Paper shop debt

Crazylurcher

To many if not all of you this will seem ridiculous but here goes.

We were unfortunate recently in as much as my wife lost her job. For months and months we received the evening paper each thinking the other was paying the bill. We were shocked when a bill came through the door for £106. We accepted however that this was quite our own fault and I visited the shop to say we didn't have the money but would try to give some when we get any. My full time wages don't cover the mortgage and bills and we have children to feed and clothe.

Shortly after this the woman from the newsagents starting coming to the house and being very aggressive with my wife. I again went to see her and explained that I desperately wanted to pay but we are literally living going without proper meals so the children eat properly but I fully accept the debt and will pay as soon as this is possible.

This morning we woke up to find that an A3 luminous green side has been sellotaped to our front door stating our address and the amount of money we owe in a clear attempt to humiliate us. When I went to the shop there was a similar huge green sign with our address written on it, the amount we owe and a description of how we haven't paid despite numerous visits and promises.

Is she actually allowed to do this? My wife is in floods of tears as we have been humiliated in front of the whole village.

P.s. I know this issue was our own fault but surely we don't deserve this. Would the police help?

dale_cotterill

Sounds like harassment to me. So you could certainly try and get the police involved. You could probably even get something under Data Protection if you really wanted.

duchy

How much have you paid off ?
Sounds a bit harsh even if you were only making small payments.

CKhalvashi

I'm in agreement it sounds little harsh.

It may be worth speaking with the police, however whilst legally harassment, I doubt much more will be done than they're asked to take it down.

redpete

The reaction is over the top but I don't understand why you continued having the paper delivered regardless of who you thought was paying the bill - you are in such desperate circumstances an evening paper would be very low in the priorities.

macman

Tell the creditor to either pursue the debt by a civil claim or stop contacting you. Sticking notices to your door is beyond the pale and potentially criminal damage?
How many visits ('numerous'?) has the owner made, and how much have you paid or promised to pay them?
Why not pay an agreed amount (say £5 a week)?
PS: might be an idea to check if there are any other bills that you think the other half is paying, and vice versa?

iolanthe07

I know this issue was our own fault

Yes, but the paper shop surely must bear some responsibility for not gettinig in touch with you much sooner before the bill escalated.

Pixie5740

The papershop owner as gone OTT. If she was that bothered about the debt she should have written to you sooner about it, stopped sending you a paper, and possibly taken you to small claims court, not stuck luminous signs to your front door.

Have you got anything you could sell to pay off this debt or could you offer to work off the debt in the shop by delivering papers yourself, repairing shelves, anything really..?

whitegoods_engineer

This is completely illegal. Tell the newsagent to immediately remove the sign, having first photographed it in situ.

Then tell the newsagent that you will sue for defamation.

timbo58

Worth getting the opinion of CAB or a no fee visit solicitor on this one.

Always worth asking the shop owner to remove the signs (in writing with a copy kept) as they are causing 'distress' 1st of course.

That way the shop owner cannot later deny the sign(s) were causing distress to you and IIRC it's this 'distress' that is the offence.

It isn't libel/slander or defamation AFAIK as long as the statement made in the notice is TRUE.

It is obviously however 'causing you distress'.

Pixie5740

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

This is completely illegal. Tell the newsagent to immediately remove the sign, having first photographed it in situ.

Then tell the newsagent that you will sue for defamation.

Defamation requires the statement to be false. The OP owes the money so whilst humiliating, it's not defamation.

I do agree that the signs should be removed though.