Hello,

I'm a mature full-time student who is on a placement year (having gone back to uni in my 30s)...

During the first year I stayed in halls and the university failed at every opportunity to fix any issues with the accomodation (mould, broken lights etc) so I told them I'd not pay till they fixed it - well they let the term end, and the next academic year begin then sent solicitor letters demanding money. As a student I couldn't afford what they were asking...

Fast forward to Masten group getting involved and them getting a High Court Writ and sending their menacing letters.

I made a very fair offer £100 a month while I was on placement and then £50 a month after - and that was accepted, then I made a mistake with the standing order. Two weeks after the first payment was due I got a phone-call saying I'd not paid "Oh, I'm sorry... I must have made a mistake I could pay that installment over the phone then call the bank ..." to which they said "nope, we can't accept any deals and will now seek to possess your stuff"

While I don't have enough things* to satisfy the debt and in a few months time I'll not have employment (and planning on a PhD so wont be a proper earner for 4-5 years, so I don't mind being bankrupt or doing a DRO) I am currently staying with my mother... I'm not on the tenancy, I don't pay rent (train into london daily takes all my money), and I'm worried about the bailffs coming to take her stuff (how DO you prove you own absolutely everything in your home).

Normally I'd assume - they've not been in, so as long as I don't let them in, they have no power - the agreement entered into was over the phone (though he said he was meant to come to the property - and from what I've read, he was legally obiliged to do so and create a list of goods for the control order)... but because this is the "second stage" I'm worried that whatever bailiff is sent will assume that he's got rights of access and barge in anyway

Making proper offers to Marsten seems unlikely as I'm only gainfully employed for a few months more before going back to being a student getting the 9k a year in student loans.

*I have one thing of value - a computer, which as a computer science student I need for study - how do I prove its value? IT was bought in bits from ebay over quite some time.

In total I think I have about £6000 of other debts and the debt now with Marsten is over £5000 so I'm hardly a great candidate for bankruptcy, but I don't see many other options

What do I do to control my spiraling debt issue, knowing that I'm unlikely to have a proper income for years?
What do I do about the HCEO/bailiff types at the door?
What do I do to make sure my mother doesn't lose all her stuff because of my screw-up?
Can bailffs do their thing here if I'm not the tenant?