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Original poster

Getting bailiffs for previous tenant Please help me [sad]

22 replies

milliec · 22/10/2007 15:57

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Shannaratiger · 22/10/2007 16:02

my god u must have been so scared.
did the police give u any advice?

mmjeozz · 22/10/2007 16:06

i'd get on the phone to citizens advice now if I were you. And definatly complain about the bailiffs

StaryNightSky · 22/10/2007 16:08

Millie

Hope you are ok?

Ok, Lock your door and don't open it particularly as you are on your own.

Call the police if you need too.

You need to get yourself to the CAB or a solicitos.

Are you renting or did you buy the flat?

If your renting contact the owner or the company and ask for their help. They should be able to supply you with a ref and contract from when you moved in.

If you are buying you already have this info but your solicitor will suppy you with a copy.

Are you on the electorol role? Contact the local council and check that the last occupier is not!

Next countact your local court and check that there is not a CCJ against the other person at your property.

Do Not be intimidated! YOu are not a bad person you have done nothing wrong. Lock your door and call the police or a neighborough or friend to explain to the baliffs out side do not let them in.

Where in uk are you?

I have a friend that is a baliff and I will check that there is nothing more you can do tonight.

Hope you are ok.

Original poster

milliec · 22/10/2007 16:43

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

StaryNightSky · 22/10/2007 18:24

Millie

I am so pleased that you have managed to be so proactive under the circumstances. Not surprised you are shaky.

I'm sure you DD will be fine, sounds like she has a great mum.

I'll keep and eye on this tread just incase you have anymore problems.

Please post even if it just to rant.

cazboldy · 22/10/2007 18:35

This is terrible. We are pretty much in the same situation as you. we have lived here for about 7 months and get on average 3 phone calls a day asking for the previous occupier. Have explained over and over gain about him moving on but as we have no forwarding adress they just keep on doing it. Have also had 2 bailiffs round, who actually were extremely pleasant and didn't even ask me who I was, just apologised for disturbing me, but this makes me wonder how long it will go on for and if things are likely to get a bit heavier???
Good luck,glad the police are taking a bit of notice! We live in a really rural area, bet they wouldn't be so bothered here!

StaryNightSky · 23/10/2007 12:55

Millie

How did last night go?

Hope you got some more help from your letting agent and the credit company

Hope you are ok and that shock has warn off.

laurliemonkey · 23/10/2007 13:07

just wanted to add my tuppence-worth. i am in same position as you- previous owner has racked up about 40,000 debt (I was naughty and started opening the letters after the first month or so). when the first set of bailiffs turned up they wouldn't accept my passport or driving license, the mortgage agreement, the land registry document.

all the advice you've been given in this thread is brilliant, so all i'll say is, i'd pursue the one's who more or less broke in. it's against the law, and if they've done it to you, they'll have done it to others.

lalalonglegs · 23/10/2007 13:16

Do you think you could put an intercom into the flat so that you can check who callers are before opening the door? I know it doesn't solve the problem but it might make you feel less anxious when you are alone.

mamazon · 23/10/2007 13:22

get a card from teh bailiff, then get a copy of your tenancy agreement which will be dated and signed and post it to them with a cover letter explaining that you have had a visit but that the person they are looking for no longer reside at your address.
if theyknock in the meantime show them the tenancy agreement and some ID to prove you are not the person you are looking for.

they should at the very least go away and check it out

Original poster

milliec · 27/10/2007 21:50

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Skribble · 27/10/2007 22:02

I would speak to the police again and get their advice, they will know about regulatory bodies or if they have to have local council license.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 22:08

i'd take Skribble's advice!

tell hte police what the bailiff's company told you, too.

Slacker · 27/10/2007 22:27

Just tried to find out who it is you'd complain to, think it's either the Office of Fair Trading or Trading Standards, but you can definitely take it further, if you want to. It's outrageous that they forced entry into your property, even if you had been the debtor they are NOT allowed to do that.

This is the relevant document from the OFT. They could potentially have their consumer credit licence revoked (if they have one) so that's why they're trying to buy you off with £50!

TrickORTripletEm · 27/10/2007 22:38

Milliy I've been through this myself,don't worry it can get sorted.

First of all find out all of the addresses that the people owe to. Ring each one tell them that you have spoken to the police,who are now involved and they have asked to make sure that a note is put on the persons file to state that they do not live at the address. Then tell them that if anymore balliffs turn up at your address you will not under any circumstances have communication with them you will immediately call the police. After you have done this all post that comes in their name,just put NOT AT THIS ADDRESS ON.

most balliffs are nice people,but you do get the odd few who are pratts and think that they are the police. MAKE SURE that you have some kind of idetification in your house that has your name and address on and also a photo I.D. that matches. If you have that,they cannot take anything. But more importantly don't let them in,they have to ask for police assitance to come in uninvited,which will be good news for you. Once they get the message that the police are going to turn up every time,they start to get the message.
But I would contact C.A. for long term advice.

TrickORTripletEm · 27/10/2007 22:39

OH!! just saw that my advice is not needed
I'd ask for more than £50, I know how frightening it can be.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 22:39

millie already showed these people her ID, trick, and they just accused her of faking it.

TrickORTripletEm · 27/10/2007 22:41

Then she really should take matters further. As long as you have phot I.D. and a letter with your name and address on,they can't or are not meant to do a thing. That is so awful!! I think the word I'm looking for is bullying

Original poster

milliec · 27/10/2007 22:42

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

SpookyDooooo · 27/10/2007 22:47

I would not accept there lousy £50, how dare they do that to a women who is in a house on her own with her 2 year old, i would contact the police & tell them what has been said, do not accept what they have offered, they were so in the wrong in more ways than one.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 22:49

that's just really scary, millie, how they accused you of using a fake passport and stayed in your home after you told them to leave! and threatened you after the police left!

Slacker · 27/10/2007 23:10

Good for you, here's some more links for you to read:

Payplan

Dept of Constitutional Affairs

Bailiff advice

Who you can complain to seems to depend on exactly what type of bailiff they are, but they have tried to buy you off very cheaply considering how many rules they have broken!

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