Bailiffs are coming and I don't know why!

the_why_bird

Hello, I hope someone can help me!

Yesterday I got a call to say the bailiffs had been round at my old address looking for me 'regarding a CCJ'. I'm not aware of having a CCJ or any debt whatsoever. I checked my credit score online (came out as 999 and nothing on there outstanding or that I didn't recognise) and I searched Trust Online which showed no orders or judgments registered against me.

I'm currently waiting for more information - the info about the bailiff has come third hand. The new tenant called the letting agent, who called the landlord who just happens to be my mum. The new tenant has agreed to scan the bailiff letter and send it but has forgotten to do so and is now at work.

Any idea how I can find out what this debt could be? My rent was paid. Council tax was paid by my mother (and she got a refund when new tenants moved in, so we know this was paid). My utilities are all up to date and mostly with the same suppliers now. My credit card is at zero. No car payments, no furniture on finance, no payday loans. No speeding or parking tickets that I know of (and I did update my V5 so my car was listed to my new address). My bank details haven't changed. I'm wracking my brain and can't think of anything it could be, and have no way to get in touch with the bailiffs.

I am really upset about that because I am one of those super-cautious people who never gets anything on finance. I try so hard to be responsible! I have a very unusual surname, and an odd spelling of my first name, so it doesn't sound likely that they just have me confused with someone with the same name.

Can I have a CCJ without knowing it? And if so, can I appeal it? We were hoping to buy our own home next year and I will be devastated if this stops me. If it turns out I have overlooked some bill, I will pay it back immediately with any interest, I just don't want this on my record.

Lastly, is there any way at all I can find out who might be looking for me? On the off-chance that this is just a threat of a CCJ, I want to intervene before it gets this far.

Thank you for reading this far.

spacey2012

They may be looking for someone with a similar name, however they will glady take your money, so beware.
If they turn up at your new house, you must not let them across the threshold and in to the house, no matter what excuse they give or scene they caused.
Just inform them to post any paper work they have relating to the "debt" for your examination, if they refuse, bid them good day and lock and bolt the door and do not listen to twaddle about locksmiths and vans coming.

jayss

Did you check your credit report with all 3 agencies?

the_why_bird

Thank you both for your quick replies.

I checked with experian and equifax - do they all hold different information?

Edit: I just tried to check with callcredit and it won't let me, it keeps highlighting my name and date of birth and telling me my details are incorrect.

the_why_bird

I've found an email address for the bailiffs at the County Court in that area. Should I email to find out if it is them attempting to contact me, or could that make it worse?

Powered_By_Pies

Do you have any information with regards to who it is that's processing a CCJ against you, or has this literally come out of the blue?

If I read your OP right, I take it you're renting a property out? Maybe it was a bad tennant who put something through on the property's address and has since scarpered without paying it?

I'd be cautious about emailing the bailifs directly, only because they could try and be sneaky and claim it's you acknowledging the debt. If you don't acknowledge it, it leaves it up to them to prove it's yours.

If you do email them, simply state you do not acknowledge any outstanding debt and you demand they prove the debt, who it's in the name of, the lending company claiming the debt, and the time-scales from the date the debt was registered through to the date a CCJ was applied for. If they refuse to provide any information, then it sounds like they may be chancers on a wind-up and you could possibly look to seek further advice from someone like your local CAB, or even the county council if they claim to be acting on behalf of them.

the_why_bird

It's come totally out of the blue and we have no information at all beyond 'regarding a ccj'. I'm at the mercy of this new tenant forwarding the letter, but by all accounts he's pretty annoyed at the situation.

The old property is actually owned by my parents. I was their first tenant and they've only had one other tenant since (the current one). I suppose it could be someone else using the address but apparently I was asked for by name (and like I said, it's a weird name, I've never met anyone but my non-British husband who has it).

Of course, I don't even know that it was a county court bailiff, it's just the mention of a CCJ that's made me assume that.

How long does it take a CCJ to show up on credit reports? Surely if this has gone as far as the bailiffs there would be records?

Powered_By_Pies

As far as I'm aware they can't do anything if their only information is 'regarding a CCJ.' That'd be like me turning up at your door saying "Hi, you owe me 250 quid regarding a debt. Pay now, please."

They need to prove the debt and prove it's anything to do with you. If Bailifs call again, refuse entry, keep all entry points locked and bolted, and if you answer the door to them, step outside and close and lock the door behind you. They're only allowed inside the property with the owners' permission, if you don't supply it, any attempt to enter the property otherwise is deemed as excessive force and that will result in consequences for them.

If they fail to prove the debt, you can let them know you do not acknowledge it and that you're seeking assistance with the council over the matter.

I'd also contact the council and say to them that bailifs have been appointed by an unknown entity regarding a CCJ that you have no knowledge of, and request they check their records to see if one has been issued, and what for. If none have been lodged in the precise spelling of your name and address, then it sounds either bogus of shifty.

the_why_bird

Thank you for the advice. I have attempted to make contact with the council in that area and I am waiting to hear back.

As yet the bailiffs haven't been to my current address, only the old one, and since I am only getting second-hand information from the angry new tenant, I don't know for sure whether they did in fact attend with proof or not.

I am a little concerned that in my efforts to find out whether this debt or order exists I am going to be forced to hand over my new address and just expedite the arrival of bailiffs at my home.

Powered_By_Pies

Why's your new tenant angry? Because they got the bailiffs knocking on their door? I can understand it's a major inconvenience but they need to know that they have nothing to worry about. If the bailiffs are stupid enough to try and remove any of the tenants' property then they can report them immediately.

Don't provide the bailiffs with any additional information. Make them jump through the hoops. As far as you're concerned this CCJ is completely fictional so they need to add any meat they have to the bones to prove it's anything to do with you or your family. As I said, the fact they rocked up straight out of the blue saying 'you have a CCJ, give us monies' without any sort of prior proof is frankly bizarre.

the_why_bird

Yes he's angry because he's got the bailiffs turning up when it's nothing to do with him. I don't blame him for being annoyed. I don't know him personally so I can't be of any reassurance to him.

How do CCJs work? If they were just getting no response from me (because of course I never got any of the letters) is it possible it has gone all the way through court and then passed to bailiffs as unpaid without me ever being aware? Or would they have had to get a signature from me somewhere in this process?

(Thank you for your patience btw, I'm a worrier)