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Rossendales bailiffs

Hi, just looking for quick advice.

On the 15th a Rossendales bailiff attended my house. I opened the door not knowing who it was, and low and behold it was a bailiff. I never invited him in, he made himself comfortable in the doorway so I couldn't close it. Is he allowed to do this? I've been told they have to be invited in the first time.

Second, he was aggressive and rude, insisting I had to pay what HE said I had to, my offers fell on deaf ears. He has given me a 'Final notice of intention to remove goods'. Can they remove anything?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,063 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    What kind of debt is this for?
  • Council tax.
  • tomo12 wrote: »
    Council tax.
    At this stage no he only has a liability by the sounds of it. he cant barge his way in or cause breach of the peace at this stage.


    My advice to you is to either pay up the original debt via the council website if you can afford it, this will negate the necessity for a warrant to enter your premises by rossendales because they can only seek their fee's rather than execute a warrant on behalf of council.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The enforcement agent doesn't have to be invited in, he has to have peaceful entry. The two issues are not one and the same.

    If a door was opened and he stepped in then there's always an argument of one word against another. The usual argument is that the agent pushed in whilst they will say they simply stepped unopposed through an open door way (which would be peaceful entry).
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Herbie21
    Herbie21 Posts: 562 Forumite
    tomo12 wrote: »
    Hi, just looking for quick advice.

    On the 15th a Rossendales bailiff attended my house. I opened the door not knowing who it was, and low and behold it was a bailiff.

    Second, he was aggressive and rude, insisting I had to pay what HE said I had to, my offers fell on deaf ears. He has given me a 'Final notice of intention to remove goods'. Can they remove anything?

    Thanks in advance.

    In the first instance, a bailiff visit is not usually a welcome experience but before getting to this stage, you should have received a Notice of Enforcement. A compliance fee of £75 would have been charged when that notice was sent. Did you receive the notice?

    The following outlines the difficulty with making payment arrangements when a bailiff attends the property.

    http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index/council-tax-national-non-domestic-rate-nndr/payment-arrangements-with-bailiffs

    Regarding your question about removing goods. If a vehicle is outside of your property, then it most certainly is at risk of being taken into control.

    PS: When a personal visit is made, you need to be aware that the 'purpose' of the visit is to 'take control' of your goods to settle the debt. If you do not have a car outside, then the bailiff may be more willing to accept a payment arrangement.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,043 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Are Peeved~

    I'm not at all comfortable with naming and shaming an individual on here, this feels like a personal vendetta against someone to the point of libel.

    I have reported this to the forum team as it believe it breaches MSE rules.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • iolanthe07
    iolanthe07 Posts: 5,493 Forumite
    OP, Council Tax is the one debt, along with rent and mortgage, that you really don't want to mess about with. Contact the council to make an arrangement to pay what you can afford.
    I used to think that good grammar is important, but now I know that good wine is importanter.
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