News

Elderly woman threatened with bailiff action

By Pete Castle
January 21, 2011

BAILIFFS threatened to break into an elderly woman’s home and take her mobility car after she forgot to pay a parking fine, Aldershot legal advisors have said.

The case was highlighted by volunteers at the Aldershot Citizens’ Advice Bureau as one of the worst abuses by bailiffs they had encountered in recent months.

The woman, who is in her 70s, was given the £35 parking ticket by Rushmoor Borough Council traffic wardens for a parking infringement in the town.

However, the woman was unable to pay the ticket as she was taken ill and was admitted to Frimley Park Hospital, where she was treated for several weeks.

As is the policy of the council, the parking fine doubled to £70 after two weeks of being issued, and when it was not paid after several weeks, the debt was passed onto a debt collection agency.

The agency, unable to contact the woman, then hired a bailiff to demand payment for the fine.

With administration fees, interest and other charges, the fine had now increased to £360, more than ten times the original amount.

The case has led experts at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Aldershot to warn people to be on their guard against bullying bailiffs who overstep the mark when it comes to paying debts.

Jennifer Evans, social policy co-ordinator at the CAB, said the bailiff frightened the elderly widow by threatening to break into her house to recover goods, and even threatened to take away her Motability leased car in lieu of payment.

The man called several times, each time demanding full payment with threats that he would come back with the police to force entry into her house if she did not pay up.

The woman was left shocked and upset by her treatment, Ms Evans said.

She came to the CAB to ask for advice, where staff told her that bailiffs could not come into the house without a court order and can only come in by ‘peaceable entry’.

“The police play no part in the process, apart from keeping the peace if a breach of the peace is likely,” Ms Evans said.

“Harassment by bailiffs can also be caused by threatening to take goods which are most likely to cause inconvenience – for example, the Motability car.”

She added that in law, a bailiff could not break into a house and had to offer different payment options, such as paying off a debt in instalments, rather than demanding the full amount with threats. The CAB said they were ‘concerned’ that such practices were occurring in Aldershot, and that vulnerable people would be intimidated by them.

“Our advice is that, if you have worries about the behaviour of bailiffs, to come to the CAB for advice and support,” Ms Evans said.

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When will the council cancel this bill?

johnheppell, aldershot
22/02/2011 at 20:56

I wish that the same intent to punish this frail elderly member of society, was executed against the real criminals in our society.

Chris P, Cardiff, Wales
12/02/2011 at 03:25

And what pray tell has Clr Sue 'dribble' got to say about this? She seems to have an opinion on petty matters, perhaps this case is beyond her limited capabilities

James @ Uralla, Uralla NSW
26/01/2011 at 07:47

And what has Rushmoor Borough Council, who commissioned them, got to say? Not a lot I expect.

Its Douglas
22/01/2011 at 23:09

tthis is what happens when the government rules the people instead of the other way round god bless america

jonny1, arizona
22/01/2011 at 04:54

Bailiffs are the same people that get involved with car clamping. Expect a lot more of this in the future im just sad it was a labour government that reinforced the policy of using bailiffs to recover and not courts. Like car clampers they should be illegal as in Scotland as soon as possible.