Crown bayliffs are after my father who's terminilly ill with cancer.

Phonix

Do any of you know what is the best way to proceed with this?

He's on a shedload of benefits including DLA. He lives in a council house and they have threatened to take away his furniture. He's currently in hospital because he collapsed today.

The debt is a four year old debt, that he didn't tell any of us about. We're thinking the best thing to do is just pay it to get the crown bayliffs off his back.

It's amazing that they have the power to break into his house and on top of it would take him to court to get the money back. He can barely walk.

Xbigman

In these circumstances I'd pay the debt and charges and move on.

You say this has been a problem for 4 years, this is far too long for a debt to be unaddressed. This is why the bailifs are now involved and things have come to a head. Maybe have a quiet look at your fathers affairs to make sure there are no other problems building up. If he's resistant to this don't push it.
Regards




X

jen_jen_2

what do you mean by crown bailiffs, what is the debt for?

Xbigman

It looked like council tax to me.
Regards




X

jen_jen_2

thats what i thought, if its council tax the bailiffs only have the right to break in if you father has signed a walking possession agreement, this means he has agreed to pay them an amount and instead of them taking the possessions they leave them with him, they can break in because the possession belong to the bailiffs. some bailiffs companies will listen to you and not call round while you deal with it, others wont.

if your father has not signed anything they cannot break in.

the best thing you can do is contact the council direct and if you dont get anywhere ask to speak to the chief executive of the council. get your mp/local councillor involved if you arnt getting anywhere. tell them that you have just found out about the situation, that your father is very ill and you need them to remove the account from the bailiffs while you sort out what he owes and what he can pay them, ask them to put the account on hold for a month (you may get 14 days) while you do this.

the council are responsible for who collects their debts and they should show some compassion and understanding - however each council is different.

once youve got the breathing space you can check your father owes the debt, as hes on benefits it may be he should have claimed council tax benefit and because of his illness has not been able to, i suggest you go to CAB and they should help you sort this out, paying the debt off is an option if you can afford to do that because it will no longer be a thing to deal with.

if you cant afford it or have the time get some help.