Urgent advise needed! Bailiffs turned up last night.

A question about : Urgent advise needed! Bailiffs turned up last night.

I must apologise if this is the wrong place to post this, but I am sure debt free is wanted!

This thread is being written for a friend that's in panic.

Last night she had bailiffs turn up on her doorstep, saying they've gone through the courts and she has to pay Ј2k in a weeks time (so 6 days from now) Or they're getting a locksmith and entering the property.

She hasn't had any letters apart from the one they gave her when knocking on her door. (I know she wouldn't lie to me, she would have asked me for advise ages before had she received any letters) so I'm wondering if this can work in her favour?

They have also said she must pay in full, no payment plans allowed.

She has recently given birth and is jobless (Stay at home mum), her partner (Not married - Don't know if this info is needed?) brings in the sole income, that pays for bills, rent and food. Also most of the possessions in their house belongs to him, so are they able to take these?

The debt is over an unpaid T.V. licence a few years ago (She's unsure how long ago). She did admit to me on the phone that she couldn't afford it at one part when she was a single mum with her son, She can't remember if she watched T.v. or not then, but wouldn't they have to prove she did? Although I'm guessing this was covered in the courts.

But yeah, I'm looking for advise I can give her. How can she either pay in instalments or stop them from entering her property? She can't afford a solicitor so I'm asking here so advise for her.

Thank you in advance for any help given.

Best answers:

• Small update - Looked on TV licencing website and they state their debt collectors are akinika Debt Recovery Limited. This is not the company that has contacted her so I've advised her to phone TV licencing directly and ask them if she is in debt to them.
• If it's been to court, then it will be the court bailiff that's called. Nothing to do with TV Licencing. If she doesn't own the stuff in the house, then they can't take it. But she must be prepared to prove that she doesn't. If she hasn't got the money, then she can't pay. The bailiffs WILL accept a payment plan but it may have to go to the court to get it. And remember, if your friend doesn't pay up, the final sanction for this is imprisonment.
• The debt collection agency is Marston - Looks to be a government one so you both must be correct. My replies on the quote will be in red. Quote:
• Hi meloncollie Just one small point to add to FireWyrm's very comprehensive reply. Do please make sure that your friend gets some kind of breakdown of the debt balance so that it is clear what has been added in the way of fees. I don't see any way that a fine of this nature could have swelled to Ј2K. The maximum penalty for a TV licence offence is Ј1K and in the vast majority of cases the fine actually handed down is far less than that. All the best in helping your friend resolve this. Dennis @natdebtline
• What a load of cobblers , if you don't have the correct information to dish out why bother? Please tell me when bailiffs were granted the power to break and enter a property by any method when they haven't already been alowed entry to list goods for removal? This isn't a commercial debt or a commercial property and breaking and entering with no warrant is illegal, the bailiffs have been ordered to the property by the court to collect money, the court haven't given them permission to subvert the laws we abide by and commit a criminal offence, even the police need a warrant or reasonable suspicion. Tell your friend to not answer the door and keep windows and doors locked, after 3 or 4 attempts the bailiffs will have to return the debt to the court as "unsatisfied" because they have failed to do their job as instructed by the court and all and any bailiff costs will be removed. They aren't even called bailiffs anymore FFS ! They are "enforcement officers" and will have a camera attached to their uniform so they have to behave, they should also have given 7 days notice of their intended visit before turning up. They will assume everything belongs to the person named on the writ until you prove otherwise, just keep the doors and windows locked, don't let em in and if you are worried speak to them from an upstairs window, they will have to go away if you haven't agreed or initiated a payment plan with them which will reduce the debt considerably by the time it gets back to the court, I think your friend isnt being very honest with you though as there is no way that they wouldn't have received notification from the court on several occasions prior to this action (unless maybe the debt was in a previous address) which begs the question of how the bailiffs have the correct address? Hope they get it all sorted out , feel free to record or "document" any interaction with them on a mobile phone, in fact I'm wondering if they were actually court enforcement officers or just a bunch of debt collecting wallys by the description as no names have been mentioned of the company they work for
• She's sure it's for a TV licence. She has managed to borrow some money from family and will use that to pay them back, and she has agreed a monthly payment of Ј200 for the rest so at least she has got it sorted now. I would personally love to see the break down of charges though, as I also agree that it is a very high amount for a TV licence. Bedsit Bob : She has indeed moved home, but it was over a year ago now. I'll keep you all updated if she does supply me with a breakdown of charges. Again thank you all for the advise, it has really helped.
• It is difficult if posting a query on behalf of a friend as it is not always possible to get accurate information. In this particular case however it is very important indeed to ask your friend to make urgent enquiries as the amount of the fine and the total amount being demanded do not seem correct at all. A TV Licence fine is generally around Ј250 and the maximum amount that bailiff fees should be at the time of a personal visit is Ј310.