Bailiffs turning up at new place while I'm away

[miss direct]

Some of you are familiar with my home buying drama. I've now been in for a month although I have gone away for at least a month and won't be back until the end of September at the earliest.

A friend is going round to water plants and check up on the place. Bailiffs came round yesterday and left a threatening note, saying they will take £1,500 worth of stuff (previous owners name.) Only has a mobile number to ring.

Is there anything I can do or should be doing about this from here?

 

[MBV]

Call the number and advise them when the previous owners sold the property. Fingers crossed they'll leave you alone then.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Probably just phone them up and say fuck off, but someome better informed will be along shortly.

If they're enforcing a court order you might want to inform the court that person x has moved.

 

[Supine]

I had this. I rang and told them. They came back so i told them i’d already phoned and they should bugger off. They never came back.

 

[two sheds]

I'd be tempted to confirm in writing/email.

 

[miss direct]

I wanted to email them but there's no email address, just a mobile number. Have no phone here and Internet connection is shit but will have to try to call on Skype.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I wanted to email them but there's no email address, just a mobile number. Have no phone here and Internet connection is shit but will have to try to call on Skype.

This seems pretty shoddy and suggests try-your-luck debt collectors rather than 'legitimate' bailiffs. In any case they cannot force entry to your home with or without you present.

 

[scifisam]

Do all the above and they will probably still keep coming. But unless someone lets them in, they can't do anything. So make sure your plant-waterer knows never to let anyone in.

A bailiff once came to my flat for a a debt owed by a previous tenant and put a big yellow "taken by bailiffs" or something sticker on the windscreen of a complete stranger's car parked on the street near my flat. They sent me a photo of them supposedly seizing the stranger's car. But they did that because they couldn't get in my flat.

Basically it might be an annoyance, but they can't take your stuff if they can't get in (legally they can't anyway, but if they can't get in then they, well, can't get in), and it doesn't affect your credit rating these days.

If you're not on the electoral roll for that address yet, it can help to get on it.

 

[miss direct]

Yep I've told my friend not to answer the door and also thought about asking him to take a few expensive items round to his own place just to be on the safe side.

 

[miss direct]

Surely they can't just take my stuff even if he did happen to open the door?!

 

[SpookyFrank]

Surely they can't just take my stuff even if he did happen to open the door?!

I think, if they're genuine court-appointed bailiffs, they can force entry at a later date if you've previously invited them in. Just opening the door doesn't count.

And yes, this is the same rule as the one for vampires.

 

[miss direct]

So they're allowed to take stuff which doesn't belong to the person who owes money? Surely not.

 

[weepiper]

So they're allowed to take stuff which doesn't belong to the person who owes money? Surely not.

No, they're not. Just make sure your friend doesn't let them in if they come back, they can't do fuck all.

 

[SpookyFrank]

So they're allowed to take stuff which doesn't belong to the person who owes money? Surely not.

No, they're not. They might think they are if someone lets them in though.

 

[scifisam]

Surely they can't just take my stuff even if he did happen to open the door?!

No, you have to let them in, not just open the door. And most bailiffs can't take stuff, but there are some who will claim they can. Just treat them like vampires, like Frank says.

It's not an uncommon experience when moving in to a new place.

 

[spanglechick]

We had something similar (rental property). They wanted a copy of our contract showing new tenancy. Might be an idea to send them something similar from the sale?

 

[SpookyFrank]

We had something similar (rental property). They wanted a copy of our contract showing new tenancy. Might be an idea to send them something similar from the sale?

Fuck that. They're not entitled to your personal information.

 

[spanglechick]

Fuck that. They're not entitled to your personal information.

I’m not saying send them anything with bank accounts or whatever, but if you want things to disappear, evidence can be invaluable.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

So they're allowed to take stuff which doesn't belong to the person who owes money? Surely not.

If they're court bailiffs I'd suggest contacting the court as soon as you can to advise them that its got nothing to do with you.

If its private debt collector scum it might be more difficult to get rid of them.

Might also be worth checking with the credit reference agencies to see if you can get something added to their records to note the change of ownership. Property transaction records might take a while to be updated on their systems.

 

[A380]

I wanted to email them but there's no email address, just a mobile number. Have no phone here and Internet connection is shit but will have to try to call on Skype.

Is there a postal address? If not it’s just some spivs trying their luck for a debt they probably brought for pennies in the pound.

If there is a postal address write recorded delivery outlining that you have just brought the property, provide your conveyencing solicitor’s detail.

I ‘d request a written response and also say that if they attend again, now you have told them of the circumstances, you will report them to the police as the first instance of Harassment under the Stalking and Harassment Act 1997 and that if they attend again after that you will support the police in a prosecution.

 

[xenon]

I’ve had this a couple of times over the years. Once open the door to them, no I am not that person. They went away. Another time I sent a snotty letter to their office. Basically telling them to stop hassling me with letters and threats of visits for someone I didn’t know. I’d call them tell them you bought the flat no idea with the previous owners of gone and do not bother me again. Tell them you’re recording it as well.

 

[Elpenor]

Can you get a print out of the land registry title (a few quid online - assuming it’s been updated by now) and send a copy of that to the bailiffs - or get your friend to.

In the meantime don’t open the door.

 

[scifisam]

So they're allowed to take stuff which doesn't belong to the person who owes money? Surely not.

No. The bailiffs I mentioned put the sticker on the stranger's car, but they didn't take the car; they had no right to take it. It was scare tactics. You don't owe the debt, they can't take anything, and that's that.

 

[WouldBe]

Just treat them like vampires, like Frank says.

Just don't drive a stake through their heart. It will only cause more problems.

 

[scifisam]

Just don't drive a stake through their heart. It will only cause more problems.

Meh, sweep out the ashes near the HoP.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Just don't drive a stake through their heart. It will only cause more problems.

I dunno, the one time I waved a broken chair leg at them they fucked off quick enough.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I ‘d request a written response

I did that with debt collectors trying to argue I owed money from donkeys years back on a leccy bill. Told them to send me evidence that the debt was owed by me (as I knew it wasn't) or else they could fuck off. They left me alone after a couple of rounds of correspondence I think.

 

[Riklet]

I wouldn't worry about it. You're not there and they cant take your stuff.

Maybe you can text the mobile asking for an email address if you want to write to them. Tbh I wouldnt bother though.

 

[equationgirl]

As I said on your other thread, you may need to take evidence to the baliff's office to prove you've taken over the flat. I took my passport, the mortgage papers and a copy of some correspondence from the solicitors. It went away after that.

Guess the previous owners didn't pay everything off after all.

 

[Saul Goodman]

You owe them nothing, so do nothing.
Or send this to the number they left.