I don't think so MM but if I was her I'd ring the CA for help....

Its hard trying to get these things through to her, she says she will then burys her head in the sand and starts hiding bills etc - i've been there before, maybe not as bad as this, but she needs to just face it and deal with it - i'm at a loss as to how to help her tbh Stonksy

Have found a couple of links with info - dont know if they answer what you are asking 

 http://www.mccambridgeduffy.co...ruptcy/Bailiffs.html

 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Mo...dArrears/DG_10034289

 

I've never been in your friends position thank goodness, but I can sympathise with her in that sometimes it's easier to ignore stuff than to tackle it as it happens.  The problem of course, escalates, but even though you know it will, not dealing with it seems to be the easiest option for the time being. 

I've heard of a consumer site that helps people to help themselves deal with baliffs, but for the life of me I can't remember what it is.  I'll have a look around to see if I can find it and I'll post the link. 

For what it's worth, I don't believe they can take pets.




Found it...  http://www.consumeractiongroup...fs-sheriff-officers/

Is she the type who prefers others to run around doing thigs for her?

She'd have a long wait, her partner died last year and her grown up family (3 boys) are the most useless trio of the male species i've ever witnessed. She's stressed to the eyeballs whilst they come and go as they please - one of them's just come back from 10 days in Florida which cost him about a grand.. she won't listen to sense, i could shake her but at the same time she's just the loveliest lady in the world.

thats brilliant that link, i've sent it to her - the 1st post is her! Council tax and ballifs - hopefully this will help - many thanks MsT xx

Do her sons live with her?.because if they don't know all this when the Bailiffs come and she can't prove their stuff is not hers, the sons can lose all their things....

  Just by reading that site will help her realise that she is NOT the only person facing a crisis and it might give her some ideas that she can adopt to face her debt problems.

Oh yes they know about it, they arent helpful - all they care about is whether they can get their stuff out before they come back - as i said - useless shower of pr**ks!

Tell her just to keep refusing them entry, they usually stop coming after about the third time. If its proper baliffs that is....not some dodgy loanshark I mean.

i think they are proper ones as its about her Council tax !

Can they just force their way in though?  I've often wondered if they can.

We don't have bailiffs in Scotland.I thought bailiffs could only remove items if they belonged to the person being "Pursued"? If the useless sons items belong to them and they can prove it,the bailiffs can't touch them.

They cant force their way in....but if for example you had left the door or window open they can get in like that. You can open the door and they arent allowed to force their way past you. DO NOT LET THEM IN AT ALL. Even if they say they need to use the phone or loo or just make a list of your stuff - no excuses, cos once they are in they can do their baliff bit.
You cant be arrested for refusing to let a baliff in and you cant be imprisoned for debts....but you can for not paying council tax so she needs to sort it out somehow.

In Scotland we did have Warrrant/Poinding sales here with Sheriff officers of the court executing the sales.The Scottish parliament banned them in 2001.

she did pay it though! she paid it with a cheque, it cleared and she even sent them the receipt but they refused to accpet that she did hence her leaving it all this time to get worse as she thought "well i've paid it, they arent getting any more from me"

Silly woman, why doesnt she just get proof from the bank?

Anyway DEFINITELY just dont let them in.

she is indeed - she's given them the last of her wages £180 to get rid of them for the day .. she just won't listen to reason - i feel like giving up

OMG thats ludicrous. I would say to keep a record of all monies given so when she does prove its already been paid she can get it back.....but it sounds like shes not got the nous to chase this.

well this is the thing, he youngest boy is 22 - her oldest 30 - you'd think they'd say "come on mum lets sort this out" but no... just pile all their worrys on top of her instead, never pay her any money when they are there and treat her like crap... i wish she was my mum, i'd be looking after her

If she ha paid by cheque MM, she should get proof that it has been paid, has she got online banking, she can print off statements to show, if not just refuse them entry they cannot force unless the have police with them or a court order, I think....do not quote me, but I am pretty sure of this. Good luck to your friend MM

Oh lordy.  You have to pay your council tax as it's a criminal offence not to.  Normal debts are civil matters.

They can only legally charge for two visits and so they'll probably give up, as MoFo says, after the third but the council will then probably issue a summons to the magistrate's court after that.  There's no getting away from council tax debt, really.

The baliffs can only enter a home if the tenant/owner lets them. They can't force their way in unless they have a police escort and no, they are not allowed to take animals.
Hope this helps allay your friend's fears a little.

But once they've been in once then they can break in next time if they need to.

They need to be met outside, always, and even paid outside if the person can pay.

she has to get a copy of the front and back of the cheque from the bank  and send it  to the council, they  won't argue with that.

p.s.  they came after me for  non payment once,and i had paid with a cheque, they got all snotty  and said' course you did, send us a copy of the front and back and maybe we'll believe you'.. not in those precise words...

so i  got a copy from the bank, took about a week and sent it to the council  and  they  credited my account, because they had  posted the money to the wrong account.

My sister used to be a bailiff in Newcastle. She says they cant take her pets. Even if they have been in her home they cant break in at anytime.

However if you invite them into your home they will make an inventory of all the goods they see ask the householder to sign it, if they refuse the bailiff signs it on their behalf.
If reciepts are provided for said goods in somebody elses name they cant touch them. This is how court bailiffs run, private bailiffs might work to a different set of rules.