WHAT WITH THE govermint cuts and with the price of food, rent and bills skyrocketing, it can be difficult to scrape enough to get by. Final warnings may start to pile up and then a bloke who looks like he’s on steroids starts knocking at your door. What do you do? Well, don’t panic, Aunty Parsons has a few tips!
First DO NOT invite the bailiff into your house. They may ask if they can discuss your debts inside your home, or they may try and march in as soon as you answer the door. As with any stranger, always answer the door with the chain on. All bailiffs should carry I.D.; always ask for it and for a copy of the warrant they are collecting. A bailiff cannot use force to gain access to your home – they can only enter via what is known as ‘peaceful entry’, including entering through an unlocked door or window. Pushing their way past you at the front door is forcible entry and isn’t allowed, so if possible try to catch them on film and report it.
If a bailiff gets into your house, they are allowed to come back at any time and force entry, even into locked areas, and they will take anything unless you have a receipt proving something isn’t yours. It isn’t illegal to hide things outside of your home; what they can’t find they can’t nick! They can’t take anything which you can claim is related to your work or is necessary for you to live; like a builder’s van or your fridge and clothes. They also have to leave you one TV… They will get you to sign a ‘Walking Possession Agreement’. This means that you agree not to remove these goods and that you acknowledge they now belong to the bailiff, and they will be back later for it. Be warned they will charge you more money for each visit if you then decide to hide from them! The bailiff will usually keep visiting and if they are unable to get in, or if you have insufficient goods to pay your debts and the bailiffs’ full costs, the warrant for the debt will be eventually be returned to the Court. If the debt is in respect of rent, then they are only allowed to visit during daylight hours; for other debts, it’s any ‘reasonable time of day’. Complain to the company if not and keep a record!
If you’re expecting these filth it may be useful to let your mates know and get them to come round at short notice, so if they do turn up and throw their weight around, you have witnesses; sufficient numbers may also prevent their entry on Health and Safety grounds, and gives you that great satisfaction of victory! As an aside, on Swindon’s Penhill estate, a bailiff’s harrassment of residents was recently cut short when he ended up mysteriously bruised by unidentified assailants.
Remember, don’t get your stuff stolen by the rich! Get advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau, if in doubt. Or, if you have any questions, please send us an e-mail, addressed to Aunty Parsons, and we’ll get back to you.
