs asking for £1500 approx. We then spoke to the CAB who went through a budget with us and advised us to make an offer of £80 per month.

A few weeks later we received a letter back from the CAB saying that Jacobs wanted £140 per month, but if we start paying £80 straight away they may accept it.

We started paying £80 and have now paid £240 in total. Then on Monday whilst I was at home working a letter was posted through our door (no knock or anything) saying FULL PAYMENT REQUIRED OR REMOVAL OF GOODS IN 48 HOURS. We tried go get hold of the CAB without any luck. Then on Wednesday another letter was posted through saying FULL PAYMENT REQUIRED BY 5PM TODAY. This really panicked us as we have 4 children who are all at home during the school hols. I rang the bailiffs office who advised they have received our payments but they hadn't agreed to £80 per month so passed it to a bailiff. I spoke to the bailiff who was very vague on our details but he said we need to pay the full amount and deflected all my questions about what we had already paid. He went on to say he will be round to take our house contents and my wife may get sent to prison. We tried speaking to the bailiffs office again and they now say WE CANT SPEAK TO YOU, SPEAK TO THE BAILIFF.

I really cant see how this is fair, they have been accepting our payments for 3 months and then give us 48 hours to pay a full amount that the bailiff obviously has wrong.

I cant see how this can benefit anyone, they are just bullies and it really makes me think how they are affecting more vulnerable people than us. The code on the bottom of their letters says BLITZ LETTER, which is strange.

They are so unprofessional and chancers bullying and preying on us. What do they want us to do, get a payday loan!!

Its horrible to be in this position waiting for a knock and knowing there is nothing we can do even though we have tried our best. This cannot be correct.

My best advice for anyone is DO NOT SPEAK TO THE BAILIFF AT ALL. They only want you to ring so they can intimidate you.

Ring or go to CAB.

Any advice would be appreciated,

ValHaller

The fact the paperwork is in her previous name is neither here nor there - she is still liable. Your stuff should be safe in theory, but if the bailiffs get in, then you will have a big fight to keep them from claiming it.

Best thing is to keep doors and windows shut and locked and vehicles away from the premises.

[Deleted User]

And do a Statutory Declaration, identifying those items which are solely yours, especially those items which are not easily identifiable as yours, and/or for which no paperwork exists.

Be warned, however, not to lie about what is yours.

Lying on a SD is a serious matter.

spacey2012

I Doubt very much they would tip you off bailiffs are coming.
Just does not work like that.
I would be inclined to adjust the £80 payment to £1 a week in response and I would not pay this unless they can produce some paper work from the court to back up what the4y claim to be collecting .
If they claim to have a liability order, where is it ? and they should produce it.