www.iva.co.uk

We had a man call at the house from a company called Property Service Partnership. I have applied for an IVA. The meeting is on Thursday next. The IVA does not include the mortgage which is in arrears 3 months at £2,790 which is why he was knocking at the door. The house is in negative equity and as part of the reason I am in so much debt was due to a builder disapearing with money and leaving the house like a building site, Believe me we are far from desperate to keep the house. First thing when I answered the door he had my car door open and was looking through things in the car. Can he do that? Can I stop him by force if necessary. I told him I was applying for an IVA and I would know on Thursday the result. I also told him I would sort the arrears with the mortgage company not him after that. He insisted on making an appointment to call on Friday. Also that I give him my telephone number. I gave him my mobile. What are my rights here? He wants to come in and go through all my income and all the outgoings I have. I do not want to. I asked the mortgage company if I could pay interest only for 6 months. They refused so I paid nothing. GE MONEY is the mortgage company. They said they do not allow people to pay interest only anymore. If I do not get the IVA then I am going into bankruptcy.

The only people who have a right to enter your property are county court bailiffs, and they have to follow the rules, they cannot force entry the first time they visit for example, but once invited in they can return and force entry at a future date to retrieve goods they have marked.

This just sounds like a debt collector to me, and he has no rights of entry to your property.

You need to take some advice about what to do, so suggest you speak to your IP about this in the first instance to let them know what has happened.

Hi and welciome.

So sorry that you are having this trouble. This man cannot enter your house by force and he sounds like a debt collector to me, not a bailiff.

A debt collector has no rights at all and you can just refuse him entry. I wouldn't even bother going to the door if he comes back next week and I'd make sure your car doors are locked as well! That's just not on!

What a vile little man...he makes my skin crawl. Absolutely agree with the other two...plus a few choice words about what he can do with his poxy notepad!! Now I've let off a bit of steam - the iva will not protect you from proceedings against your property. However, if you do decide to hand the keys back the shortfall can be included in your iva but if significant it may require creditor agreement. Let us know how you get on and good luck with the iva xx

Contact the police. Immediately.

Unfortunately Quark, the police won't be able to do anything and probably won't in this day and age.

I would contact the parent company, complain about the harrassment and threaten to take it further.

Just done a bit of research, debt collectors of the lowest sort. If I opened to the door to find some dollop going through my car, a fat smack in the face is what would be required and loads of screaming for help and , then I'd ring the Police. Simple as. Make sure your car doors are locked at all times and no personal papers are in there. Disgusting.

It's not good quark but if you smacked someone then you would be guilty of assault and could quite easily be locked up yourself!

Best to just ignore them and tell them to go away! They can do nothing.

Yes I know Jan, but he was going through the car, it's like coming home and finding a burglar in your home. I live in London, perhaps we are a bit harder. Just made my blood boil, I do not advocate violence in any way.

It isn't good, and he shouldn't have been doing it but you would need to prove it and nothing was stolen.

He is the lowest of the low and deserves a smacking - you can't do it though!

Just make sure the car doors are locked and totally ignore him when he knocks at the door.

I would certainly make a complaint about this behaviour as it's not on.

The only thing they'd find in my car are scrapers, sponges, sunglasses and sweets!

I have some big burly neighbours who look out for me when hubbys away-one a retired bailiff from Liverpool(we are in Cumbria)so this fella would have been lucky to get my car door open, never mind get off our estate in one piece!!!!-and nobody would have seen anything.
Human instinct is to defend your property-not ask for their id when it appears they are stealing from your car. If they use unscrupulous means to make a buck then they should be ready to face the consequences.
Report them to their head office and the oft.

Would a slipper across the backside be fitting ?

For me-yes pleasse!!!!
Sorry-went off subject there.

Paul - without going off the subject - are you planning to keep your house? - even whilst entering an IVA - your mortgage /rent payment has to be a priority and still needs to be paid - all the other unsecure lending needs to go on hold.

Reading between the lines I think he will be happy for the house to go. However, if he's planning on renting I would do it now rather than later. It might be easier.

I do agree though that instead of paying unsecured lenders I would use that money to reduce the mortgage arrears.