Had a knock on the door from a fairly friendly bailiff this morning looking for the previous owners of our house who apparently owe £25k and have a CCJ against them. He seemed fairly content that we weren’t who he was after and said we wouldn’t get any further visits from his company, but that we might from other “less scrupulous” bailiffs. Wondering what (if anything) we can do to stop further visits and how we should respond to any further knocks at the door? What about stuff that’s outside the house – cars, the contents of sheds, etc?

Advice appreciated!

If any turn up and start causing issues then call the police.
We were it when a bailiff turned up at ours for the previous owners son. I phoned them and it got dealt with. If in doubt definitely call the cops as the bailiffs would be breaking the law if they tried to take your stuff despite being proven that it doesn’t belong to the owners of the debt

Aren’t they allowed to note down & seize goods not protected by any sort of locked gate…

(Thinking back to a tv program recently).

takisawa2 – Member
Aren’t they allowed to note down & seize goods not protected by any sort of locked gate…

(Thinking back to a tv program recently).

No they are not.
They must prove that any goods are that of the person named on the ccj/writ.
If they cannot then they must not proceed without further instruction.
They also cannot legally enter onto your land without being invited, they cannot enter into your property unless via an “unsecured opening”
The can produce a “walking possession agreement” IF they are invited in AND the person named on the paperwork is in residence AND they can prove WITHOUT DOUBT that the goods belong to said person.

Thanks folks, that’s helpful.

Hopefully there won’t be any more visits. The bailiff who visited this morning seemed to already know that the house no longer belonged to the person named on the ccj and also seemed to know he’d gone to France (consistent with what our neighbours have said), perhaps he just turned up on the off chance.

Advice appreciated!

Forget about it.

It’s not your debt, so there is bugger all they can do about it.

Thanks. Perhaps I’ll have to get a “If you’re a bailiff then you’re trespassing” notice 🙂