Bailiffs

sugar_lump

I went to see my mother in law earlier today- she hasn't been well so like to check on her while her husband is at work.
She told me there had been baliffs at her door several times asking for my partner regarding an unpaid parking ticket- he hasn't lived there in 6 years! The company is bristow & sutor. She keeps telling them that he doesn't live there and hasn't for a number of years and when they ask her where he's living now she refuses to tell them, they keep coming back. These baliffs have been to my mother in laws neighbours asking if they know where he lives as well! (is this even legal?)
My partner has had no other letters regarding this and to his knowledge not had a parking ticket. None of his cars have even been registered to his mums address?!
From my googling it seems that these bristow & sutor people recover debt for local councils so my OH is going to talk to the council regarding this.
I'm constantly looking out the window because I know it's only going to be a matter of time before they find out where he lives, I'm even keeping all my doors and windows locked so they can't get in.
Has anyone got any advice regarding this?

peter_the_piper

Bailiffadviceonline.co.uk, small fee but top advice. (not me Honest)

sugar_lump

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Bailiffadviceonline.co.uk, small fee but top advice. (not me Honest)

Thank you

JonathanA

There must be some confusion somewhere. If the bailiffs have visited, presumably they left a letter? This all sounds odd that they have traced him to that address, but the car has never been registered there and he hasn't lived there for 6 years. If it is a parking fine, then they only have 12 months, otherwise the warrant will be returned to the Council, so something isn't adding up. Speak to the Council and if no joy there, you may be advised to phone the bailiff company to get to the bottom of it, it there is a ticket outstanding it does need dealing with, as PCN enforcement is very different to that on private land.

sugar_lump

I did think it was odd myself to be honest, could it be from a car he had when he was a lot younger (before I met him), do parking tickets go on that long. I'm not sure about them leaving a letter, my mother in law is recovering from a stroke and her memory is poor, she doesn't even remember what the bailiff said.
My partner feels really bad that they went to her house.
What do I do if a bailiff turns up to my house? I have not long had a baby and it's starting to stress me out thinking about it

JonathanA

The difficulty you have potentially is that with no paperwork, and no apparent ticket, finding someone to speak to may be a challenge. If a bailiff has visited, they should normally leave some correspondence with a reference number and phone number.

If a bailiff does visit your home, you don't have to let them in, and they cannot force their way in to your house, but they can take goods and possessions to settle the debt. Or they may return, but their fees will increase, hence the reason why it might be best to speak to them. But it is your partner that needs to do this. Is he certain that he hasn't had a parking ticket from anywhere he has been?

Citizens Advice Bureau might be a good place to start for advice, I know the legislation changed for bailiffs in April but don't know the exact changes.

sugar_lump

Ok thank you Jonathon, if the bailiffs do turn up can I just not answer the door? I've heard Bristow and Sutor are bullies, I'm 5 ft 3 and about 8 stone wet through, my partner works everyday so if they turn up when he's not there is there anything I can do to make them go away? My car is parked on our drive, is it true they can take that? The car is registered to him (we've only had it a year) but we are both on the insurance and I can't risk them taking it as I have to take my daughter to and from school with it- her school is 5 miles away.

Coupon-mad

Ask bailiffadviceonline what you can do - Sheila from there posts as 'Herbie' on here occasionally and she is the expert and will help you. Especially as your MIL is considered to be a 'vulnerable person' as she's elderly and recovering from a stroke. Bailiffs are supposed to identify such people and there's a code of practice they have to follow to avoid harassing the more vulnerable members of Society (especially when it's not her debt).

Plus there are new laws too:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/protect/2014/04/new-rules-to-protect-people-from-bailiffs-take-effect

So I would also recommend paying the tenner needed on bailiffadviceonline (I am not connected to it).