Hands off, it's mine
Question
My ex partner still lives with me and owes a lot of money. He's told me that the bailiffs might come round and I'm worried they might take items that have been bought in my name on hire-purchase not in his. Can they do that?
Answer
Basically, if the debts are in your ex-partner's name then the bailiffs can only take items that belong to him. They can't take things that belong to you, your children or goods that are on hire-purchase (HP) and therefore belong to the hire company and not you. They will expect you to have proof of the HP agreement but once they have seen it they will not take those things away.
They should also not take things your ex has on HP unless, of course, he owes money to that company. But they can take items he's bought on credit, e.g. with a credit card.
Goods that have been bought in joint names can also be taken unless they are subject to an HP or similar agreement.
You may want to contact the credit reference agencies to let them know your ex is still living at your address but that you don't have any connection with any debts in his name. The main credit reference agencies are: Experian Limited (0870 241 6212); Equifax plc (0870 010 0583); and Callcredit plc (0870 060 1414).
Updated: 02/03/2005
Question answered by CAB
