If bailiffs come and you don't have any valuables for them to take, what happens?

[solidgoldbrass]

I think I can fend them off, I know all the stuff about not letting them in and negotiating with the creditor and all that - but there is, actually, bugger all of value in our house. I am not interested in gadgets so things like the laptop, telly etc are all several years old and the cheapest possible models. Any 'good' jewellery is already at the pawnbrokers. My clothes all come from charity shops or Primark. If they stripped the house bare of everything I doubt they would get more than a tenner for the lot if they could find anyone to buy it - but what would actually happen in that situation?

Hope you're ok, congratulations on the job!

Well done on the new job. Hope things are the up for you now.

Congratulations on the job!! Is it more of what your normally do or something different? How long is it for?

Does this mean you'll be able to stay where you are?

well done SGB, hope things are looking up for you

Congratulations on the job

How old is the debt by the way?

Debt is only a few months old, and they have agreed to wait a few more weeks. Basically they were willy-waving, this is a company that is about 5 millimetres from illegal loan-sharking and so I rather suspected they would back down.
Job is a longterm proofreading thingy. Not adult industry at all, but steady work at a decent rate of pay, which is great. So all the other creditors will settle down and stop barking and baying as well... hopefully.

SGB - I know you are pretty much ok now, but if a bailiff did turn up to a house with nothing of value to take, if they can't negotiate a payment schedule they will refer the debt back to the company you owe the money to. A bailiff with no hope of getting the money either from you, or from your possessions, has absolutely no interest in your debt.

Bailiffs are very 'scary' to think of but the reality of them is that they all rely on your co-operation - they work by getting you to agree to payments by making you scared of the other option. I never willingly deal with any debt collection agencies - go straight to the creditors.

So glad you got the job, SGB! It'll all be sorted in no time.

SGB - the Dealing with Debt board on the Motley Fool website is really really good for helping you see the woods for the trees re money. Obviously having no money coming in sounds like your major problem but they have loads of great advice. I used them myself about 6/7 years ago when I was coming out of student debt and it truly changed how I look at money.

Just for info, they will write down things like your three piece suite, television, tumble dryer etc. They'll allot a certain value to each item. They will also lump on an enormous 'fee' for doing this (bastards). But IME they don't take items on that first visit, just list them, arrange a payment schedule then go.

im in a similar situation i live with my disabled mother at the moment and lost my job last month i had a fine and thought i paid it all off then got a call out the blue saying i still owed the £20 and it was bumped up to £75 so i paid what was left in my bank £30 and they gave me a couple of days to pay the rest...me not receiving any money atall from anywhere did not meet the deadline and a bailiff came to my house last week while i was not here and bumped the price to £290 and told my mother they are coming tomorra SAt/7th/12 to collect payment or items i literally have nothing other than my bed wardrobe and this laptop (that im gonna hide) in this case whats gonna happen ....he also told my mother that he will have me arrested and held until payment is made in full ...she even offered him £100 and he said no if she has a £100 she can find the rest

This sounds all sorts of wrong, mrzace. But, people who click on this thread will realise it has been bumped from January and probably stop reading before they get to your post.

Try starting a thread asking for advice, possibly in legal matters.

Sorry I can't help - I know nothing about this topic.

Hi mrzace.

First of all, they can not have you arrested until you've paid in full. They are using intimidation tactics to get money out of you, which is illegal. They can't demand money out of you unless there's a court order. There's certain items which they can't take, like your bed/cooker. Check very carefully that you do actually owe this money, contact their office tomorrow and ask them to put a hold on the account until you have the chance to seek advice from the CAB. They must give you time to do this. Have you checked your records to see if this has been paid off? Do you have receipts? Were you sent a summonds? You need to check that you owe this. Try not to panic, they are scaring you to make you pay.

As the OP of the original thread I send you strength and sympathy. I fought the bailifss to a standstill when I realised that they were in the wrong, and this website was very helpful.
A LOT of bailiffs are lying thugs with badges; the ones I had a battle with were trying to charge me far more than they were entitled to do, and I ended up telling them that they could either leave me alone or I would sue them for harassment.
Even bailiffs contracted to your local council can be thuggish and dishonest, the link above is great on telling you ways of dealing with them.

And make certain to tell any older children NOT TO OPEN DOOR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!

Bwahahaha..I just realise op was lucky with new job..so door advise not needed..

SGB - phew. I thought you were having more bother with them!!

mrzace - good luck getting it all sorted out.