my sister is terrified of opening her door as the baliffs have been round for an unpaid 4yr old debt.
They threatened her husband with arrest. they want to do a walking possession order on her things. the computer was bought by my other sister for her kids. and she's scared stiff of loosing any of their things.
can a bailiff legally enter your house. and she been told the are allowed to enter by any means they want.
please can you help her.
she's turning into a nervous wreck
2006-10-29 20:30:05 · 20 answers · asked by djshazzi 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
i really want to thank all of you who have given sound advice.
2006-10-29 21:52:20 · update #1
Only Court bailiffs, accompanied by the Police, with a warrant can legally enter your home, this is the LAW.
Knowing this, debt collectors (they are not really bailiff's) will try ANY means open to them to gain entry to your home. DO NOT LET THEM IN. If they turn up, CALL THE POLICE and 'explain' that you have been threatened!
Harassment over debts (especially 'old' debts) can wipe out the original debt. Your sister is in a very common situation and needs to get good advice. Urge her to go to her local citizen's advice bureau for help, they will help.
As for her debt collectors, she can cause far more trouble for them than they can cause for her if they mis-behave, and they usually do! Think of them as toothless tigers that make alot of noise - because that is all they can do.
If the debt is Court related the situation is different, but only if court related. She needs advice and quick.
Persecuting people that CANNOT pay is immoral and must be stopped, all those cranking on about it being her debt so she should pay have obviously never YET been in this position, Lord help them when they are!
2006-10-29 20:50:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Bailiffs with the correct warrent can legally enter you home or in extreme cases force entry.
Genuine Bailiffs should show you and produce you with a copy of the warrent for retreaval of good and should also show you some legitimate identification...
if she wants to stop being a nervous wreck, she might just have to pay what she owes or come to an arrangement with the company.
Bailiffs are generally not involved if a part has shown 'Good Will' to paying the debt. So maybe this is unavoidable.
2006-10-29 20:33:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Any debt involving tax gives baillifffs an absolute right to enter your home even by force if necessary. You must wise up - life is tough but dont blame the Bailiffs blame yourself for not dealing with the debt.
2016-03-28 01:26:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion bailiffs are the last resort. My husband is self employed and he was late with his rent for 3 days. He rang to the company and explained that he is about to pay but company send bailiffs... When they came it cost us £500.00 for a visit (( And they acted like bandits.Our neighbour is a hairdresser. When bailiffs get to his shop they took chairs, instruments ext. Basically it's ruined him. So I don't get the idea and use of bailiffs.
2006-10-29 20:51:14 · answer #4 · answered by Everona97 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most bailiffs do not have the right to force entry into your house. A bailiff can only force entry if they have a warrant from the Inland Revenue (or whatever it is called nowadays) to collect unpaid taxes. The link below gives Q&A about bailiffs.
2006-10-29 20:55:01 · answer #5 · answered by migelito 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
As long as they serve her with the search warrant she can't do anything, sorry. They can break down her door if they need to they have the power from the court.
They only way it to pay in off over a set time via the bailiffs. Non payment will greatly increase her debt.
Sorry, but hope this has helped.
Take care xx
2006-10-29 20:41:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't open the door to people you don't know. The bailiffs can enter legally in any way that does not damage the property. i.e.: They can't just kick the front door down. But why doesn't she work out a payment plan with them? They are MUCH more interested in collecting the money than they are in taking her things away...
2006-10-29 20:33:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
They cant force entry and they cant do anything if there are only minors in the house and no adults.
They can come in if a door or window is open or if they have police back up.
get down the citizens advice today for urgent help, they can help negotiate a easy payment plan.
Ignore answers that say they can take what they want, they CANT without a walking possession order.
2006-10-29 20:36:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i cant guarantee that this is true but i got told by some one that was (at the time i knew them) training to be a bailiff that they cant enter your house unless you let them in and they cant take anything unless you sign a form saying that they can - get this checked out by going to your local citizens advice
2006-10-29 20:37:48 · answer #9 · answered by D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bailiffs can enter anytime they want, especially with police escorts who can break into the house when your sister is not there and remove any items they want upto the value of the debt.
Contact the debt collector she owes money to and arrange for a payment scheme, that will stop any bailiff visits.
2006-10-29 20:38:25 · answer #10 · answered by Dragon Empress 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋