High Court Enforcement Officer

[SamanthaQ]

We've been in our new house a couple of weeks now and a High Court Enforcement Officer has just been round looking for the previous owner. He insisted we prove ownership of the house. We've shown him letter from mortgage lender (but not account number ) he took a photo. Now I'm super worried. Has anyone come across this before ? He reckons more people will come knocking soon . Tia

I used to work with a County Court Bailiff who said he had eyes like a Rams Balls; you cannot pull the wool over them! Being able to sniff out bullshine is a qualification for the job...

I'd imagine that if you're a High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) then being told 'the man you want moved out a month ago and I don't have an address for him' is pretty high on the list of things you hear every day!!

Were you left anything that might tell you who the creditor was and which court issued the warrant/writ under which the HCEO was acting?

Did it ever occur to your colleague that sometimes that might actually be the truth and that it's pretty intimidating to be faced with someone on your doorstep assuming that you're a liar and demanding that you prove you aren't?

And IMO it's not on the OP to ferret around looking to see if previous occupant left anything; except to complain about the bailiff's attitude.

Not sure which debt it was, to be honest I was really flustered and shocked. I know the previous owner had debts and even took a loan against the house which our solicitors worked tirelessly to get sorted out before contracts exchange. I wasn't expecting such a visit on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain it was, as I saw it, a witty aside delivered to people who would take it in the way it was intended. Brian the Bailiff knew a lot of his clients quite well as he saw the same business debtors week after week.

HCEO's have pretty extensive powers and I don't think you want to be tangling with them if you can avoid it. There's no suggestion that being asked to prove they owned the home wasn't done properly and courteously. I've had enough expereince of them from the other side of the fence, as a generalist adviser, to be wary.

Well bully for him having insight into the way people will take his 'witty asides.'

HCEO's have pretty extensive powers and I don't think you want to be tangling with them if you can avoid it

I'm well aware of that, thanks, so your little lecture isn't needed. He's insisted that the OP proves she has no connection to previous resident and it sounds like he threatened her with other callers; which doesn't sound that courteous and professional to me.

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain I come here to help people. I'm
not spoiling for a fight.