CSA Bailiff. Their target doesn't live here.

Miffed1980

Hope someone here can offer some help.

I arrived home yesterday to find a guy from a firm of bailiffs at my front door. He was looking for the son of my long term, common law, partner.

Her son, lets call him 'X', is in his 30's and is being chased by the CSA. 'X' hasn't lived with us for nearly 20 years but uses our address for correspondence with HMRC as he is self employed, my partner does 'X's annual self assessment. 'X' lives in rented accommodation which changes from time to time so our address seemed sensible to avoid any important correspondence going astray.

I told the bailiff I wasn't the person he was asking about and didn't know where he lived (perfectly true, I know the town but that is all). The bailiff then started to try and question me further which I found quite insulting and said I wan't going to answer any further questions and went inside. As I went in the bailiffs said 'you must be a family member' - which is obviously incorrect.

He then posted a 'final notice' through my door which states he will return over the weekend to remove goods unless paid.

http:// tinypic.com/m/i55hdv/1 (remove space after //)

'X' has no goods at my home address. This is the first communication that has come to our address that has anything to do with this matter.

I looked up the bailiffs details on the web and sent them an email stating that X doesn't live at my address, has no goods here and isn't a relative of mine.

I obtained 'X's mobile phone number from my partner and called him to let him know about my unpleasant experience. 'X' called me back after he called the bailiff and made an offer to pay what he owes in installments. Apparently they are going to call him back today.

My concern is what can the bailiffs do to me? I have 3 vehicles parked outside my house that I own. My car and 2 vans which I use in my light haulage business. Obviously I don't want to have these seized and have to fight to get them back when I prove the bailiffs had no right to take them. The negative effect on my business would be devastating.

Urgent advice would be much appreciated.

BigAunty

The Debt Free Wanabee or consumer board will be able to confirm your rights and how to deal with the bailiff.

It's fairly easy to change addresses with organisations or buy a cheap virtual or PO box for mail. Time for your SIL to stop flying under the radar to avoid his CSA commitments and take ownership of this issue.

His use of your property for communications will always lead debtors, etc, directly to your door, not his, as they will use credit reference agencies and other databases when trying to trace someone.

Seanymph

It's not incorrect though is it? He IS a family member, albeit not by marriage.

You could have been a lot more helpful to the bailiffs to enable them to locate the correct person - you chose not to give them any information, which leaves them with you at a dead end.

If your SIL had been dealing with his business then they wouldn't have been there - give them his details and you won't get any further problems.

neneromanova

After watching a bailiffs program, as long as you can prove they are your vehicles and not X's then you'll be fine. Also Don't leave any doors open as they can enter an open door without penalty.

Miffed1980

Seanymph wrote: »

It's not incorrect though is it? He IS a family member, albeit not by marriage.

You could have been a lot more helpful to the bailiffs to enable them to locate the correct person - you chose not to give them any information, which leaves them with you at a dead end.

If your SIL had been dealing with his business then they wouldn't have been there - give them his details and you won't get any further problems.

Thanks for the lecture, I hope it reads more arrogant than you intended.

It's very easy to be wise after the event. I knew nothing of this until confronted as I arrived home by a legalised thug demanding information from me. No letters, no phone calls, nothing.

Obviously had I been forewarned of the situation then I would have reacted a little differently but I take exception to being spoken to like I'm a criminal when I've done nothing wrong. Had I known of the situation I would have given X an ultimatum to contact them himself before I did.

Oh, he's not my Son In Law. His mother and I have lived together for nearly 30 years, just not bothered with marriage.

cheepskate_2

By not giving them his address, which either you or your partner knows, then you are doing a disservice to his child.

Now that you have had time to think about it, why not ring them up and give them his address, rather than have a dead beat son, which in all respects he is to you, having lived with his parent for so long.


Just noticed, your son says he has contacted them , and must have given his new address, that should then be transferred over to his account.

As for trouble coming to your door, thats what happens when people use your address, better to get his own PO box number

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Bailiffs afford no us no convenience when dealing with anybody so why should the average joe afford them the same.

even if you partners son is in agreement to repay at the moment nothing is stopping you from preventing them coming back in the future.

write a sharp email saying by no means as any employee of your company allowed to enter my premises, you revoke their emplied rights to enter your boundary and violating this will result in civil law action against them. Threaten alarm intimidate or cause distress to you or any one living at the property will result in the police being called, if they require any evidence from you to prove who you are they are to send a SAE and a postal order of £15 admin fee to process their request.:)

lostinrates

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

Bailiffs afford no us no convenience when dealing with anybody so why should the average joe afford them the same.

Well, my only dealing with them has been getting money we were owed so, they were 'convenient' for me.

Costs accrue each time the ball ifs visit, I don't know how this works for csa but in our COurt case fees were levied against the debtor. ( and we paid a fee for each address visited) so the less helpful we are the less helpful the money is for its intended purpose and the more the op's 'step son' will have to pay eventually.

pinkteapot

As others have said, have proof of vehicle ownership and your own ID to hand, just in case they do come round.

BigAunty

To be clear here, you have absolutely no legal link to the son of your partner and his debts are solely his debts, against just his name and not attached to the property. So it is wrong that the Bailiff's are trying to intimidate you on this matter.

Perhaps they would not have troubled you if your partner's son had registered his current address, as legally required, with the electoral register.

That's usually the first port of call for a debt tracing company, a step that those knowing trying to avoid debt tracing companies frequently resist doing.

However, perhaps he has done this but the strong connection of multiple accounts to your address has diverted them. A quick call from him to the Debt Tracing Company of his actual residential request and a discussion on how to make payment is the best way to prevent the door-stopping and pressure you're enduring now.

There is a Debt Free Wanabee board and Child Support board on MSE that can help your partner's adult child get on top of debts and child maintenance.

GobbledyGook

The previous owners/occupiers of our new house owe money to everyone.

I really objected to the way the first bailiff spoke to me (assumed I was lying as so many people do to them), however now I just have proof of ID, proof of car ownership and the council tax bill handy as it's much less hassle just to show them this and then they go away.

I also take a note of the company name and person's name so that I can show that I gave ID to X if the same company comes back (only happened once and they were very apologetic when I complained).