What Would You Do Here?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-48743932
If he tried that on my house I'd have used any means to eject the *&^%er, not let him walk around the place looking into private things. Would I have been within my rights to defend my property with force? I think I would be. Why is this guy not being prosecuted and sued to within an inch of his pond life? God I hate these ***, one of the jobs for bullies and those that enjoy inflicting misery, in this case on innocents. Rant over!

[spathiphyllum]

Reasonable force towards a a high court enforcement officer? You are an april, obviously. Let them realise they are in the wrong, and they'll go. Why get violent?

[agchristie]

I worked for several years in debt recovery which often meant liaising with County Court bailiffs.

I found them mostly to be polite and realistic and never received one complaint from a debtor about their attitude when executing warrants. Most had no saleable goods anyway!

They have a very difficult job and sometimes face open hostility for simply acting on an instruction.

In this case, the bailiff concerned got it badly wrong and he has held his hands up. No consolation to the victims I know but I'm sure he will be given a reprimand and the negative publicity will be costly.

If it had happened in my home I'm sure it would make my blood boil though I don't think I would resort to violence!

[dannyk13]

They should have called the police.

[spathiphyllum]

I'd start laughing at how wrong they got it.

They won't believe a word you say because they think you're just trying to get out of the debt situation, so may as well laugh at them until the pin drops. So when you get violent TTT they will taser you. And then i'd laugh even more. Especially if they got it on TV.

[hc4361]

You've obviously never been owed money by someone that you know has the means to pay but refuses to despite a court order.

These selfish debtors put people out of business and ruin lives. In this instance the bailiff was in the wrong but that is rare. They know very well if they take goods or money from the wrong people they have to return it - and that costs them time and money.

[ToraToraTora]

ag: "If it had happened in my home I'm sure it would make my blood boil though I don't think I would resort to violence! " - so you are quite happy to have a complete stranger walking around your house rifling your draws when you owe nothing?

[ToraToraTora]

HC: "You've obviously never been owed money by someone that you know has the means to pay but refuses to despite a court order. " - these people owed nothing, their address had been given to the bailiffs firm by the true debtor and the failed to do even the most basic checks.

[ummmm]

The bailiff was give the wrong address and he entered the property through an unlocked door, I don't believe that is illegal.

What are people suppose to do do? write off all debts?

[ludwig]

It would be madness to try and physically eject them. Knowing how the law works, you'd most likely end up getting arrested yourself and probably sent down for unlawfully resisting an invasion of your property.

I would be suing them now for as much damages as I could get.

[agchristie]

//so you are quite happy to have a complete stranger walking around your house rifling your draws when you owe nothing?//

Absolutely not but as a young woman would you expect me to act the same way as a guy?

How much 'reasonable force' is reasonable? I would not risk getting myself a criminal record.

[ludwig]

Ummmm - see below, note the word 'unlawfully'.

// Judge Richard Simpkiss said Mr Brown had entered the house unlawfully as there was "practically no evidence the debtor lived there". //

[spathiphyllum]

TTT you may be surprised to discover that bailiffs have ID... It wouldn't be a random stranger, it would be a uniformed high court enforcer with an ID badge.

[spathiphyllum]

"Would I have been within my rights to defend my property with force?"

No.

[ToraToraTora]

ummm it is illegal, say it in the link.

[dannyk13]

Spath //It would be a uniformed high court enforcer with an ID badge.
Bailiffs don't wear uniforms.

[Baldric]

// So when you get violent TTT they will taser you //

spath, they do not carry Tasers

[bhg481]

How many people on here have seen a high court enforcer badge, so would recognise a forgery from a real one?

[ToraToraTora]

ag, you are very calm and logical discussing it here but if it actually happened would you really not defend your home?

[Mamyalynne]

Danny, a fair approximation of a uniform.

https://dcbltd.com/high-court-enforcement/

[woofgang]

Well I hope they got more than an apology. Good case for punitive damages there. Did he really say they would recognise him from a third rate TV program? I mean what arrogance.