Bailiff Letter from Rossendales from 11 years ago.....

BENNYMOLE

Please excuse me if this is the wrong category, but I arrived home today to two letters from Rossendales bailiffs demanding nearly £900 from two business rates bills from a shop I had. I gave the shop up in 2004 and was up to date on my payments. And I let them know I was leaving the shop. Never ever heard anything else about it, until today.


They are magistrates court liability orders dated 7/2005 and 8/2005


I was living elsewhere at the time, and the council in question knew where I lived. I moved to my current address 6 years ago.


Now I reckon I am stuck here, because I have absolutely no paperwork from back then, why would I. But I am hoping some wise sages on here will be able to help advise me on my rights to object to this, as they are going to be knocking on my door in 7 days and I don't think sending the missus to the door in her rollers is going to scare them off!!


Thanks in advance.

sourcrates

Hi,

If they do call, best advice is don't let them in.

I would get on the phone to Buisness Debtline first thing Monday morning and seek there advise on this, as the penalties for non payment can include:

Instructing bailiffs to remove goods belonging to you/the Company to sell at auction to clear the debt,

Commence bankruptcy/liquidation procedures against you/the Company,

Apply to the Magistrates' Court for you to be committed to prison for non-payment.

So you need some sensible advice on what you should do here.

BENNYMOLE

Thanks, I will do that.

Can they do this though? I mean, how on earth can I fight that from so long ago?

chevalier

surely it is statute barred?

BENNYMOLE

Sorry for my ignorance on all this but what is statute barred?

sourcrates

BENNYMOLE wrote: »

Sorry for my ignorance on all this but what is statute barred?

Limitations act 1980, whereby a creditor must seek to enforce there rights through the courts within 6 years, or the debt become statute barred.

With business rates though, once a liability order has been obtained, the Limitations act does not apply any longer.

Business debt line your best bet, as i said before.

Benny, the Nation Debtline people post on here monday to friday, you may get a better answer tommorow !!

BENNYMOLE

Ok thanks I'll check back when the morning rush is over :0)