Repossession / Eviction FAQs 2

2. I have a county court judgment against me over an unpaid credit card debt and the card issuer has threatened me with bailiffs. What can I do?

The first thing to do is to try and negotiate with the company. Even if you can't pay the debt in full, you could try to agree a set amount to pay weekly or monthly.  If you cannot come to an agreement with the company, they will need to get a warrant of execution from the courts before they can send in the bailiffs to remove property from your home in payment of your debt. If they already have the warrant, you should apply to the court to have it suspended.

If the bailiffs arrive, you do not have to let them in and they cannot generally force their way in. However, they are allowed into your property without your permission if they can enter without breaking in. This is called 'gaining peaceful entry' and includes getting in through an open window, or a closed but unlocked door.

Bailiffs are not allowed to take basic clothing, bedding, furniture or household goods, and any goods they do take will be sold at auction in order to pay off your debt.  The rules about bailiffs are complicated, and it is always sensible to get advice from a specialist adviser.
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3. I am going to live on my own for the first time and am worried about how to manage my budget. What can I do to prevent getting into debt?

Try not to be intimidated by money matters. Keep track of how much money you have coming in and how much you have to put aside for bills, rent and food. You may find it helpful to set up standing orders and direct debits to pay your bills. Arrange for payments to leave your account soon after your pay date. If you can, try and save some money each month as a general savings plan or to cover emergencies when they arise. Make sure you look again at your budget each time there is a change in your income or any other change that might affect your finances.  Always shop around for the cheapest gas, electricity, telephone and insurance deals. There are many to choose from now.

Be careful about buying goods on credit. The interest repayments can be quite high. Also, be careful about interest free credit. It may seem a good deal but if you fail to repay the full amount before the end of the free interest period, you could find yourself paying the full interest, even if you are one day late on your payment. Try to pay at least 10% of your balance every month on your credit cards.

Don't just run up an overdraft without talking to your bank, you will be charged for unauthorised overdrafts.

Be very careful about taking out any loans. Read and familiarize yourself with the terminology. Most important, know the difference between secured and unsecured lending. If you take out a secured loan, you are using your house as security and may lose it if you cannot make the loan repayments.

"They paid off my arrears and even paid my mortgage until I had sold the property to them. I was in such a mess financially, all my own doing, and even thought about giving it away! Quick Property Sale Ltd didn't pressure me one bit and even advised me in using different Estate Agents but I decided in the long run I needed a guarantee and reassurance which no Estate Agent could offer. I think the sale went through in 10 days which was a bit too quick as I had to find another property to rent. When you get a service that goes the extra mile it feels good that you haven't totally thrown everything away. They helped me find a property to rent and paid for my removals so I can't thank them enough and will definitely recommend them. Thanks again"

Ms Hasselmere