I contemplated becoming a bailif when i left the pub game as a regular was owner of a company-

I spent a day with one of his better men as a tester and soon realised it wasnt for me as I have morals..

dam some of the houses we went into-!! crikey--- ... i wanted to give them a tenner !! ..

so it wasnt for me.

but jonboys advice is sound.

I've had similar postcards from bailifs looking for the lad who rented this place before me. I've always phoned their office straightaway and told them he has moved on, thats been the end of it.

I'd call the court, ask them if they got your letter, tell them that things have gone awry. Ask them to call off the bailifs. Then call the bailifs again, if they still won't believe you then tell them that your Mum is scared stiff by all this nonsense and has been given strict instructions not to open the door, so they'd be wasting their time. Recommend that it'd be easier for them to check the phone book and electoral role.

Basically, you want to be arguing with these folks over the phone, not in front of your house.

Slightly different story from me... I was in one of those mail order book clubs, and they allegedly sent me some books, though I'd not made an order- editor's choice sort of thing, you had to tell them not to send it, but I was in hospital at the time. Never got the books they said they'd sent, but they were good at sending the bill.

So I completed their non-receipt form, sent it back. A month later I get a bill with charges on. So I phone them up, go mad, send another non-delivery form recorded delivery. This time they action it, but refuse to refund the £10 charge. So I sent them a "polite but firm" letter telling them that they weren't getting the money off me, and that I considered our contract finished with immediate effect. Never heard from them again...

...but I did hear from a collection agency. "We have bought your debt to BCA Bookclubs of £10+£30 administration fees. We have added our own administration costs of £30 to this. If you do not forward £70 within 10 working days we will forward this account to our direct collection agents"

But, here's the twist. I phoned up, told them what had happened, and they were as nice as pie "Sorry about that, we get a few inappropriate cases from that company, we'll write it off and reclaim it from them." "Can I have that in writing" "Of course, no problem." 2 days later, I get the written confirmation. Fair to say I was absolutely stunned, I thought we were off to court...

Book clubs!!

Love htem. We had a membership of one a few houses back. We rang them and said we were moving and gave the new address. We redireted our mail with the Royal Mail. Teh book cllub sent a box of books by courier to the old address. The book club billed us at teh new address. Because the books went by courier they were not redirected by the Royal Mail. The book club got heavy.

We have since moved again, but I suspect the deliveries are still happening!