Bailiffs - legalised theft - BBC doc tonight

Aragorn · 26-09-2006, 13:24

This BBC report makes somewhat disturbing reading.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

They are supposed to be Officers of the Court enforcing the law on behalf of the public. Instead I saw bailiffs cheat, lie and dissemble. I saw them illegally breaking and entering and I saw them fraudulently conning members of the public out of hundreds of pounds.

There's a docu to go with it tonight - 9pm BBC 1.

Do people like that have a conscience? I couldn't do it. Sounds like the same sort of people that do cold-call cons.

lauzjp · 26-09-2006, 13:57

it is very scary. I implore people to get help before it gets to the bailiffs stage. I doubt I will watch it, things like that make me scream at the tv! I have got several people I know or even have just met to contact CCCS (the Consumer Credit Counselling Service) - they are a charity organisation and very good at dealing with debt. Harrassing phone calls and letters stopped within a week.

Gareth · 26-09-2006, 14:16

Had a run-in with a bailiff once... was renting at the time, and got a knock on the door at about 9:30pm on a Friday. I opened the door and this huge fella was stood looking down at me - he must have been about 6'8", he had to duck so as to not hit his head on the door frame... even though he wasn't even standing on the raised door-step!

He asked if I was Mr Bla******, and luckily for me, he believed me when I said I wasn't. Once he found out I was just a tenant, he was a lot less threatening. He even explained that my landlord was not only defaulting on his mortgage payments, but that he'd omitted to mention to his mortgage provider that he was even letting out the house.

I was surprised by the amount of info this guy knew and that he was prepared to share it with me so easily... I'm also glad I never got on the wrong side of this guy, cause he scared the sh*t outta me.

Mal · 26-09-2006, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauzjp

it is very scary. I implore people to get help before it gets to the bailiffs stage. I doubt I will watch it, things like that make me scream at the tv! I have got several people I know or even have just met to contact CCCS (the Consumer Credit Counselling Service) - they are a charity organisation and very good at dealing with debt. Harrassing phone calls and letters stopped within a week.

To be honest, CCCS (not the company mention in the report, by the ways - similar initials) do seem to be the best debt advisors out there and they are free (I think)...

They can really help before things get as bad as bailiffs turning up...

lauzjp · 26-09-2006, 14:25

yeah they are free - no doubt the company mentioned in the report are purposely trying to confuse people with the initials.. I have never touch-wood had encounters with bailiffs. My neighbour has, she just cries and gets away with it; 'here have another year to pay it off at Â£1 a fortnight'!?

Tinky · 26-09-2006, 20:32

I doubt if it will involve County Court Bailiffs, because they cannot force entry. Also the Defendant can make an application to suspend the warrant (of execution) on offer of X amount per month. Otherwise the Bailiff will assess whether the Defendant has any goods worth removing for sale at auction, if he thinks they have, taking into account removal fees, advertising fees, auctioneers fees etc., he will make what they call a levy, in other words the Defendant cannot sell or otherwise dispose of said goods listed by the Bailiff for removal. More often than not there is nothing worth removing, in which case the Bailiff makes a return to the Plaintiff of 'no goods'. Bear in mind there are different types of warrants, ergo different rules apply.

Chrysalis · 26-09-2006, 20:57

this is well known by anyone whos has ever witnessed bailiffs, I wonder if they will pick up on that the bailiff charges are also illegal that they not a reasonable amount in proportion to the outstanding bill.

Ie. Â£120 bill then bailiff adds Â£100 for visit. Thats illegal.

**Russ B** · 26-09-2006, 21:52

That fat scumbag, telling those children they'd go to prison

Tinky · 27-09-2006, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

That fat scumbag, telling those children they'd go to prison

Yes Russ it was truly despicable the lengths these 'Bailiffs' were prepared to go to, to get the money. These poor little mites were terrified. How can these people live with themselves?

budwieser · 27-09-2006, 18:46

Another really good company are www.payplan.com
And no, i don`t work for them!

lauzjp · 27-09-2006, 19:08

i posted on the bbc have your say thing about debt, and for the 2nd time this week after posting the bbc phoned to ask if i'd go on a show and talk about it! wish i was braver sometimes... i've run out of prozac right now though

Druchii · 27-09-2006, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauzjp

i posted on the bbc have your say thing about debt, and for the 2nd time this week after posting the bbc phoned to ask if i'd go on a show and talk about it! wish i was braver sometimes... i've run out of prozac right now though

Find some courage form somewhere and go for it

They obviously want your views on their show, so, why not?

budwieser · 27-09-2006, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauzjp

i posted on the bbc have your say thing about debt, and for the 2nd time this week after posting the bbc phoned to ask if i'd go on a show and talk about it! wish i was braver sometimes... i've run out of prozac right now though

People only have to ask to get their situation sorted out.
Plenty of agencies who offer their services free of charge to help you as they have helped us.

me283 · 27-09-2006, 22:33

I saw the programme and thought it was terribly one-sided. Sure, there are some bad bailiffs out there; but there are some damned good ones too. And remember, these bailiffs were not County Court bailiffs, who have very limited powers.

Another thing worth considering is that most (though not all) people that bailiffs have to visit have only themselves to blame. If they don't pay a fine, whose fault is it? Remember, the bailiffs are usually a very last option. Any company that instructs a County Court bailiff has had to go through a lot of other steps first.

One thing that interested me was people's reaction to the bailiff trying to climb through a window. This is actually perfectly legal, so why highlight it? And lastly, what the programme didn't say was: if you don't want to be a victim of bailiffs, pay your fines.

handyman · 27-09-2006, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by me283

One thing that interested me was people's reaction to the bailiff trying to climb through a window.

Not so sure it is, I was advised that a baliff had to give you notice of a visit. Also they are not allowed in unless they have a court order (and then they normally have police escort) or you invite them in. A bit like vampires.

If they entered my house through a window for a previous tenant/owners problem I would have no quarms about remaining calm and having them done for breaking and entering.