Baillifs have powers, such as being able to enter a property when the owner isnt there.
However, the bailif is going to know if the person who owes money has got anything worth taking to help cover any outstanding debt.
Also, dont forget the baillif will have a policeman with him, a lock smith, a vehicle like a transit and a couple of guys to remove the stuff and the use of a storage facility. ALL those costs have to be covered by the value of the goods removed BEFORE anything goes towards lowering the debt.
THEREFORE a bailiff isnt stupid........ they WONT remove anything unless all those costs are going to be covered firstly by the value of goods the debtor owns.
The local county baillif used to pay me a visit on a regular basis. We had a camerarderie and before I cleared all my debts became very chatty and chummy.
He used to tell me about his family and family life (his brother had learning problems who he had brought up himself whilst he was getting stress at home as his missus was expecting). Anyway, he used to come into the house here, with NO intention of removing goods, all he wanted was to do his job, RETRIEVE THE MONEY NOT MY PROPERTY, and be on his way.
I was quite sad when I cleared my debt
he was a real nice bloke.
And my debt was accrued through irresponsibility (credit/store cards) drinking, council tax, drinking, phone bills (you wouldnt believe my phone bill, so I wont tell you); but all told it came to about £18,000 - £20,000. Did I say drinking?
Anyway, it dawned on me after a few visits that the bailiff calling was in fact EXTREMELY convenient as the companies I owed money to had all sent me giros and paying books to clear their debts. Well in the course of paying these at Post Offices there was always a £1.00 charge once a month (about 10 different debts a month to be paid) so it saved me a tenner a month in Post Office charges and also I didnt have to go out to the Post Office a couple of times a week after work. I came home, put my feet up and the bailiff came to me....not bad!
Anyway, just be HONEST with 'em play your part in any agreement (pay what you say you will) and then go full time.
This is very true....
The non priority debts like credit cards, loans and so on you can make them a token payment of £1 per month, most will argue that this is not good enough but if you can prove that is all you can afford then there is nothing they can do about it, because if they took you to court the judge will only order you to pay them what you can afford.
I know someone paying a £2,000 credit card off at £1.00 a month.
She'll be 166 once its cleared.