In need of Marsdens advice

[Adam]

Greetings all, I am in need of some advice. This morning I had a bailff come to my address with a distress warrant from the court telling me that I owe 367.50 from 2006 relating to a fine for travelling on the railway without a ticket. He told me that he would not accept any arrangement to pay and that if I did not pay the amount in full then he would enter my property and seize goods. I had a somewhat heated discussion with him, he was trying to get me to let him in but I refused at which he told me that he could just push past me if he wanted but wasn't doing so because he is a 'nice guy' . He then drove off at which point I went to bed (as I work nights). When I got up this afternoon I saw that he had been back and posted a letter through my door which was saying that he would be back tommorow . I'm not really sure what to do about this as I just don't have that kind of spare cash and as he is unwilling to make any arrangement I don't see any options. I have also tried ringing the CAB who told me that I should ring the court which issued the fine, which I did only when I did this I was played a recording telling me to ring Marsdens who then told me that I had to deal with the recovery agent. I would appreciate your thought on this matter but please don't think that I am some shirker trying to get away with paying my way, I got this fine during a period of unemployment and I had since forgotten about it due to not hearing anything for quite a while.

Many thanks,

Adam.

[Sir Vere Brayne d'Emmidge]

Re: In need of Marsdens advice

Hello Adam and welcome to the forum.

For a start the bailiff can not push past you, if he does drop to the ground, scream blue murder, call the Police and have him charged with actual bodily harm, battery and assault....make sure that you video the incident, because he should be videoing the meeting.

Second point, he could use a lockmith to gain access, but only after he applies to the Court issuing the warrant to do so.

It is quite likely that the Court will give the "go ahead", but unless you have more than £5,000 worth of distrainable items, his line manager is not going to allow it, since the cost of a locksmith is £120+, which would be added to your debt, but just by looking at your property on Google Street Map, a semi decent Enforcement Manager can accurately decide if a locksmith is appropriate or not.

Third point, once the Court has issued you with a "Notice of Fine and Collection Order" they list at the bottom of the letter what could happen if you do not pay within the agreed parameters,thus they do not send reminders out.

How long do you think it's going to take you to get the £367.50 together? If you can manage it within the next 4 weeks I would make a payment to Marston's Automated Payment Line, and email customercare@marstongroup.co.uk telling them that you have made a payment of such and such, give them the payment reference number and that you will pay the balance within 28 days.

Good luck.