Bailiff Coming This Weekend - Please Help Me!

MacabreDee

Hi Crystal,

I should have been clearer I think (flustered, so I'm waffling).
I am changing the OH's car to his name as I don't want him to be penalised for my mistakes.
Should this be investigated, I would hope that it would be seen for what it is, I don't want/intend to be dishonest in anyway - it's not my car, I haven't paid a penny towards buying it or the upkeep of it, so feel it shouldn't be at risk.

I don't have any intention of changing the name on my car, that is my problem for me to deal with.

I have buried my head in the sand for too long. I have written to the bailiffs and the council today regarding the situation in the hope that something can be salvaged.

Dee.xxx

Bossyboots

This may look particularly suspicious as the vehicle on which the tickets was issued has also changed owners. The bailiffs may well take the view that there is an attempt to avoid payment. It could be very difficult to convince them otherwise.

Also, it takes four weeks for the change over (I have just transferred my car to OH) so you may find it difficult to keep them off your backs in this time. If you have residential parking all around, I imagine it will be difficult to keep your vehicles secret and be able to park them away from your home.

I wonder whether it is worth you appealing to the chief executive of your local council or getting your local councillor involved to try and get your tickets overturned. Again though, this will take time which you may not have. Have the council explained where they think you should have parked your car while the permit was sorted out.

I can't find anything that says they have to accept payment by instalments so it seems that may not be an option either as you found out before. Unfortunately, because it is the same bailiffs they will know they have been to you before so may be even more dogmatic this time in chasing the debt.

crystal_clear

MacabreDee wrote:

Hi Crystal,

I should have been clearer I think (flustered, so I'm waffling).
I am changing the OH's car to his name as I don't want him to be penalised for my mistakes.
Should this be investigated, I would hope that it would be seen for what it is, I don't want/intend to be dishonest in anyway - it's not my car, I haven't paid a penny towards buying it or the upkeep of it, so feel it shouldn't be at risk.

I don't have any intention of changing the name on my car, that is my problem for me to deal with.

I have buried my head in the sand for too long. I have written to the bailiffs and the council today regarding the situation in the hope that something can be salvaged.

Dee.xxx

Hey hun I was not pre judging you or trying to imply anthing it was that i had just realised there was possibly 2 cars in the situation and not just the 1 that was the initial post.......
My post was meant in the nicest possible sense that any text can be read and was just to alert you that your "old banger" could really be a stumbling block for you as its soley yours in your name and no one else pays on it so it would be hard to prove a legal ownership change should you have taken that route. Also to make you aware that this is likely to be taken if they realise you are the registered keeper....
Again getting it out of site is only a temp solution.
I do wish you well and hope you can get this matter sorted without losing your posessions be it car or household.. good luck ..

homersimpson_3

you should have the paid bill and then appealed and not ignored any of the letters. ignoring bills just results in expensive baliffs costs being added. if car bought on hp (and check this is the case) the hp company own it until the last payment is made. don't open the door - otherwise baliffs can enter property. move the car so the baliffs can't get their hands on it. if baliffs go to court and ask for order to enter premises (likely) you will ended up in higher bills- court costs etc .can your partner pay bill for you- the fact you have deceived them won't help your case. can you get overdraft extended. submit an appeal and state you have only paid under protest. phone the council to explain the situation- they are usually easier to deal with than baliffs.

MacabreDee

Ok, I'll address some points -

crystal, I realise that you are not judging etc & appreciate your input.

homersimpson, I do understand that I haven't dealt with this in the correct manner and am now attempting to do something about that by contacting the council and bailiffs to see exactly where I stand & to come to some arrangement. (I know it is highly unlikely to be easy - I now just have to face the consequences of my actions) However I am not deceiving/trying to deceive anyone, the car is not mine, if I wanted to be dishonest, I could just say "sod it, change both cars to his name", I wouldn't do that. I am just trying to do the right thing by my partner - why should he loose something that he & he alone has paid for for the last 3 years.

I am hoping that they don't take my car, I would be devasted & hope something can be agreed with council/bailiff to avoid it, but I would only have myself to blame. I wish I hadn't let it get to this point, I feel sick to the stomach constantly right now, I can't sleep or eat or think about anything else- but I have & I'm stuck with it.

Quark_2

MacabreDee wrote:

I wish I hadn't let it get to this point, I feel sick to the stomach constantly right now, I can't sleep or eat or think about anything else- but I have & I'm stuck with it.

Chin up MacabreDee dont let the !!!!!! grind you down. Whats the worsed that can happen? They take some material objects from you. Dont fall for their intimidation, be strong and resolute.

The most important thing in your life is your health, dont let them make you ill over this, its not worth it.

I dont know how the people who do these debt collecting and baliff jobs can live with themselves, intimidating people day in day out when they are at their most vunerable.

Fair enough its a job, but not one I could do, I hope they can sleep at night :rolleyes:

nemo183

MacabreDee wrote:

I feel sick to the stomach constantly right now, I can't sleep or eat or think about anything else- but I have & I'm stuck with it.

Hey, really, this is not the end of the world. O.K., you feel bad because you haven't taken the course of action that you should have in the first place - well, isn't that true of 99.9% of people? We don't always do the things we should, when we should.

So now is the time to go through the postings on this forum again, with somebody, and decide on a plan. You might also include a quick call to the citizens advice people.

Try and do a deal with the people who originally posted these tickets. Say you dispute them, and tell them why. Ask the Citizens Advice people where you stand, legally.

Above all, you are now taking the right steps in dealing with the situation, rather than letting it get worse.

If the worst comes to the worst, and you have to pay the money, it's only money. OK, if money is tight, it's a problem. But, it's only money. The last thing any firm of bailiffs is going to want to do is flog your stuff - they'd much rather agree a payment plan.

Do work out an action plan at once.
Don't borrow the money to pay the debt - agree a payment plan.
Do communicate with the ticket issuers and the Bailiffs - the absolute worst thing you can do is nothing.
Do hide the car.
Don't open the door to the Bailiffs.
Do try and do a deal over the phone - either with the bailiffs, or the original ticket issuers.
If you agree a deal, make 100% sure you stick to it.

Don't forget the saying "Anything that doesn't kill me, makes me stronger".

This is a shi**y experience - but you can and are dealing with it. I bet there are people in your road - there are in mine - who owe tens of thousands. Now there's a problem!..............

ben500

Some sound advice from Nemo there I'd like to add though that you really need to bring your partner up to speed with ALL current events the last thing you want is your relationship screwing up over what is with all due respect only a temporary issue, as Nemo says it may look all doom and gloom and the very worst you can stall for a little more time and you and your partner can pool your resources both financial and academical in order to raise the funds and make this the last time you find yourself in this situation. Learn by the past mistakes and turn this negative into a positive.

nemo183

ben500 wrote:

I'd like to add though that you really need to bring your partner up to speed with ALL current events the last thing you want is your relationship screwing up over what is with all due respect only a temporary issue,

Yes, excellent point - what you are dealing with here is a temporary problem, which although painful, does have a definite solution.

What you really need to avoid are permanent problems, that have no solution. Sadly, a quick look around this site will show you that there are many of these - it might help to have a quick wonder through the "Benefits" section - this might help put things in perspective. No matter how bad you may feel about letting yourself get in this situation, there are loads of solutions, and you are well on the way to finding the best for you.

Another positive aspect of your posting is that it will make others realise that they need to take control, in the same way that you are doing now. I doubt that many of these people will thank you for your original posting, but I bet you've made several of them take action.

Whilst this doesn't help you, it is true what goes around, comes around.

1313

Slightly off the track but it also helps to see if the enemy are acting in the correct manor check out this site.
http://freespace.virgin.net/bank.help/Explanations/DebtCollectionOFT.htm