Baillif keeps turning up for someone who has never lived here and wont accept proof of that

Wecca95

Just hoping for a bit of advice, a few weeks ago some guy started banging on the door like crazy just after 6am, opened a top floor window asked him what the hell are you doing he started asking to speak with a Mr Stevenson, told him its only my partner and I who live here and we have never known of this person and we know who the previous occupant was and it was not the person being mentioned, he said I will give you 24 hours to get him to make payment or the next visit wont be so nice rammed some documents in the letterbox and left, it is for unpaid council tax at another address that we have never had anything to do with, I can only assume this Mr Stevenson has given our address out to try do a runner from his payments, contacted the company involved and the council involved, council told me its not down to them anymore you need to sort it with the bailiffs, thought to myself fair enough will call the bailiff company explain the situation and it will be sorted, they asked for proof of our occupancy, we sent it over and assumed it would be the end of it all, bailiff has now been back twice kicking off like crazy saying we have only provide we live here and have not proved Mr Stevenson does not, he then said we are on our last chance and that "he and the boys" will be round with a van soon and also said "dont bother with the police if that is your plan as they always take our side" we really have never known of this person and have proven he has nothing to do with our house but this guy has turned up three times now and each time being more and more aggressive and threatening, the last time he was kicking the door and screaming at us to get the money or else, anyone got any ideas as we seem to be stuck and clearly this bailiff is not going to accept what we are telling him. We keep all the doors and garage locked anyway as there have been a few break ins recently in the area and the car is always in the garage unless we are actually driving it to go somewhere so he has not been able to get hold of our items but the bloke who lives over the road told us he tried to get into the garage and was furious when he worked it was locked so clearly he is trying to now get inside my property, I do get that these people get told all the time the person who is in debt does not live here but after sending over proof of ownership of the house and council tax bills in our names you would think that would suffice but it seems not to.

MayDogsandCoffee

Get the police involved, his behaviour is far from professional and is harassing you. If you can get a photo of his vehicle with reg number, ask him to post his ID through letter box for reference, photograph it and return via letterbox as evidence of ID. Get in touch with council and their CT department manager and report same thing, they have a duty of care to residents. On council website it will also give you the names of your ward councillors and MP, get them involved.

Brie

Should this unpleasant person turn up again then have your phone ready and tell him (after he's been an idiot again) that you are filming him and will be turning this over to the police and the local council. This is, I'm told, a regulated industry and most people working in it are firm but don't go over the line in an attempt to get money owed. This twinkie seems to be a hold over from old days when debt collectors seemed to be allowed to use threats to get monies owed.

I agree with reporting it to your councilors and MP to get more support.

Meanwhile I'm wondering how you can prove a negative, that someone doesn't live in your house.

silverwhistle

I'd also suggest asking a few neighbours whether they could turn up as witnesses next time he calls as well as your filming him.

If he'd kicked my flimsy door it would probably have resulted in damage, criminal damage, in which case you could definitely call the police.

RAS

This guy is way out of line.

First, is "another address" in the your local authority area?

Second, read gov.uk/your-rights-bailiffs. Assuming you have evidence of this individual's certificate, make a formal complaint to their employer. And the relevant Council. If it is your local one, get hold of your ward councillor ASAP. Elections are nigh.

Meantime speak to neighbours, explain and ask them to come out and film him if he turns up again.

ManyWays

What is the bailiff firm on the documents?

sourcrates

Bailiffs cannot force entry for any reason to private property, unless they are acting on an eviction notice.

They can only enter by peaceful means, that means an unlocked door, they can`t climb through open windows, but with this guy, I`d keep em enclosed.

Under no circumstance allow them to enter, it appears this guy is acting way outside his authority, and if they return, I suggest you call the police and explain the circumstances to them, as any copper with even half a brain cell will be able to deduce that you are not the debtor.

You are under no obligation whatsoever to prove this person does not live there, as you say, how do you prove a negative, you can`t, can you, it is up to the bailiff company to do their due diligence and ascertain the current whereabouts of the person they are seeking, not your name, not your debt, simple as that.

The council involved should be ashamed of permitting such tactics, I suggest a stern letter of complaint to both the council and the bailiffs head office, also please provide us with the name of the bailiff company involved.

fatbelly

I agree that the council cannot fob you off with 'nothing to do with us'. It is everything to do with them as it is their debt and they instructed bailiffs. Assuming the chasing council is also your council, complain as above and also inform your local councillor via

https://www.writetothem.com/

Who may be able to wake them up in the revenues department.

Also a formal complaint to

https://enforcementconductboard.org/making-a-complaint/

Who are not used enough.

la531983

Any update?

MEM62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982623#Comment_81982623

The OP has not logged on since their original post.

la531983

That is a shame.