Having a bailiff write, call or appear on your doorstep raises all sorts of questions. We have listed some of the most frequently asked below, to help guide you through the process and hopefully get out of debt as quickly as possible.
Why am I getting correspondence from you?
Unless there has been a mistake [see I have received a letter for someone who does not live at my address below], you owe money to a client who has instructed us to recover their debt.
I have received a letter/hand delivered notice, what should I do?
Use the phone number on the letter and speak to us immediately. If you ignore the notice you will be charged more money.
What happens if I continue to ignore the letter?
On top of the higher charges, we will continue recovery action. That means someone can come into your home and remove your goods for sale to cover the debt arrears.
I have received a letter for someone who does not live at my address, what should I do?
If you are not the person on the notice you should contact us immediately, with a forwarding address for the debtor if possible, so we can update our records. You can contact us here.
What happens when a bailiff calls?
The bailiff will carry an identity card and a certificate issued by the court. He or she is entitled to collect full payment of the debt including their costs or remove your goods for sale to clear the debt.
What happens if I do not answer the door?
The bailiff will try and discuss your case with you prior to removal of your goods. If you refuse to open the door or discuss the case they may remove your car or other goods located outside your house. If you do not have any goods the case may be referred back to the client, who will seek to use other recovery options. In that case the debt will remain and the charges will increase further.
What should I do if I wish to dispute the debt?
We won’t suspend recovery action unless instructed to do so by the client to whom you owe the debt. If you feel you have a dispute you should try and resolve it with the client as quickly as possible. Once you have done that you should contact us straightaway to agree a new repayment plan if applicable.
What if I cannot afford to pay this debt?
If you can’t pay the debt in full it may be possible under certain circumstances to accept a short-term arrangement. In that instance a bailiff will visit your premises to assess the next appropriate course of action.
How can I pay this debt?
Rundles offer a range of payment options depending on the type of debt owed. These include:
All payments must be made to Rundles and include all fees and charges incurred, your bailiff reference number, name and address.
How much will I be charged?
That depends on how quickly you settle your debt – the longer you go without settlement the higher the charges you will incur. All our charges are made in accordance with the relevant legislation and individual contracts. Details are as follows:
Debtor charges Council Tax and NDR
Pricing Schedule Penalty Charge Notices
Complaints Procedure
All complaints can be made via our complaint form or by letter, email or fax to our Complaints Manager (see downloads below) detailing your name and address and if possible debtor reference or Client/Council reference number. If you are happy for us to contact you by telephone, please supply a number as we many need further information.
Download Rundles Complaints Procedure
Which goods can be seized?
The bailiff will only seek to remove goods if you are unwilling to pay the debt. In that instance, her or she can only seize goods that belong to the debtor or are jointly owned by the debtor [even if the other joint owner is not the debtor].
Generally the bailiff cannot seize:
In addition the bailiff would not seek to remove the following goods:
How can I complain about Rundles and its employees?
Rundles always try to collect debts as quickly and easily as possible. A bailiff call may be a stressful event but we expect all of our employees to act in a professional manner. If you feel that you have been treated badly or the bailiff has acted incorrectly, you should contact our complaints manager Tracy Harper.
Rundles is a corporate member of the Civil Enforcement Association [CIVEA], who operate a formal complaints procedure. If you are unhappy with the response provided by Rundles you can contact them via the websites of their predecessors at www.acea.org.uk or www.ensas.org.uk.
Where else can I get advice on debt management?
There are plenty of debt management companies out there but before you speak to them – which will cost you money – you should seek free independent advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Visit their website here for further information.
