Jacob Bailiff Threatening us urgent advice needed?

FonsoBoy123

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice, yesterday this horrible Lady turned up at our house.

My youngest son ran down stairs to open door as he thought it was his daddy home as he was due home around them. He opened door a bit but I got there just in time to stop him opening it fully. 

I closed door near too and spoke to her though a crack in door.

She said she was a enforcement agent from Jacob Bailiffs. She claimed we owe £10000 in council tax which is impossible and rediculous. There is no way we could owe anything like this amout.

My husband had a attachment of earning and the council were taking money directly from his wages.until he couldn't work.  We have pay slips to prove it.

She demanded we pay in full right there and then. I don't have that kind of money. If I had that kind of money just lying around, I would not be in arrears in first place. I said I did not have the money.

I tried to explain situation but she would not listen or let me get a word in edgeways.

She handed me a letter which was notice that they will be back with in 24 hrs to remove are goods, and it states they will force there way in or get a lock Smith if have too.

Firstly can they force there way in or get a lock smith?

As soon as she left, I emailed Jacobs and the council.

This morning first thing I messaged Jacob again this time via there website just incase they didn't receive my email. 

I had heard nothing, I've been sat here terrified and worried all morning. I would phone them but I suffer partial hearing loss and this makes phone calls very hard for me. 

I decided to try and speak to them on webchat. I got through to a agent at Jacobs but they refused to speak to me. They claimed as it's already been passed to a enforcement agent they are not allowed to speak to me.

They told me to speak to the enforcement agent and gave me her number.

Is it worth me texting her, to try and explain, she wasn't prepared to listen yesterday. 

What should I do next, we are a vulnerable Family with 4 children, all 4 of my children, have autism and special needs, my second oldest son has other conditions too.
My youngest son has complex medical conditions, has to have medications and injections throughout day.
One of his medical conditions effects his immune system, leaving him with a weak immune system, we have to be so careful.

I can't allow any one to just come in my house it would be putting my youngest son at risk.

On top of that my husband had a serious accident earlier than s year was rushed to hospital and had to have several surgeries, was off work for months. Is still recovering and has only just started going back to work. I'm also not well, I suffer chronic migraines, that leave me in extreme constant pain, servere dizzyness nausea and vomiting. They have discovered it's being caused by a problem with my heart not pumping blood around my body properly, so oxygen isnt getting around my body properly. I'm now on heart medication.

I'm pretty sure all this makes us fall in the vulnerable category doesn't it.

Any advice much appreciated.

Sitting here feeling physically sick and terrified. 

Any advice much appreciated

Thanks in advance 

fatbelly

There is no point trying to talk to the bailiff. Keep doors locked and try to explain to your youngest son that he shouldn't open the door until he knows who is on the other side. Keep any cars parked some way away from the house.

They do not have the right to force entry on council tax debt.

You need to talk to the council to find out what you owe and why. Ask them if they will recall the debt. Use your local councillor* if necessary, although this may not work.

Eventually Jacobs will return the account and you may have to wait till then to set something up if Jacobs head office will not engage

* You can do this on https://www.writetothem.com/

FonsoBoy123

My youngest son normally never goes any where near, door. He has a a social phobia. So not sure why he went to door but have told him not to. I've told all my children not to open door, although it's hard to explain when they have Autism and don't understand properly.

I don't have or own a car thankfully. But we do have a rental car from a car club we are members of that we got yesterday as we needed to get my son to some hospital appointments over next few days, we have to return it tomorrow.
I'm assuming as car isnt ours and is a rental they can't touch it. Is that correct.

Can they force entry in to out buildings. We have a couple of bikes in a metal bike shed. They are my oldest son and my husbands. They rely on them to get to work.

Bike shed is padlocked shut can't they break the lock or force there way in to shed to obtake the bikes.


like said Jacobs won't speak to me to discuss it but did just get a email from them saying they will add all the information I've given to them to my file.

Doubt that will make much difference.

Thanks for your advice 

la531983

They cant touch a rental car, it isnt yours.

If its a communal bike shed they wont be able to tell which bikes are yours anyway.

FonsoBoy123

It's not a communal bike shed it's our bike shed in our garden. Can they break in to it and take bikes?

la531983

FonsoBoy123 said:

It's not a communal bike shed it's our bike shed in our garden. Can they break in to it and take bikes?

You have already been told, and I quote, "They do not have the right to force entry on council tax debt".

FonsoBoy123

I'm sorry I didn't know if that only applied to your home or out buildings too. Was just trying to get clarification. Sorry if you thought I wasn't listening. 

la531983

Remove all doubt by taking the bikes inside the house if you are worried. You dont need to though.

fatbelly

It doesn't apply to outbuildings but it's unlikely to happen.

If Jacobs have ben informed of your vulnerability, they should ask you to complete a form, not just say thay your info has been noted. Apparently:

Jacobs are committed to effective case management, signposting and support for vulnerable customers. This is achieved through specialist staff training and dedicated Welfare Team managing all identified vulnerable cases. 

Ask if you are now with the Welfare Team

Some more info here

https://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/latest-news/bailiff-enforcement-and-vulnerability

EssexHebridean

Get a door-chain and fit it to the front door above the height the younger children can reach to undo it, too - if it's not practical to explain to them why they mustn't open the door, then preventing them from doing it at all is the best and safest route. 

FonsoBoy123

I came on hear to get help and advice, but it seem all alot of you can do is criticize me.
I did not come on here to be judged and for rudeness. 

Normally door is lock all the times. I'm not stupid. The only reason it wasn't locked was because I had only just gone out doors to put bin bag in dustbin. Came back and accidently forgot to lock door after as had to rush off to deal with one of my children.

Like said he normally never goes near door.