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Hello Legal Beagles,
I am a novice to this site so apologies beforehand if the thread has been discussed before. I would like some advice on the legality of procedure by two agents from Marston Group. They came to my house yesterday with a photocopy of a distress warrant re: an unpaid parking fine which I had no idea existed. When I opened the door to this man (who, minutes later, was joined by his colleague) I was in a neck collar for a broken neck, and plastercast on a broken arm and foot. I asked what they wanted and they said they were looking for (my name). I asked who they were and they refused to identify themselves so I told them I was somebody else as, given my vulnerable state, I was scared. When they said they had a warrant to enter the the property and seize goods I was panic stricken. I asked them if they were bailiffs - they denied this and one of the men (who I now know to be an ex-police officer - not sure if I can name him on this site) lied and told me he was an Officer of the Court, and worked directly for the court. I explained I had been in a bad accident and was not well enough to stand for long and answer threatening demands for a fine I knew nothing about. They could see I was obviously in pain but they insisted on continuing with their agenda. The refused to disclose to me any paperwork at all, they then called the police even though I had not refused to co-operate and had even offered partial payment and I was anxious. The police came and I was forced to borrow £340 to pay or have my house forceably entered by the two bailiffs, with my wife and disabled son inside. After the payment they gave me a photocopy of a distress warrant, not signed by any judge, (the police officer who attended had no idea whether the unsigned, photocopy distress warrant was legally binding, or not) and the total fee is for £300 - £40 less then the amount I actually paid. Have they breached any legal procedure?
I am a novice to this site so apologies beforehand if the thread has been discussed before. I would like some advice on the legality of procedure by two agents from Marston Group. They came to my house yesterday with a photocopy of a distress warrant re: an unpaid parking fine which I had no idea existed. When I opened the door to this man (who, minutes later, was joined by his colleague) I was in a neck collar for a broken neck, and plastercast on a broken arm and foot. I asked what they wanted and they said they were looking for (my name). I asked who they were and they refused to identify themselves so I told them I was somebody else as, given my vulnerable state, I was scared. When they said they had a warrant to enter the the property and seize goods I was panic stricken. I asked them if they were bailiffs - they denied this and one of the men (who I now know to be an ex-police officer - not sure if I can name him on this site) lied and told me he was an Officer of the Court, and worked directly for the court. I explained I had been in a bad accident and was not well enough to stand for long and answer threatening demands for a fine I knew nothing about. They could see I was obviously in pain but they insisted on continuing with their agenda. The refused to disclose to me any paperwork at all, they then called the police even though I had not refused to co-operate and had even offered partial payment and I was anxious. The police came and I was forced to borrow £340 to pay or have my house forceably entered by the two bailiffs, with my wife and disabled son inside. After the payment they gave me a photocopy of a distress warrant, not signed by any judge, (the police officer who attended had no idea whether the unsigned, photocopy distress warrant was legally binding, or not) and the total fee is for £300 - £40 less then the amount I actually paid. Have they breached any legal procedure?
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