Bailiff's Call

[chrissa1]

I had a phone call yesterday from a Bailiff who had called at my now semi empty old house. He called about some arrears of Council Tax that I thought had been sorted out with the Council following my husband's death.

My question is.... should I let him have access to the house so that he can take whatever is there? There is a large oak table, a 6' diameter circular table and a three piece suite that I was just going to send to the salerooms so in way he would be doing me a favour.

Also am I right in thinking that if he finds out where I am living now in a rented property, he can't enter this property? Any advice would be gratefully received.

[scotman]

If it was your intention to sell these items then I would get it done as soon as possible. You will probably get a better price that way.

[ummmm]

<Also am I right in thinking that if he finds out where I am living now in a rented property, he can't enter this property?>

They cannot enter your property anyway unless it is left unlocked/window open. Or they need a court order. Your debts stay with you regardless of where you live. For council tax arrears they will get a court appointed bailiff. You are better off trying to come to some sort of arrangement with them. Court appointed bailiffs are not like the heavy handed bailiffs who put £120 on every time they visit you.

[chrissa1]

I would have to pay for someone to collect the items though scotsman which would reduce the amount I would clear and at least this way any money would go towards the arrears.

[chrissa1]

I don't think he Is a court appointed bailiff though ummmm.

[ummmm]

Phone the council and find out.

[chrissa1]

I did ummmm and they told me that They had appointed them.

[redman41]

Yes get in touch with the Council as ummmm suggests as he may not be a Council Bailiff. Ask the Council Finance Dept if you owe any arrears.

[chrissa1]

They are Rossendales based in Lancashire.

[redman41]

Find out from the Council how much you owe in arrears and ask if it can be added to your current Council Tax Bill so that you can pay it off Monthly.
By selling the Furniture you have left behind as a Job lot to someone who can pick them up themselves will help with cash to reduce your arrears.

[chrissa1]

Aren't we singing off the same hymn sheet redman? Allowing the Bailiffs in would achieve the same thing. I haven't got any income coming in and am claiming benefits now for the first time in my life.

[redman41]

I understand chrissa !
Sell your Furniture as a Job lot 'Buyer collects', advertise free in your local Paper, or allow Bailiff to take them away and hopefully reduce your arrears that way

[chrissa1]

Cheers redman41.

[bednobs]

i thought your sister wanted the sofa? perhaps give it to her now

[maclarencat]

If the bailiffs take your furniture they will sell it at auction then from that will be deucted auction fees and the cost of removing the furniture from your old house and transporting them to the auctionrooms plus any storage charges until the date of the auction. You really would be best to sell them yourself on a buyer collects basis and then pay that amount off your arrears you will get more for them. Can I also say that I go to auctions regularly and it is not unusual for a suite to sell for £50 or less and only this week I saw a perfectly good oak table and 6 chairs sell for £5 !

[chrissa1]

I did give it to her for nothing in the end. That was a sofa bed, this is an old suite

[bednobs]

oh i see :) that was nice of you.

[chrissa1]

It just goes to show you that the whole removing possessions thing does nothing to repay a debt, it just brings more grief and heartache for the people caught up in its web.
And before anyone says that people shouldn't get themselves into this state, these things happen and there but for the grace of god go you.

[chrissa1]

Or "goes everybody".

[boxtops]

Indeed chrissa - we don't know what we are getting ourselves into, when things are going right, until they start to go wrong...

[bednobs]

i always think to myself that most people (including me) are 1 month's pay away from being broke