Bailiffs help

kimplus8

I had a guy in a suit with an iPad turn up at my house today- he said he had a warrant to enter my premises. I asked to see the warrant and he said 'when you confirm who you are and let me in'. I wouldn't and shut the door.
He then shouted through the window that he was calling the police so he could gain access to my house.
He walked off and about 10 mins later returned to put a letter through my door.
It says it's an enforcement notice for council tax debt.
Amount owed: £xxxxx
Compliance fee:£xxxxx
Enforcement fee:£xxxxx
I called today to issue you with a liability order.
I am authorised by the court to remove your goods/ vehicle to satisfy the outstanding balance of £xxxxx

If you fail to contact me immediately by return I will have no alternative but to re-attend your property to remove goods for sale
Please call me on cxxxxxxxx to avoid further action.



I'm so scared he's going to come back. I called 101 and the police man said they don't get involved in these things as they are a civil matter.
!!!!!! do I do if he come back- can he come in and take our stuff- we have nothing of value anyway, a crappy TV and slow laptop that's 5 years old. Otherwise it's beds, a sofa, my car is only worth £400
I'm so scared because the kids were here and he started asking my daughter ' what's your mummy's name'

Browntoa

does it have a court name at the top or "John Smiths Baliff/Debt recovery"


the fact it has a "call me" indicates the later and that he has no right of entry

National_Debtline

Hi Kim


This enforcement agent cannot force entry to your home to recover a council tax debt from you, so please do not let him in under any circumstances.


I would advise you to park your car a street or two away for now, as otherwise he may immobilise it (if not tow it away altogether) on a later visit.


Please don't call his mobile for now as it's very unlikely to resolve anything if you can't pay him the full balance in one go.


Please read our guide to dealing with council tax debt (see below) and get more detailed advice, whether from us or one of the other free debt charities.


https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/council-tax-recovery/counciltaxdebt.aspx


Dennis
@natdebtline

MrsTinks

I guess first things first - DO you owe this debt? Sorry I can't search from work to see if you have posted about this before.

It would help to know how much if any you can repay if it is your debt. Definitely speak to one of the debt charities but you may also be able to speak to the council to ask them to take the debt back depending on your situation.

iolanthe07

The baliff had absolutely no right to bully you, let alone involve your child, but if you are in council tax arrears it does need to be tackled, I'm afraid. As Mrs. Tinks suggested, try and get the council to take back the debt - they are much easier to deal with than a baliff.

Grumpelstiltskin

iolanthe07 wrote: »

The baliff had absolutely no right to bully you, let alone involve your child, but if you are in council tax arrears it does need to be tackled, I'm afraid. As Mrs. Tinks suggested, try and get the council to take back the debt - they are much easier to deal with than a baliff.

Kim is vulnerable if you read her diary you will see why.

CIS

Presumably you're in England or Wales ?

It would appear clear he is an enforcement agent however he's certainly not acting in an appropriate manner if he has threatened to use force to enter (unless he had already listed goods within and he's returning to remove them) or try to elicit information from a minor.

kimplus8

He is working for Ross and Roberts civil enforcement agents.
I do owe the debt and I have offered a payment plan which they refused. I phoned them last month to offer £20 a month and was told- full amount or nothing so I said 'okay nothing, I can't give you what I don't have'.
Council just say it's not heir problem now it's been to court.
I wouldn't mind but I only had £230 left to pay and now will the enforcement fee of over £200 and visit fee of £75 it's over double what it was.
This is one of several creditors that are refusing to accept a payment plan from me, I'm tempted to sack it in and just go bankrupt, seems far less hassle than trying to pay it off and getting no where

MrsTinks

Grumpelstiltskin wrote: »

Kim is vulnerable if you read her diary you will see why.

Unfortunately I can't easily search till I get home - I would call the council and if they are not responding then contact your local councilor - please bear in mind these people are actually supposed to be there for their constituents...

I know our local one is super helpful and caring, and I think in some cases they are an underutilized resource for us...

Kim document everything that happened. Write it down as much as possible word for work and action for action.

If you classify as vulnerable then there is a far better chance of the council taking this back and working with you. I will try to find your diary when I get home this evening - but for now if you haven't already then call the council and your local councilor


ETA - cross posted - definitely call your councilor and explain that you were repaying it, you were making progress but now the debt has increased because of this person who frankly seems to have acted outside of the code he should be following. Speaking to kids is a no no!

Grumpelstiltskin

Link to Kim's diary.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5472454

sourcrates

OP stay off the phone to these people, do everything in writing.

Do not seek there approval, tell them what they will be paid and when, then just pay it regardless of what they may say.

It's the only way to deal with bailliffs.