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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder are all bailiffs such awful people

61 replies

Charliefarlie1192 · 24/10/2012 20:43

Or just the one i had the misfortune to encounter today? He swore at me called me stupid and threatened me. I called he office and they refused to do anything just asked for my complaint in writing. It is bailiffs like him surely that give them their reputation. He didnt even let me finish a sentence. I vomited and was very shaken up by the whole thing

OP posts:
SoleSource · 24/10/2012 20:46

I have met one balliff and he called to speak to previous tenant. He was very nice and told me all about his bad debts in his past over coffee. I guess different circumstances he might be different.

Is there a comaints procedure? Was he reacting to your response to his oresence?

McHappyPants2012 · 24/10/2012 20:47

sorry to be harsh, but sort out your debts. Bailiff are only involved at the very last stage.

If it is someone elses debt then i am sorry for ^^

LynetteScavo · 24/10/2012 20:49

"Sort out your debts"????

I think the OP would if she could. Hmm

I have no idea, OP, but I do think you should put a complaint in writing. You should not have been called stupid by anyone, in any profession.

bureni · 24/10/2012 20:51

I thought balliffs had been done away with a long time ago, where did this happen?

Toughasoldboots · 24/10/2012 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2012 20:56

yabu. most balifs are very lovely helpful sorts who are very respectfull of how unplesant the job they have to do is

however

most debt collectors are utter arsehole who flout the law threaten people and bully them and wouldnt think twice about a spot of intimidation or dishonesty

i expect it was a debt collector you actually met

BadgersBottom · 24/10/2012 20:59

McHappyPants2012

sorry to be harsh, but sort out your debts

Did you mean to be quite so rude McHappy?

McHappyPants2012 · 24/10/2012 21:05

there is many ways to solve debt, i know i have been there and bought the t-shirt.

But the debt needs to be sorted and a payment plan must be made. If i miss 1 payment of my plan balifs will be up my door.

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2012 21:06

mchappy

are you bankrupt?

BadgersBottom · 24/10/2012 21:07

Oh don't be so pompous. I'm sure the OP is very well aware that the debt needs to be sorted without your slightly less than helpful advice.

McHappyPants2012 · 24/10/2012 21:10

no, an IVA and was told that if that fails then my creditors will then be able to take other action against you and alternative arrangements must be made.

for me this would mean going bankrupt, and no doubt anything of value would go for peanuts

catgirl1976 · 24/10/2012 21:10

Are you sure he was an actual licenced baliff, not just a debt collector masquerading?

There is a website call Consumer Action Group - they are brilliant. They will advise you and tell you how to complain which you MUST, and all about your rights and a baliffs rights etc

McHappy pants - that was hardly helpful

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2012 21:11

badger hang fire she may very well be having huge issues.

it would explain a lot about the offensive posts shes been doing for a few days now.

catgirl1976 · 24/10/2012 21:13

this is helpful

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2012 21:16

mchappy are you getting support with dealing with it? cab or anything like that? or cap?

either way if youve got as far as a iva then its not really on to have a dig about a poster who by the sounds of it is no where near as deeply in as you are.

debt happens to loads of people especially these days. it may surprise you but loads of debt collectors are chasing money that is not even owed

Mrsjay · 24/10/2012 21:16

I am sorry they were horrible to you tbh some baliff companies employ thugs it is intimidation must have been really upsetting

McHappyPants2012 · 24/10/2012 21:24

yes, thats why i said i don't mean to sound harsh.

i spend over a year dodging letters, phone calls,red letters and even an eviction letter.

OP i am sorry if i have came across a bitch, i didn't mean to be, but life as you know is hell on earth when you have money troubles.

i beg you go to the CAB and get help.

working it out the late payment fees i have paid over that year i could of clear 1 of the debt

WelshMaenad · 24/10/2012 21:38

Ah, I worked in recoveries for a secured lender and I was lovely!

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2012 22:09

mchappy im very sorry that happened to you and hope things are easyer for you now.

op. complain. and find out if it was a debt collector or a balif

GhostofMammaTJ · 24/10/2012 22:13

I have met bailliffs when they have come to collect debts from me and they have been lovely!

They will take reasonable amounts and try to set up a payment plan which suits you and you can stick to. If you cannot stick to it there are huge penalties.

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 24/10/2012 23:33

I had about 10 baliffs at my door chasing the previous owner. Maybe 3 were nice, others rude and 1 extremely aggressive and would not let me shut my own front door I had ds in my arms he was a few months old and I did not have to hand my mortgage papers

so no in my experience they are not all helpful if they are not getting the resposnse they want. and all were men that were big built soncould easily and some did intimidate which is appualing and yes they were baliffs had debt collectors too

midori1999 · 24/10/2012 23:39

I had a bailiff call once, it was down to a huge mistake whilst my then DH (now divorced) was working away. We did owe the money, but we hadn't been aware. Well, I hadn't at least...

Anyway, he was really very nice, he reassurred me that they weren't about to walk out with my furniture that day as long as we could arrange payment either in full or in installments. As it was we were lucky enough to be able to pay it off, thank goodness. I am not sure if he was so nice as he knew it was a genuine mistake and I was quite young at the time or maybe he was always nice?

threesocksonathreeleggedwitch · 24/10/2012 23:41

I feel for you op
but when I had them call they were really nice.
so was the neighbour who witnessed their visit and offered me money....

lucyellenmum · 24/10/2012 23:41

I think its swings and roundabouts, we have had to deal with bailiffs, one thing you need to know DO NOT LET THEM IN YOUR HOUSE! You are not legally bound to do this, they cannot make a levvi against your property unless you do this.

I have only had a bailif at my door once, to be fair he was fine, polite and quite nice, i didnt know i shoudn't let him in so invited him in and he asked if i was sure and wouldn't come past the hallway.

I could never be a debt collector or a bailif, im sorry but i don't want to hear that that they are just doing their job. There are other jobs! I couldnt sleep at night knowing that i could be the final straw for someone struggling with debts. I have been shouted at, called stupid, intimidated by these bottom feeders, once i learnt my rights i wiped the fucking floor with them. Thankfully now we have sorted our debts and are in a debt management plan but the stress of it all nearly drove me over the edge, i will never be the same person again.

CoolaSchmoola · 25/10/2012 00:44

I used to collect debt for one of "those" lenders.... and I was lovely too! Mind you plenty of people would happily take the piss because they thought I was a pushover. I wasn't, I was just pleasant, and when the people were genuinely struggling I would bend over backwards to help which didn't go down to well with the powers above which is why I ended up leaving, I loathed their ethics

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