Notice of first visit by the bailiff

iank84

Hi Everyone,

We moved in to our house in December 2018, The house had be rented before we purchased it. We kept getting letters through out 2018 from HSBC asking for the previous tenant to pay the £2020.21 he's failed to pay. I have phoned the numbers on the letters and have told them that this person dose not live at this address and the letters stopped. I thought that was the end of it. A few weeks ago another letter landed on the mat addressed to Mr Antonio Joaquim advising that if the current balance was not cleared bailiffs would call to remove goods up to the value. I subsequently phoned the number which apparently is now arrow global who looks as thought they have purchased the debt explaining to them that this person has not lived at this address since we purchased the house in 2018. TODAY 24/01/2020 Bailiffs have been at my home address, i wasn't in nor was my wife. The have left a letter with several details. I have tried to phone the numbers and left voice mails asking for them to call me but haven't received and thing as of yet.
Can these people actually come in and remove my property even though i haven't a clue who this bloke is and its not our debt.
Whats our best cause of action to stop these people as everything i have tried clearly hasn't been listened to. My wife is really worried they might try taking her car or gain entry if our 17 year old is here on his own.

Regards
Ian

Barney_Rubble_0403

Not your debt so no. If they are bailiffs with a court order then show them photo identification and some other paper trail such as Tate's, mortgage documents. Most probably just debt collectors at this stage so either show them your identification or tell them to get lost. They have no powers.

Write to Arrow - stay off phone - and lodge a complaint to explain that you are not the debtor and await their reply.

It's not your debt so no need to worry.

gary83

If I was you as well as writing I'd probably think it was wise to prepare for a second visit just in case, brief your wife and have the relevant documentation by the front door, ID, proof of sale, mortgage evidence that you are the current owners and you are not the guy who owes money, might as well make it as easy and painless and stress free as possible.

tiggerbodhi

Hi, Don't open the post (or if you do out of curiosity to see what is going on, reseal it) write on the outside "not known at this address, return to sender" and pop it in the post box.

IF and its a big IF to start with they are enforcement officers, unless it is a registered business premises they have no right of entry unless they gain "peaceful entry" open door, window or follow you in.

In your case it is pretty easy to deal with, keep some ID, Council Tax Bill, maybe a utility bill handy by the front door, open the door with a safety chain fitted and show them the documents, or if your feeling confident invite them in and show them, most (not all from experience though) are like us all just doing a job.

Once you show them that the debtor does not live there, they should update their records and !!!!!! off, but don't be surprised if it all happens again as the debt is sold on.

TBH if they are real enforcement officers or bailiffs they are easier to deal with than the company employed "debt officers, collectors or local agents" these are unregulated often poorly trained, on commission chancers, you could try showing ID and Documents, hopefully the more professional will take it, update records and leave, others in my personal experience you have to set the dogs on to get them to go.

[Deleted User]

If they are not court bailiffs, have no truck with them whatsoever. Demand to see their papers so that you can determine their company, for possible future action against them. Identify each of them by name. DO NOT show any form of identification yourself (most important) and order them off your property immediately. Do not otherwise engage with them in any way.

tiggerbodhi

johnsmith1890 wrote: »

If they are not court bailiffs, have no truck with them whatsoever. Demand to see their papers so that you can determine their company, for possible future action against them. Identify each of them by name. DO NOT show any form of identification yourself (most important) and order them off your property immediately. Do not otherwise engage with them in any way.

Confused as to why you must not show them any form of ID? it is in my experience the easiest way to get them to leave.

Yes if it's the muppets from Capita reference a TV licence I agree.

But calling for someone else the easiest way is ID yourself, show them they don't live there and ask them to leave, if they refuse, unlikely, you can eject them yourself or call the police, it will then be aggravated trespass.

They are often not very nice people, b ut lowering yourself to their level helps no one.

[Deleted User]

tiggerbodhi wrote: »

Confused as to why you must not show them any form of ID? it is in my experience the easiest way to get them to leave.

Yes if it's the muppets from Capita reference a TV licence I agree.

But calling for someone else the easiest way is ID yourself, show them they don't live there and ask them to leave, if they refuse, unlikely, you can eject them yourself or call the police, it will then be aggravated trespass.

They are often not very nice people, b ut lowering yourself to their level helps no one.

If some random person rolled up at your front door wanting to see identification documents what would you do? I would 'send them away' without acquiescing. That's the situation here, if they aren't court-appointed bailiffs.