Help with Marston

Debtnomoreplease

My friend was in a payment plan with Lowell, but the debt for some reason has been passed onto Marston Holdings. The original debt was £1200, but is now £1750 with fees as costs.

She has received a letter to say an agent will be coming to the house to set up an agreements towards her goods, which she will then have to sign. She is not disputing the debt at all and had been paying on the plan towards it.

She is unsure as to let them in? Of course when she rang up they said she should let the agent in, but online people say don't let them in? She can get about £500 together this month , but anymore will mean she won't be able to afford her rent and bills. She is 100% happy to work with them, but this is terrified her as she has a little boy too.

Any advice we would greatfully appreciate.

tacpot12

She does not have to let the bailiffs in unless they are collecting a court-imposed fine or unpaid tax owed to HMRC. If the debt is of a type where the bailiff has no right to enter, it may be better for her to be out between 6am and 9pm on the day the bailiffs are due to call so that she is not tempted into letting them in. Could they stay at your house the night before?

She should try to speak to the Marstons before the bailiffs are due to call. There should be a phone number on the letter. She should think about whether she can make any additional payment(s) before she calls them. If she pays £500 over the phone and setup up a new repayment plan with Marstons they may not send the bailiffs to her home.

If you want to check anything further this link may provide the answers:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs-at-your-door/

SusieT

You would be better posting in the money saving area rather than the diaries as you may get more help from there.
I would not let them in, or open the door to them. Also keep all the windows closed, and if she has a car its best to park it a few streets away in case the agent checks the ones near her house.
They can only list goods if they get in the house, so keep them out as once they are listed they can come back for them if she does not stick to any areement that is made. As far as I am aware, they cannot take everything as they must leave enough to live.

sourcrates

Moved to correct forum.

sourcrates

Hi,

What was the debt for originally ?

Is the debt subject to a county court judgement, or is it a council tax debt ?

It’s unclear from your post what the debt is for, or if Marston are acting as debt collectors or bayliffs, they do both, either way do not let them in, they cannot force entry, but can make peaceful entry through an unlocked door.

Once we have answers to the above questions, we can advise further.

poppasmurf_bewdley

As Sourcrates says, they're only bailiffs if a court order has been made against you, otherwise they're common or garden debt collectors and have as much power as the pet moggy I haven't got.

If they do call, and it's a big if, just tell them to go away and correspond with you in writing only. Do not let them into the house.

Debtnomoreplease

Hi, sorry for the late reply-been a hectic few days.

I've now passed this information onto her.

The debt was from a couple of years ago with eon. And she was in a payment plan with, but they seem to have sold the debt on.

I have told her to make a plan of what she can pay etc and encouraged her to tell her partner.

I've given her as much advice/help I can, but unsure if it's going to be taken on board 100%.