Marstons bailiff issue.

[vauxhallcombo]

Hi,

I have a fine for a speeding ticket, £250 plus marstons £75 fee. i entered into an arrangement with them to pay within 28 days, i paid £100, so now owe £225.

Anyway, I cant now pay the balance which fell due yesterday, I spoke to them today and explained my wife is 4 months pregnant and very worried about this, is there anyway i can have an extension etc, they said no, basically, i had to pay.

My question is, is there anything I can do? can they come to the door and stress my wife whilst pregnant?

I dont own a vehicle, and wont be letting them into my house (im guessing they cant gain access themselves?), but im worried the fine will go up and up should they visit.

any advice hugely appreciated.

thanks!

[Wombats]

Re: Marstons bailiff issue.

The fine will already have gone up to £460 as you did not keep to your repayment arrangement so became liable for a £235 Enforcement Fee. They can gain entry via an unlocked door, so keep your doors locked.

Pregnancy is a possible factor in enforcement for vulnerability, and you should certainly inform the bailiff your wife is pregnant. However, unless there are severe complications or other vulnerability issues, it is not a reason to stop enforcement.

The best you can do is try to keep them out and pay them as soon as you can IMO. If they do gain entry, they can remove goods to settle the debt and their fees. These can either be removed immediately, or a 'Controlled Goods Agreement' can be entered into where you continue to use the goods, but sign an agreement to say they are in the control of the enforcement agent. Whether or not they will do this after you have failed to stick to a previous agreement I don't know.

If goods are taken, they must be sold as soon as is reasonably practicable after five business days have passed. You will incur a further fee of £110 if they are removed for sale.

You really need to pay the fine as soon as you possibly can. The EA has played it according to the rules so far, so there is no reason to think he will do otherwise now. Sadly you broke the agreement, and much as I hate to say it, you now face the consequences of doing so.

[vauxhallcombo]

Re: Marstons bailiff issue.

thanks for the honest response!

I guess its a case of battening down the hatches and paying asap hey!

i'll inform them that my wife is pregnant so they at least know.

thanks again!

[vauxhallcombo]

Re: Marstons bailiff issue.

p.s - i have previously been bankrupt, and had to do a sworn deceleration that all goods in my house belonged to my wife, this was signed and stamped by a solicitor, is it worth sending them this as well? so they know, if they do get in, theres nothing to take?

[Wombats]

Re: Marstons bailiff issue.

They are very unlikely to force entry, though technically they can. Forced entry can only be done in certain circumstances as outlined in this link.

You may be interested to read this link as well.

[vauxhallcombo]

Re: Marstons bailiff issue.

They are very unlikely to force entry, though technically they can. Forced entry can only be done in certain circumstances as outlined in this link.

You may be interested to read this link as well.

thanks for this, its all rather worrying, i didnt think they could force entry.

do you think its worth sending them the signed doc that nothing in the house belongs to me?

[Wombats]

Re: Marstons bailiff issue.

Hansard states on 16th June 2010 that since the contracts started in 2006 only 9 forced entries had been made. You really have little to worry about. If you wish to send the document, send it as long as it is fairly recent.