Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

[POPPYDOG]

My Son and his girlfriend have had problems with their Council Tax but I have helped them sort this out and set up a payment direct to the council to clear arrears and keep up to date with existing payments.....

Dodgy bailiff keeps turning up - two visits in one day last week!? Is this allowed?

Now this afternoon he turned up whilst they were out and took all the garden pots apart looking for a spare key or something - they don't leave a key around anyway.

Can they do this? I thought they could only go through an already unlocked door - not use a spare key to unlock ones door.

Help please as Sons girlfriend is vulnerable at the moment and suffers anxiety etc.

Thank you x

[nanna58]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Hang on Poppy I'll find someone for you x

[POPPYDOG]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Thank you nanna58 x

[MrsD]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

not really my area but it does sound as if the council hasn't called off the bailiffs As i understand it, if you've come to a deal with the council and put a payment plan in place, they should take your case back from the bailiffs. sounds as if they have still got it, they will be adding charges on for all these visits as well

[POPPYDOG]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Just got to pop out for a bit, so will check in asap this evening. Going to see my Son and his girlfriend as she is in a state poor love.
Thank you XX

[Pixie]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

I would be making a stern phone call to the council and follow it up with an even sterner letter!

Do you know which company this bailliff works for?

[POPPYDOG]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Hi Pixie,

How stern a letter? Its Bristow and Sutor from Worcester.

Someone said to complain to the Court?

This site is ace, thank you everyone xx

[Pixie]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Bailiffs aren't my area but I'll try to help you. It seems that the left hand at the council doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

Have you (your son) got confirmation in writing from the council regarding the arrangement to pay? If you have, I would be contacting the council and telling them in no uncertain terms to call off the bailiffs.

I'm assuming that, as you know which company the bailiffs are from, you have a case reference number/ID? If you have you can log in to the Bristow Sutor website and inform them that there is an arrangement to pay in place with the council. Had your son received any communication from Bristow Sutor prior the bailiff appearing?

It wouldn't hurt to get in touch with the court too.

Is your son's girlfriend receiving treatment/on medication for her anxiety? If so the bailiffs may have to follow special guidelines.

In the meantime, tell them to not answer the door, never leave the door unlocked and, if they have a car, to move it away from their street though, as the bailiffs have already visited, they may have already levied it.

[POPPYDOG]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Good afternoon Pixie,

Thank you for your help.

Nothing in writing yet - letter was lost the council just said!?
The council have also failed to send us the full breakdown that we requested - they have just ignored that request.
Girlfriend has been diagnosed with anxiety but not on medication....yet.
No vehicle is at the house, they get lifts to work.
House is locked up very well etc/no key left.
Which court would I complain to about their continued bad conduct?

Also can they levy without without getting into the house or even seeing my son and his girlfriend - no contact has been made in any case in person and they certainly haven't let them in to levy/or signed anything.

I maintain they ignore the bailiff and refuse to deal with them and continue liasing directly with the council - the bailiffs cant do anything can they?

No one can be forced to deal with them....

Thank you xx

[nanna58]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

If they are court appointed they may be able to do something though not sure, either way its perhaps best not to give them room to.Are you certain your son hasn't got any letters from court informing him of bailliff visits?.Just thought the court details would be on any paperwork.xxx

[POPPYDOG]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Hello nanna58,

Thank you for your reply - they are not court appointed - its a council tax arrears matter and just the bailiff acting on behalf of the council - the council are still liable for their conduct I understand?

Am I correct in thinking if its criminal/magistrates fine - that's a different matter?

This is just straight arrears, albeit small, as they are students and this is their first run in with something like this....I have been told the bailiffs dont have to be spoken to or allowed in - which is our stance at the moment.

I am in touch with the council today but I will not deal with bristows after their disgraceful conduct.

Thank you x

I will update on here as we progress in case it can help others?

[Hecktor]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

My Son and his girlfriend have had problems with their Council Tax but I have helped them sort this out and set up a payment direct to the council to clear arrears and keep up to date with existing payments.....

Dodgy bailiff keeps turning up - two visits in one day last week!? Is this allowed?

Now this afternoon he turned up whilst they were out and took all the garden pots apart looking for a spare key or something - they don't leave a key around anyway.

Can they do this? I thought they could only go through an already unlocked door - not use a spare key to unlock ones door.

Help please as Sons girlfriend is vulnerable at the moment and suffers anxiety etc.

Thank you x

The spare key search does sound dodgy, however, it could be argued (and this is just a theory), that, if you keep a spare key in the flower pot, that could be considered a habitual means of access to your home.

The Taking Control of Goods, National Standards Guidance describes those groups that can be considered vulnerable.

If they are court appointed they may be able to do something though not sure, either way its perhaps best not to give them room to.Are you certain your son hasn't got any letters from court informing him of bailliff visits?.Just thought the court details would be on any paperwork.xxx

Bailiffs collecting court fines can potentially force entry, although this power is rarely used. For anything else, they can only enter through what would be appropriate means of access, such as an unlocked door.

Hello nanna58,

Thank you for your reply - they are not court appointed - its a council tax arrears matter and just the bailiff acting on behalf of the council - the council are still liable for their conduct I understand?

Am I correct in thinking if its criminal/magistrates fine - that's a different matter?

Yes, it would be, as above.

I'd suggest taking a look here: http://bailiffhelpforum.co.uk/index.php These guys specialise in bailiff action and they can tell you all you need to know about council tax recovery.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Bailiff Help Forum (BHF) is recommended by AAD. Just register and ask for Amy or Jason & say Niddy recommended you from AAD. They are the experts at this type of issue & both owners know me (both also on here, as we are on their forum). You'll be in safe hands.

Thanks Hecktor.

[Pixie]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Thanks Niddy. I couldn't remember Amy and Jason's names

[POPPYDOG]

Re: Help for my Son needed regarding Bailiff

Aw you are all so lovely...thank you so much!!

I will look them up too.

Have a great weekend everyone