Baliffs/sheriffs - Locksmiths/tow Trucks -Payment

[tali1]

Watching these Baliff shows on TV like Can't Pay , take it Away .When they order a Locksmiths/Tow trucks/Lorry to enter premises or take goods away- do the Baliffs pay for the services immediately and add to debtors bill ? or does the Locksmiths/Tow trucks/Lorry provider have to wait for payment from the debtor direct for their payment ?

[douglas9401]

I don't know for sure but as they wouldn't be there if the wee man with the dodgy nostril hair or one of his colleagues handn't phoned I guess the bailiffs should pay for the service.

[ummmm]

I would guess they are invoiced for it on a monthly basis.

[TonyV]

They will have contracts with anyone they sub out services to but will know their hourly rate and that is added directly to debtors bill.

[Buenchico]

Simple contract law applies here. It's the bailiff's firm that has entered into a contract with the locksmith/haulier/etc, so it's that firm which is responsible for paying the locksmith/haulier/etc. (The debtor hasn't entered into any such contract and therefore can't be directly called upon to pay for any such service).

So the bailifffs pay for the services needed to enable them to carry out their work and then add their costs to the amount to be paid by the debtor.

[Peter Pedant]

// (The debtor hasn't entered into any such contract and therefore can't be directly called upon to pay for any such service).//

erm ish in the real world

Bailiffs are allowed by the courts that licence them to add agreed (!)(*) costs to their fees
and on the prog you hear - and if 3 mins, your debt goes up £500!

and is it open to abuse? - yup - where they wave the charging flag - - but havent really called the truck

or - if they are absent, charge for a truck which was never there.

The debtor pays the inflated bailiff fee and not the actual charge

after two visits a tenants debt of £600 went up to £2,492 - she took an IVA. I have written about this before - altho IV may be 1 y - hers is five and she is still paying ( 2014 -> 2019). That is each visit where she didnt answer was £750

unbelievably duuuuur

[Peter Pedant]

(*) oh agreed between the bailiffs and the courts that is!

[Peter Pedant]

by the way of nothing much
a debt is a chose in action
[in AB speak - "shows in action"]
which means that they can be traded - bought and sold
The debtor has no say in this


it is usually I think 10p in the pound
so see above - it might be sold on for £292.
and both firms make a profit

Debt is really reallly bad