Bailiff and child tax credit advice needed please

[brissy]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can give me some advice please. Basically I am one of many who was overpaid child tax credits back in 2004. This was not our error and so we did not receive any credits, and each year the amount owed was gradually reduced. We have since left the UK mid October 2011 (living overseas) and they are demanding £8000. We are having our UK mail redirected to my Mums address in UK and they are harassing her. They have threatened her with the Bailiffs even though my husband and I do not live there. My question is are they allowed to threaten an elderly lady in this manner (who by the way is in hospital with cancer).
We are not doing particularly well in our new country, I am not working yet and my husband is employed on a casual basis. We do have a house in the UK that we rent out. Will they be after that next? We are not sure if we are going to live away permanently or just a couple of years to see out the recession. Any advice would be welcomed.

[labman]

Re: Bailiff and child tax credit advice needed please

No, they are most definitely not allowed to do this. According to the National Standards for Enforcement Agents, your Mum is vulnerable it dee several categories, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, this is not her debt. Are you able to phone the bailiffs to explain you're not in the country and the address is only a mailing address, so leave her alone. Maybe there's a friend or relative in this country who could phone and explain, backed up by a letter sent recorded delivery?

If appointed by the DWP, they should also be notified and their vicarious liability pointed out.

[brissy]

Re: Bailiff and child tax credit advice needed please

Thank you for replying, when my mum is out of hospital I shall telephone her for further information and clarify exactly what the bailiffs said. As you rightly say it is not her debt and their stuff up in the first place.

My husband was made redundant in the UK (which is why we have left the country), if we had stayed he would be claiming unemployment benefits, so then how is the debt paid?