Advice re person using my address

[Sheets Tabuer]

Hi all, a few weeks ago I had a visit from the police looking for some bloke with a Greek sounding name for driving offences, I told him no such person lived here and showed him my driving licence to prove it wasn't me.

Today I've had the bailiffs at my door looking for this same guy saying he owes several hundred in parking fines/offences.

The cheeky bds wanted to come in and look around, asked which car was mine and said I have to prove this guy isn't me and they are going to sieze my car.

Obviously they are talking out of their arse and are trying the chav hardman routine but what are my options, why the hell am I having to run around when I've never heard of this guy?

Cheers.

[Red Devil]

I hope you didn't tell them which car was yours. If you did, get it moved somewhere safe and out of sight ASAP.
Any seizure will be wrongful but it will be a major ballache getting it back if they do.
Did you show the cheeky bs your D/L? That should have been sufficient to get shot of them.

[Sheets Tabuer]

No I didn't, I have however since found out the car reg in question is registered to my address.

[kowalski655]

Presumably the DVLA will be the 1st port of call,so they can change the address.
Not sure of the hoops you will have to jump through though.
Police too? Not sure they will be bothered, but as it relates to potential lost revenue for speeding fines, they will probably be on it like a tramp on chips

[photosnob]

This is actually quite common. You just have to put down an address on the V5 it doesn't need to be your address. It's possible that someone who lived there before you let someone do this. Usually people can't just do it to a random address as they wouldn't be able to get their V5. It stops private parking companies and the police being able to grab you. Another option is to stick it in the name of a fictitious company as well - but that is more dodgy legally.

You say "offences" are these CCJ's or Court Fines? Theoretically a balliff has the power to force entry for court fines. However it's very very unlikely they will. Which bunch of idiots are these balliffs?

Anyway - don't let them into your home. Under any circumstances.
You ideally want a statutory declaration saying the person doesn't live here and all goods are yours. Find a template online. A solicitor will charge £5 to sign this for you.
Then email/send that to the balliff company.
If they do come back give them a copy and close the door.

Then IF they take your car post on here. I used to help out for a debt charity. I've helped people with interpleader claims. That is where you get your stuff back. Taking your car is negligence and their client will pay for it! Solicitors fees are recoverable, and you can have a nice hire car whilst they are releasing your car. Financially is the only way to hurt these clowns.

[stewy68]

photosnob said:

This is actually quite common. You just have to put down an address on the V5 it doesn't need to be your address. It's possible that someone who lived there before you let someone do this. Usually people can't just do it to a random address as they wouldn't be able to get their V5. It stops private parking companies and the police being able to grab you. Another option is to stick it in the name of a fictitious company as well - but that is more dodgy legally.

You say "offences" are these CCJ's or Court Fines? Theoretically a balliff has the power to force entry for court fines. However it's very very unlikely they will. Which bunch of idiots are these balliffs?

Anyway - don't let them into your home. Under any circumstances.
You ideally want a statutory declaration saying the person doesn't live here and all goods are yours. Find a template online. A solicitor will charge £5 to sign this for you.
Then email/send that to the balliff company.
If they do come back give them a copy and close the door.

Then IF they take your car post on here. I used to help out for a debt charity. I've helped people with interpleader claims. That is where you get your stuff back. Taking your car is negligence and their client will pay for it! Solicitors fees are recoverable, and you can have a nice hire car whilst they are releasing your car. Financially is the only way to hurt these clowns.

Sound advice

We all know fraudsters are scum, but a large percentage of bailiffs are too (despite the kind of picture painted on trash tv)

[photosnob]

stewy68 said:

Sound advice

We all know fraudsters are scum, but a large percentage of bailiffs are too (despite the kind of picture painted on trash tv)

Balliffs/EA's don't have to be scummy. People on here jump up and down and claim "get in HCEO's/sheriffs" what they don't realise is how much they are potentially opening themselves up to.

Hypothetically if the OP's car was grabbed who ever instructed the HCEO will be looking at a £2grand bill minimum - if he choses to go after them. Now you might think you have a valid claim etc.. But the bloke who is paid solely on getting peoples money will quite happily behave in ways which are both illegal and morally despicable.

What's more they are no half as effective as they make out on TV. They generally do three visits before giving up. If the person has no assets there is nothing they can do. If they can't find the debtor there is nothing they can do. And here is the killer: how do they know if they have found the debtor? The only person I'd show my ID to is the lady in tesco's and a police officer. I'd never confirm or deny my name to some idiot at my door. I advise people to not engage with them. After a while they give up and go and pick on lower hanging fruit.

[Sheets Tabuer]

I believe the police wanted him for drive offs and the bailiffs are for bus lane offences and not paying for parking.

I've owned this place for 27 years.

Bit pissed off I'm gonna have to take time out to run around writing to and calling organisations because some dick pulled my address out of a hat, oh well thats my Monday sorted.

[chow pan toon]

photosnob said:

What's more they are no half as effective as they make out on TV. They generally do three visits before giving up. If the person has no assets there is nothing they can do. If they can't find the debtor there is nothing they can do. And here is the killer: how do they know if they have found the debtor? The only person I'd show my ID to is the lady in tesco's and a police officer. I'd never confirm or deny my name to some idiot at my door. I advise people to not engage with them. After a while they give up and go and pick on lower hanging fruit.

I did wonder about this. When I used to rent I used to get bailiffs for previous tenants sometimes and beyond saying that I wasn't the person they were looking for I didn't say anything else. They asked to see ID, tenancy agreements etc which I used to think was a right bloody cheek. They used to disappear and I guess they must have checked the electoral roll or something equally simple that could have saved them a wasted journey in the first place.