Should I let a Bailiff or Enforcement Agent into my home?

If a Bailiff visits your home we always recommend that you don’t answer the door. Bailiffs and Enforcement Agents often give the impression that they have unlimited power and you must do what they instruct. This idea has been borne out of fear. Many people don’t realise they can’t force entry into your property. They can only ever enter if invited by you or use force under certain circumstances (which we can discuss). It is important to note that if you do let them in voluntarily they can make a list of your goods (known as a levy) to eventually sell in order to pay the arrears that you owe. If you are in any doubt or need further advice then we would be happy to hear from you.

If a Bailiff or Enforcement Agent visits, what should I do?

It’s important to protect yourself, your family and your property. We always advise that you should never open the door to Bailiffs and Enforcement Agents. This removes any risk of them forcing their way past you and into your home. If you do need to speak with them, we recommend that you do so through a window, locked door or mobile phone. This may sound extreme, but protecting yourself is the priority. Knowing how to deal with Bailiffs and Enforcement Agents can be an advantage – but we would also recommend addressing the issues that lead to Bailiff action in the first instance.

What if a Bailiff or Enforcement Agent comes into my home?

Unfortunately, if you have voluntarily let a Bailiff or Enforcement Agent into your home they are allowed to force entry should they return. If you find yourself in this situation you need to act quickly. If you don’t want to give the Bailiff or Enforcement Agent this option, bear this in mind before answering the door to them. Even if you don’t let them in they can still remove goods from outside your property. Common items they seize are cars, motorbikes and scooters. We always recommend parking them in a looked garage on your property or alternatively away from your home. Only do this if it’s safe and secure to do so.

When can Bailiffs or Enforcement Agents force entry?

Many people are unaware that Bailiffs are not usually allowed to force entry into your home. The most common way in which Bailiffs gain entry to your property is by being voluntarily let-in by household tenants. This usually happens after threats are made about breaking down the door should they not be allowed in. If they manage to gain what is classed as ‘peaceful entry’ this then allows them to use force on their next visit – if required. The only other instance where they have permission to force entry is when the court has given them permission. Bailiffs and Enforcement Agents often claim they have this permission. In our experience they rarely have this. In order to deal with this situation effectively make sure you have had the appropriate Bailiff advice. Get in touch if you need any help.

Making a payment arrangement

You can offer to pay your debt off in regular weekly or monthly amounts instead of having to pay it all off at once. We have helped UK residents to arrange a payment plan with Bailiffs. This process is then extended to include all other unsecured creditors.

Meaning you can consolidate all your debt payments into one affordable monthly payment.

You will have a better chance of getting the bailiffs to accept your offer if it’s realistic and affordable, that’s where our experience and relationship with the creditors really helps.

Bailiffs are authorised by the court to visit debtors property in order to collect debts which may be owed to their clients. They are usually used for council tax bills, parking fines, court fines, CCJ’s and family judgements.

The powers held by bailiffs are often confusing, so contact us for clear, impartial free debt advice.

Bailiffs (also called ‘enforcement agents’) visiting your home can be a stressful experience but you have rights and you shouldn’t be bullied.

Bailiffs are only allowed to try to come into your home between 6am and 9pm.

You shouldn’t let a bailiff into your home – it’s always best to try to sort out your debt by keeping them outside and speaking through the door or over the phone.

Make sure your doors are locked and your windows are closed – bailiffs are allowed to come in through unlocked doors. If you have a porch with a lockable door you should lock this too.

Depending on the kind of debt you owe, the bailiff will sometimes have the right to force entry by asking a locksmith to open your door if you won’t let them in. It’s very unlikely they’ll do this – you should still have the chance to pay without them coming in.

Call the Police on 999 if you’re being physically threatened by a bailiff – don’t let them into your home.

If you’re currently worried about your finances, have unsecured debts from personal borrowing and would like to speak confidentially to an advisor who can talk to you about the benefits and considerations of a range of debt solutions and personal insolvency solutions, then please get in touch by calling 0114 331 0095

The advice comes without judgement, without obligation and is on your terms and time.

Read more about your rights and Bailiff action during Corona virus lockdown; https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs-at-your-door/

Visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk to request a call back at a time to suit you. By requesting a call, you are under no obligation to use our services. My Payment Plan provide solutions to customers living in the United Kingdom.

Should you choose to undertake a plan or arrangement, there may be consequences to consider, including restrictions on future expenditure, lending and on your ability to obtain further or future credit. Fees, terms and conditions apply. For further information and advice please visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk.

The services that we provide may be available at no cost from other government and charity based providers. Further information can be obtained from the Money Advice Service.

1. Cyber Security – beware Black Friday Scammers

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably read about the cyber-attack on the Manchester United PLC last week. IT systems across their empire went offline, with workers unable to access some files. And the computer virus even stopped some operations and medical procedures from taking place. This is because it was a ransomware virus, meaning it can encrypt files and demand you pay to get them back.

You might assume that you’d have to be naive to fall for a ransomware scam like this – but that’s actually not the case. Ransomware scams are evolving every day, meaning they can now even catch IT experts out. And you only need to drop your guard for a few seconds for a cyber-attack to take over your computer.

Don’t panic though – we’ll take you through how to protect yourself online.

Avoiding a cyber-attack

Here are our top tips on avoiding a cyber-attack like the one on the NHS.

1. Look at the email address. If you’ve got an email and you don’t know anything about it, see who sent it. Don’t just look at the name of the sender – check to see the sender’s actual email address. An email might look like it’s come from a trustworthy source but when you see the email address, it could be a scammer.

2. Don’t click on any links. Got an email you don’t recognise? Make sure you don’t click on any links or open any attachments. This can download a ransomware virus to your computer. If you’re not sure, just delete it.

3. Don’t give out your password. A legitimate company would never email you to ask you for your password. So if you get an email that says this, alarm bells should start to ring.

4. Update your software. One of the best ways to avoid a ransomware cyber-attack is to make sure you’ve got the most up-to-date version of your software. Head to the Microsoft website and install any patches or fixes to stay protected.

5. Install anti-virus software. Make sure you’ve got a robust anti-virus program installed on your computer. You don’t have to pay for this – Windows Defender comes with Windows 8 and Windows 10 PCs and you can install Microsoft Security Essentials if you’re on Windows 7.

6. Don’t pay the scammers. If ransomware has infected your computer, don’t lose your head. It’s easy for the warning messages to scare you and this might tempt you to pay up. Don’t do this though – there’s no guarantee if you pay that the scammers will release your files. Instead, report them to the police and Action Fraud. This is a dedicated cyber crime reporting service.

If you’re currently worried about your finances, have unsecured debts from personal borrowing and would like to speak confidentially to an advisor who can talk to you about the benefits and considerations of a range of debt solutions and personal insolvency solutions, then please get in touch by calling 0114 331 0095

The advice comes without judgement, without obligation and is on your terms and time.

Visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk to request a call back at a time to suit you. By requesting a call, you are under no obligation to use our services. My Payment Plan provide solutions to customers living in the United Kingdom.

Should you choose to undertake a plan or arrangement, there may be consequences to consider, including restrictions on future expenditure, lending and on your ability to obtain further or future credit. Fees, terms and conditions apply. For further information and advice please visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk.

The services that we provide may be available at no cost from other government and charity based providers. Further information can be obtained from the Money Advice Service.

Here’s how you can tell if you have money worries.

Are you struggling to pay your debts? You might think that you’re managing to stay on top of your repayments but you sometimes have to cut back on a few other payments and tighten your belt towards the end of the month.

Are your money worries starting to have an impact on other areas of your life? If so, it might be time to look at how you can tackle your debt problems. Here are five tell-tale signs to recognise that you may need help.

1.You’re losing sleep at night: this is a typical sign for people who are finding their debt is starting to get on top of them. If it’s all you think about and it keeps you up at night worrying, it could be a good idea to think about how you can change this.

2.You don’t want to open your bank statements? ignoring your bank statements when they come through? This might be because you don’t want to face up to your problems. We know burying your hand in the sand can be tempting but it won’t make your troubles go away.

3.You’re cutting back on food or other priority areas? affording food and your rent or mortgage should always be a priority as well as your utility bills. We have some tips on shopping on a budget if you just need to save a few quid. But if it’s gone beyond that, get in touch with your creditors or seek advice from an FCA authorised debt advisor.

4.You’re struggling to even meet your minimum payments: paying off just the minimum on high interest credit cards can mean that you end up paying a lot back over a long period of time. But if the minimum payment seems out of your reach, your debts might not be manageable for you.

5.You’re looking for more credit to cover your existing repayments: consolidating your debts isn’t necessarily the wrong way to deal with them. And this is especially true if you’re looking to take out a loan with a lower interest rate than your existing debts. But if you can’t get these and you turn to a more expensive form of borrowing, it could end up pushing you further into debt.

It doesn’t need to be this way.

Realising that you have debt troubles can be scary but you don’t need to deal with it alone. You can speak to your creditors to let them know that you’re struggling and arrange a new payment plan with them.

If you feel uncomfortable speaking to your creditors, are worried about your finances and have unsecured debts from personal borrowing, you may find it useful to speak to us. We are authorised by the FCA to provide free debt advice and talk to you about the benefits and considerations of a range of debt solutions and personal insolvency solutions. Please get in touch by calling 0114 331 0095

The advice comes without judgement, without obligation and is on your terms and time.

Visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk to request a call back at a time to suit you. By requesting a call, you are under no obligation to use our services. My Payment Plan provide solutions to customers living in the United Kingdom.

Should you choose to undertake a plan or arrangement, there may be consequences to consider, including restrictions on future expenditure, lending and on your ability to obtain further or future credit. Whilst our debt advice is free, fees, terms and conditions apply for any services provided. For further information and advice please visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk.

The services that we provide may be available at no cost from other government and charity based providers. Further information can be obtained from the Money Advice Service