urgent help needed to deal with dca doorstep visits

goodadvice1

Hi I'm hoping someone can help me, I have been staying with my bf for a short time, due to ill health. I've been off my work since May 20 14, I got ssp then claimed esa contribution, I got it for 13 weeks, they stopped my money atol assessment. I tried to appeal over the phone, it was rejected.

so up to that point I had a few old co arrears in another council, they arrested my wages twice before I knew what was happening as iI had to leave old address due to domestic violence, went into hiding.

when I claimed the esa, the sheriff officers started sending letters, I did ignore it only because my benefits were stopped, they made order to arrest my wages, and got nothing as I was off work.

They then sent me over to another sheriff officer scott & co. They wrote last sept to say they had frozen my bank.

Prior to the orders my last two wages they took off over £500 twice in two months.

I've not long had a operation, I'm under the hospital and there is no sign of me being able to return to work yet,

I wrote to my company and explained my ccircumstances and told them I have no money to live on.

apparently if i resign I would be Santon ed, so they are sending me back to occupation therapists to see what can be done.

In the meantime, I've had some man knocking at my door, he came on Thursday past then came back on the Monday, I was at my physio but my neighbour called and said one of them was at her door and a few neighbours doors knocking and asking for me by my old married name.

she said he looked official and was carrying a clear folder which looked like a form, she asked if I may have old debt, mortified.

They left no card or nothing, I had other things I've defaulted on but I've had no benefits or money to give anyone.

I ended up phoning step change, as this isn't my house, I don't own nothing in it, but my bf changed the council tax to two adults when I came to stay, I'm not on the bill though, he knows someone has been at door, we were not long together when I injured myself, I guess I thought I would have been fixed months ago.

anyway mailed sheriff court asking if they help accounts for me and yes they do, to the tune of 3500, they are now investigating why walker love arrested my wages and the account was pasted over, also 2 bills are for the same year, one looks as though I'm paying for two adults, one half the bill is for when I didn't live there,
I've went through step change and they think I need to go for the map bankcrupsy. I did what they asked and offered scott and co a token payment and told them my circumstance s, they refused to accept less than £100 a month, which I don't have.

They have put account on hold, but it ddoesn't explain these men at the door.
I've been told not to open the door to anyone, but my nerves are shattered,

what do you do when you have no money in benefits no assets, I can't relax, I've had no letters for months from creditors I don't know what to do.

Can anyone else help me,

My bf says he can't have this at his door, I'm hundreds of miles away from my family, I don't know what to do, I don't even know how to sit him down and tell him what's happened.

sourcrates

Hi,
They can't have what you haven't got, it's not your house, and you have no asserts, it's not clear from your post who you owe money to, or how much, but absolute worst that can happen is they obtain judgement in court and you pay £1 a month to any creditors.

Try not to worry, and as you say, don't open the door to anyone.

May help if you could list your creditors and what you owe.

goodadvice1

Hi sourcrats, I owe council tax for old address, and a catalogue and few other debts.

I had to cancel my direct debits when I couldn't go to work, they found me here because I had to get a new bank card. Also when I claimed the esa, I don't know who has been at door apart from they looked official the neighbour said.

She told them nothing, didn't say who lived here, the man she said was abrupt with her.

I have tried to make token payment to sheriff officer, they have refused. I don't have the money and can't give them that amount, I don't know what else to do in the meantime.

I'm looking out the windows every time car goes past, I can't even go for a bath incase they turn up, I live in a remote place so they must have been desperate to find me, they came on the Thursday then again on the Monday last week.

sheriff office didn't say they have sent anyone round.

I really don't have anything to give them.
I've turned into a nervous wreck.

I'm embarrassed they have been knocking on my neighbours doors, I'm waiting on them coming back, at least if they had left contact details I'd have contacted them.

sourcrates

All I can suggest is giving National Debtline or stepchange a call and see what they advise, going bankrupt may be the thing to do, or a debt relief order, (Scottish equivalent).

National_Debtline

Hi

I’m sorry to hear about the difficult time you’ve been having. Calling us for advice is certainly a good idea.

It sounds like the council are using the summary warrant process to use forms of diligence to recover money, that includes things like bank arrestment and using sheriff officers. If you meet the criteria for MAP bankruptcy then that could be a good option for you to have your debts written off, as Stepchange suggested.

If you don’t have any other sheriff court decrees the man visiting you may just be a debt collector, and wouldn’t have rights to force entry into your home anyway.

There are options for stopping diligence such as a Time to Pay Order or Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) but these require you to be able to make sufficient payment offers.

If it looks like you really can’t pay much towards your debts for the foreseeable future MAP bankruptcy will give you a fresh start. You’ll need to see an ‘approved person’ to help to apply as you’ll need a certificate of sequestration. I think it will be best to visit a local face to face advice agency, such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as they should be able to help you with it.

James
@natdebtline