threatening bailiffs action.

[shaz12]

I have recieved today a letter from Equita limited refusing my offer of £50 per month to pay off council tax arrears i owed on a previous property. I explained to them i am a single parent and this all i can afford. They are coming in seven days with a removal notice , Can sumone please give me sum advice iam desperate . Thankyou.

[nellio]

I don't know much about baliffs but I do know that you should never invite them into your home.You have a right to refuse entry to them. If any of your goods actually belong to someone else they cannot seize those goods provided someone is willing to say that the tv for example has been lent to you and is not actually yours. They are like vamoires and once they have been invited in they can continue to re-enter. Also lock doors and windows (I know its hard in this weather). They access your home through an unlocked door or open window but THEY CANNOT FORCE ENTRY in to your home. In the meantime i would visit your local citizen advice. another option is if you have been to court for your council tax you can refer yourself to an agency called DAWN (don't know what it stands for but they are a voluntary organisation that work with the HMCS). To access them you must of had some court/criminal justice involvment. (it doesn't have to be for the council tax. they were excellent with me when i had some fines i couldn't pay off.

Good luck and I hope all goes well.

[Trojan1401]

Please go to the citizens advice. They will help you here.

 

However write to the baliffs & advise that you have made a reasonable offer which they should accept but also state you are seeking legal advice as to the position.

 

Providing that the offer you have made is reasonable giving your personal circumstances then they have to accept this.

 

Do speak to the CAB though.

[shaz12]

thanks for the advice i will give it a go. let u all know the outcome.

[pootle]

Remember as well that baliffs work mostly through fear and intimidation, and just want to frighten people into paying up. This will invariably mean empty threats.

 

I've been told dozens of time by Equita that they are sending someone round, and they have never turned up, and I'm sure many people would say the same.

 

It might not be too much comfort, but please don't let them scare you. You are doing the best you can to pay off the debt, and I'm sure all Equita are doing are trying to scare more money out of you. I'd be very surprised if they did turn up.

 

Good luck!

[nona]

I have also had excellent advice about debt from National Debtline - number in the directory.

 

Good Luck

[shaz12]

does anyone have any idea how i can go bankrupt without paying a fee for doing so.

[claire78]

If you go to the Baliffs section on the site, they will be able to help you there, lots of very helpful bods

[Forres]

As far as I am aware, and the Citizens Advice Beaurau will verify this, it is illegal for Baillifs to take anything from your house. This was outlawed a number of years ago.

[cheddar]

If they have a warrant they can remove goods. It has not been outlawed at all. I think you may be thinking of mere debt collectors.

[Forres]

Ah! That depends on where you live right enough. I live in Scotland and under Scottish law no one can remove goods from your house or property, the only way they can recover a debt is by going to court and having payments deducted either from your salary or from your bank. However, this may not be the case in England and Wales.

[cheddar]

Must be different here, however the Local Authority I worked for would use bailiffs at the last resort using debt collection, then as you say an Attachment of Earnings or Deductions from Benefits or ongoing entitlement first before Removal of Goods. But all LA's are different

[shaz12]

i have made equita several offers of payment but they wont accept them i keep telling them iam a single parent on benefits and a low income !!!!!!!!!! Please can anyone advise me on what to do ???????