this was on yesterday morning

[messimoo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18246950

made me laugh when the guy turned round and said bailiffs are only humanmsl:

[pepsie]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

40,000 enquiries a year through only one organisation...and they are only from the people who have seen the light and sought advice...how many have simply paid the debt along with dubious fees without question ? no wonder the likes of Green-Jones has made her million£ and sports a healthy tan.

Pepsie

[pepsie]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

40,000 enquiries a year through only one organisation...and they are only from the people who have seen the light and sought advice...how many have simply paid the debt along with dubious fees without question ? no wonder the likes of Green-Jones has made her million£ and sports a healthy tan.

Pepsie

[messimoo]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

They are a law unto themselves, I have had only limited contact with bailiffs, once many many years ago (mid 80's) when I moved back to my parents after splitting from my ex when they turned up looking for him and I was heavily pregnant at the time were very abusive then told me to get rid of "the sprog" I thaught that times would have moved on and that these hired thugs would have been more regulated but it seems that they are as worse than ever. The second time was when they wanted my son who had got into a bit of bother with his old car and because they couldn't levy (by then I knew my rights) decided as my old house was for sale to break the data protection by getting the number from the for sale board and ring the estate agents stating that they thaught the house had been abandoned, My hubby was in at the time blaring death metal LOL cat in window, car down drive windows open , When I complained (MASRTONS) was called abusive LOL I left a very harsh voicemail on the bailliffs stating that he had broken the DPA and thankfully never heard from them again.

AS for Ms Green-Jones after seeing the programme last year it angered me the way she rolled her eyes and the fakeness of her sincerity she should have won an Oscar for this for the worse acting performance.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

They are called Razzers hun, golden raspberries for the worst preformances!

I've only once experienced a baillif, he turned up at my friends house with a levy for 3 streets over saying he would break in and repossess her house. I told him we would speak to someone in authority, his superior and he told me "that department doesn't exisit".

The sooner they are reined in the better, it should be break the law, lose your job

[Monzter]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

Debtors are treated worse than convicted criminals. I have been threatened with having my door kicked in and picked by a police locksmith, arrested, my daughter taken into care, told I'm scum and should pay my bills then. Even when I knew my rights and knew they had no court warrant to force entry I was told that the 48 hr removal notice was the court warrant and he 'didn't need no judge's signature as he'd signed it'. I was also told that if what I had in the house didn't cover the debt the bailiff would 'tell the judge' that the only alternative was prison, when I said that he wouldn't get his money definitely then as I can't do my job with a criminal record, he replied that he'd hound me every day until I paid up. All this and he already knew I was receiving treatment for an anxiety and depression illness. And what comeback did I have - absolutely none at all. All that happened was the debt was returned to the council so at least I got the thieving thug off my back, complaints led to nothing as 'the bailiffs version of events differed from mine'. Twice this happened, thankfully the second time I found this site and got it sorted a lot quicker and calmer than the last time.
Last time I broke down at my local police station when I went to hand myself in as I'd been told I was going to be arrested. Needless to say the police didn't have a clue what was going on but the officer concerned helped a lot and some research and speaking to the council got the debt taken back.
If someone harassed someone convicted of a crime like this then they'd be in court so fast their feet wouldn't touch the floor. To me it shows still what drives this country - greed. There are many different rights and policies to follow if you commit a criminal offence but involve money owed - especially to the government or councils (same thing?) then seems you have no rights at all and can be treated however.

[Crispybacon]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

What is probably wrong, and missing from the BBC's report, will be the amount of harassment that the guy was 'likely' subjected to before he snapped and resorted to physical violence. He more than likely made every reasonable attempt to come to a payment arrangement, which would have been dismissed out of hand, with the bailiff looking for more ways to up the debt by adding on an many spurious charges as they could, increasing the gentlemans frustration and anxiety even more.

I know that there are plenty of legit bailiffs out there, who know the law, and earn a good living sticking to it. However there are plenty more that twist the law, and try to exploit peoples ignorance of the law, with their behaviour and tactics.

The sooner that things are changed the better.

Crispy

[Crispybacon]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

All that happened was the debt was returned to the council so at least I got the thieving thug off my back, complaints led to nothing as 'the bailiffs version of events differed from mine'. Twice this happened, thankfully the second time I found this site and got it sorted a lot quicker and calmer than the last time.

Hi Monzter

Sorry to hear you had so much trouble, yet another example of bailiffs abusing and misrepresenting their powers.

A but late now, but with most mobile phones now having some sort of video recording facility, I can only urge people that if a bailiff does turn up, to try not to panic and have the presence of mind to record the event and what exactly is being said. It is then impossible for there to be '2 versions of events' and gives you a significant piece of evidence should you wish to take things further.

Every bailiff I have seen captured on camera behaves very differently when they know they are being filmed, to when they think they are not! Question begs why!

SnV

[messimoo]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

its the private bailiffs that cause the problems, they are commission driven therefore more scope for them to act like this, in my opinion the industry sould be closed down (we are one of the only countries to employ them) or if unable to salary them with no commission so less temptation for fraud. At lease its not like the states where they have repomen who from what I have watched on telly are even more vile and discusting and allowed to get away with it.

I wonder what the guy who posted up the video of the Marstons Guy verbally abusing his wife is getting along and whether he managed to get things sorted out.

[Monzter]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

I have an ancient phone and doesn't have the ability to record in call unfortunately, but I wish I had. The council were no better - I have the letters that he pushed through the door stating that removal could take place in my absence, they just weren't interested. I also had proof that he'd added nearly £200 on top of the outstanding balance in the 48 and 24 hour notices but was told by the council 'there is no solid proof as this amount does not appear on your account with head office'. Funny that, the mysterious amount disappeared when I started kicking up a fuss. When I objected and said I had the proof, a letter from head office stating the balance outstanding and the 24hr removal notice, 10 days later, stating the outstanding balance was £200 more, I was told that I hadn't paid it and wasn't expected to pay it so there was no problem. That's OK then eh? They can try it on but if you don't pay up then they can get away with it. To be honest I just wanted it cleared and the bailiffs out the picture as I cannot deal with them, makes me ill. I wish I had been stronger though and pushed it and complained to the certificating court. Though I don't expect I would have gotten very far. These organisations just seem to make it up as they go along and there's no one there to call them on it.

[bluebottle]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18246950

made me laugh when the guy turned round and said bailiffs are only humanmsl:

That muppet normally does, Messimoo. He's in total denial.

[bluebottle]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

its the private bailiffs that cause the problems, they are commission driven therefore more scope for them to act like this, in my opinion the industry sould be closed down (we are one of the only countries to employ them) or if unable to salary them with no commission so less temptation for fraud. At lease its not like the states where they have repomen who from what I have watched on telly are even more vile and discusting and allowed to get away with it.

I wonder what the guy who posted up the video of the Marstons Guy verbally abusing his wife is getting along and whether he managed to get things sorted out.

You've hit the nail right on the head. It's exactly the same thing that encourages door-to-door salespersons to forge signatures on electricity and gas supply contracts.

[bluebottle]

Re: this was on yesterday morning

One thing that is essential to reform the private enforcement industry is that ALL certificated bailiffs, doorstep debt collectors and HCEOs have an Enhanced CRB check. My gut-feeling is that 99% of them would come back from the CRB with adverse results. Convictions for dishonesty and violence are not unusual. Only 1% are legit, keep to the law and make a good living from it. That says something, doesn't it?