So angry!

[kat]

I am so upset right now, it's all my/our own fault really too which makes it worse!

Sometime last year we had a direct debit for our tv license which bounced as DP's wages hadn't gone into the bank when they payment was attempted to be took out.leaving us not covered.

A month or so later we had a visit from one of their people whom knocked and informed us we were no longer covered and we promptly explained and paid for the forthcoming 3 months and set up a new DD,a week later we recieved a letter stating that court action would be taken as we were'nt covered for exactly ONE MONTH (£15 or whatever is is)DP could'nt make it as was working so just assumed that the standard £60 fine would be issued *we did wrong so fully expected and had no qualms about this*

However the fine was £275 :smiley-fa DP rang and explained that we couldn't pay this straight off so payed half and was supposed to pay the rest when he last got paid which we had forgotten all about.

I have just answered the door to a horrible i presume baliff man who told me that it was now another £295 or they will come and take our good's tommorow, OMG i felt like crying he was nasty and quite intimidating.

DP doesn't get paid till Monday and £295 is not something we can afford to pay out as well as the other normal household bill's.

Sorry i now it's long but im so scared, i dont know what to do :no:

[Seren]

Did he have court paperwork?

If not he cannot do anything

Can you try and see a CAB asap?


we all make mistakes try not to panic. Did you get any letters telling you a ballif would come around? Don't let anyone in your house unless they are a court appointed balliff with correct paperwork. call the police if they are threatening.

[smirnoff]

dont be scared.

DO NOT LET THE BAILIFF IN

Talk to them, actually they are normally quite reasonable. Call them now and make an offer of payment. Explain to them that you dont have it but you do have £x now and that you will be able to pay £x on x date... and then DONT FORGET!

[kat]

He had paperwork with him he didn't show it to me but i assume it was the relevant things!

I explained that we wouldnt have the money as DP isnt due to be paid till Mon but he said we have 24 hour's and if we are not in he said they will bring a locksmith :unsure:

DP is in bed @ the moment he has been and is still on night's but as soon as he is up shall get him to ring and see if he can make an offer to pay X amount now and arrange to pay the rest asap.

I just can't believe that this is all from not being covered for ONE month, By the time i have paid all this money i could have paid my whole year's tv license 4 times over.

Lesson learnt big time, I just hope they will accept part payment but i have a feeling they wont and if they do will add more on.

[josfab]

have you tried contacting the tv licence people?!

[kat]

have you tried contacting the tv licence people?!

I think it is out of their hand's now and in the courts/baliff's :(

[josfab]

I thought it might be a daft question but had to ask. We once got threatening letters from a bailiff due to npower cocking something up and it was npower that sorted it out in the end. I can't believe all that for £15. So have you been to the citizens advice?

[Seren]

I didn't think they were allowed to force entry if you were not there.

Has he left any paperwork with you?

I don't see why they can't accept an offer of payment.

[kat]

I didn't think they were allowed to force entry if you were not there.

Has he left any paperwork with you?

I don't see why they can't accept an offer of payment.

Well unless he was just using "scare tactic's" that is what he was telling me with the locksmith etc..

He has left a letter for DP which i have opened which states the amount we owe and the guy's name and contact number who knocked.

Also states IF PAYMENT IS NOT MADE IMMEDIATELY YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL COSTS!

*Sigh* im so stupid if only i had just rang them when the DD bounced.

[moomum]

all that for a tv licence!

I haven't had a tv for about 6 years now but it took me 2 years to persuade them that I didn't owe them hundreds for a licence. Red letter after red letter came every other week, I invited them over to check the house and they still sent very threatening letters.

Eventually they did send someone over and now I only get a threatening letter once a year!

argh on your behalf!

[Seren]

It is hard to know what to say, please try and see a CAB or phone them for advice.


Do you have any family that could help?

:grouphug:

[diddlepops]

No real advice for you except to repeat what everyone else has said. As for the bailiff, I thought that good reputable companies didn't resort to "force" any more. Its more than their jobs are worth. They are usually pretty reasonable people if you are reasonable with them. I would personally question their tactics by ringing the Court and asking them if this is the usual practice as I am assuming the bailiffs have been appointed by the Court?

HTH and big hugs - a very scary thing to happen when you are on your own. :kisshands:

[kat]

I did go to the CAB when we originally got the charge from the courts to question it but the woman who was there *chocolate and teapot come to mind* said "oh well if it's from the courts nothing you can do but pay up" gee thanks!


Thanks Ru, i was indeed very scared he was a large imposing man who made me feel quite vulnerable.

I am going to go to my mothers soon and ring them to see if we can arrange a payment for Monday i am proposing to pay £200 then and the other £95 a week later, Do you think they will accept this i hope so i just want it over and done with.Preferably with my good's in the house all still there!

Oh well we live and learn, so Thanks bbc and the tv license people you have made my day a very joyous one!!!!

[smirnoff]

Were they court baliffs? I would call the court and complain about this..

[Seren]

If you ever go and see the CAB ask for the specialist on the area you need. Ours have a chap who speciase in debt etc.

Sorry she wasn't any good.

really hope you can sort it out. Other wise start stashing jewllery at your mums just in case.

[Ravenfire]

Hope you are able to get this sorted Kat.

[kat]

Thank you everybody for your help/input have decided no use getting worked up about it, Am off to ring them soon offering the payments i stated earlier and shall see what they say.

Something i could do without but never mind, worse thing's are happening to other people so can't complain about something which was originally my fault.

Thanks again ""cutey""b""cutey""b

[Purplecat]

hope you are able to sort this soon, bailiffs can't barge in with out a court order and they can't get one of those til you've been issued with a CCJ, and then that's only if you don't stick to the agreement with the CCJ. I'd check that everyone has the correct paperwork, seems to be a bit of a mix up on the officals side.

I haven't paid since christmas and was panicing, I just kept forgetting, turns out whe we set up the DD we paid double the amount for the first 6 months, then when we changed to the cash easy scheame we paid double for that for 6 months so turns out we're actully covered for a good 18months already!!

[CarerQuie]

I hope that you can get this sorted out.xx

[angel1980]

Oh god, poor you. :kisshands:

Hope you get this sorted out, yeah ok it was a slip up in the first place but you've tried to fix it and don't need baliffs knocking on the door. Don't let them in though if they come back, they're not allowed to break in but they can let themselves in through an unlocked door, I think I'm right in saying.

If you are offering payment (which you are) then they have to accept it, and won't take your stuff away.

Grrrr the ******'s!!!!!

Really hope you sort this out, try not to worry too much. Big hugs!!!! :kisshands:

[kat]

Thanks m8 :)

A little update, I rang the guy who knocked here this afternoon and he has accepted my offer of £200 this coming Tuesday and the remainder the week after - with no further added cost's so a huge load off my mind.

A Pita over an original unpaid amount of £15 ish but will all be done and dusted soon :happy72:

[angel1980]

That's good, well not good that it's ended up costing you so much, but least that will be the end of it. :kisshands:

[lizzie]

glad you got it sorted kat