Walking past picket line

[drevil1969uk]

Its got to that point now, i am left with little choice

I cannot have debt collecters knocking on my door, what with my mum being ill, where is the hardship fund? As things stand any day now bauiliffs will be knocking on my door and i cant have it. I have spoken to the union about this and all they have said is that do overtime (not forgetting my sa has been taken away from me)

but its not easy just getting up and doping overtime. The only overtime available is little piddly hours odd few here or there early or a through, non of which are convenient in the slightest. I mean my duty finishes at a time where i would have to wait around a few hours till the through started and the early i can do but i drive home during rush hour and it can be a long journey and need to be alert (the state of driving in the uk now!!)

What im saying is it isnt just a case of just doing overtime. Arent we meant to get money to compensate us when we strike? When these strikes are over will the union be there to help pick up the pieces of the debts? (i know the answer to the latter)

The union are not helping me i feel with the money situation and i am being forced into a corner with regards to it. I dont want to walk past a picket line and it would be a last resort to do so

[monkeyman]

I know the feeling and so far have supported all the strike days about 12/13 days so far i have lost count its a struggle and i have had to cut back on things but the option of letting royal mail do what it wants to. keeps me supporting the union.
If you have to cross the picket line be a man or woman and go to your own office, dont hide by gonig to other offices as some of the blokes from my office have you get found out in the end. Explain your reasons if asked, dont gloat or make a big deal .Most importantly make your own mind up dont listen to others . You alone know the answer to crossing the picket line, Good luck whatever you decide.

[Lounge Lizard]

Troll alert

[POSTMAN]

cannot have debt collecters knocking on my door, what with my mum being ill, where is the hardship fund? As things stand any day now bauiliffs will be knocking on my door and i cant have it.

Will try and post later with a little more detail but the above takes a long time to happen,you have to go to court 1st,has your debts dragged on that long.

http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk/deb ... -guide.php

What 'legal authority' must a bailiff have?

A bailiff must be legally authorised to collect the debt on behalf of the creditor. The authority is normally known as a 'warrant', or 'warrant of execution' if the bailiff is recovering money owed under a county court judgment.

Bailiffs used by the magistrates court to collect unpaid council tax, outstanding fines, compensation or unpaid maintenance will be acting on either a 'distress warrant' or a 'liability order' issued by the magistrates court.

If you are in arrears, creditors will sometimes send representatives to your home to try and negotiate repayments with you. These people might be called 'counsellors', 'collectors' or 'advisers'. They do not have powers to enter your home and seize your goods.

Can a bailiff force his/her way into my house?
Most bailiffs do not have the right to force their way into your home to seize your goods. The only exception is that bailiffs from the Collector of Taxes (Inland Revenue) can get a warrant to force entry, but this is very rare.

All other bailiffs have a right of peaceful entry only. This means that they cannot use force to enter your home, for example, by breaking a window or a door. However, they can enter your property through an open door or window (front and back) and can climb over fences and gates, but cannot break them down. See also ''If a bailiff does gain peaceful entry to my house, what will they do?''

You do not have to let a bailiff into your house. A bailiff cannot force their way past you if you answer the door. If all your doors and windows are securely closed they will not be able to gain peaceful entry to your house unless you let them in.

Bailiffs are well aware of their limited powers and may use a variety of different means to gain entry peaceably. They may attempt to walk in as soon as a door is opened. They may ask if they can use your telephone to check if an arrangement is satisfactory with their office. They may simply ask you if you would prefer to discuss matters inside. You do not have to go along with any of these methods.

Can I be arrested or imprisoned for not letting a bailiff into my house?
No. If a bailiff is accompanied by the police, they are only there to prevent a breach of the peace. You cannot be arrested for refusing to allow a bailiff into your home.

You cannot be imprisoned for not paying your debts. However, non-payment of council tax, child maintenance or magistrates court fines can lead to imprisonment if you 'wilfully refuse' to pay. This means that the magistrates must be satisfied that you have the money but choose not to pay. You should be required to attend a magistrates court means enquiry hearing before this is decided. This gives you the chance to explain why you have not paid.

[opgpat]

If you really need the money comming in find some other source of income on strike days and/or cut your spending.

Look, the whole point to the strike action is to PROTECT YOUR job and wages for the future. So the point is, you loose some wages now so that you don't loose EVEN MORE wages in the future - either through wage cuts or working more for less money. In essence - YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY IN THE LONG RUN BY GOING ON STRIKE. We're striking not just 'to make a point', it's real working conditions - YOURS - that are at stake. How would you feel if the strike failed and next year you got a pay cut of 10%. Then 10% the next year too? Will you be able to afford THAT?

Everyone is in the same boat here. Everyone will have to make real sacrifices but for GOOD reasons.

Finally, stick together and the strikes will be over sooner.

[drevil1969uk]

@opgpat I understna dwhat your saying but get a job from where in this reession that fit in with royal mail hours? (And i have been looking for another job by the way) I totally understand the reasoning of going on strike and im totally for it but im talking about being at breaking point here.

@postman do you know of any hardship fund? You have to see that i have never been in debt the way i am now so i didnt know all that you posted up, thank you. I think another problem i have is my mum is a bit of a worrier and has a heart condition so its the last thing she would need.

@lounge lizard, thanks for your support good to know posties are sticking together (theres always one)

@monkeyman In all honesty i hadent thought as far as walking atually past it, how i would do it (didnt want to and doesnt bear thinking about) but i would walk past people and tell them to there face. When i been on the picket line couldnt stand people just strolling past or trying to hide!

[pickaname]

I dont want to walk past a picket line and it would be a last resort to do so

Erm not being funny m8, but dont then...as Postman says, you can delay the calling in of debts quite easily.
Advice here:

http://www.penaltycharges.co.uk/main_bank_charges.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sick Postie]

It usually takes several months before the debt collectors will come calling. In the case of credit cards/loans it is usually 5 months of missed payments before the debt is "sold" on to a collection agency. During these first months you will get phone calls and letters but not people knocking at your door, so your mum will be protected here. Also if you can make a token payment and explain that your income has dropped most lenders will take less rather than nothing at all. Not ideal I know but neither is walking through a picket line. The coming months will not be easy for any of us but then life will be unbearable if RM get their way!

[drevil1969uk]

Thanks for advice everyone i really didnt want to contemplate walking through and now my mind has been made up, stick at it. Now the problem is when they ring, i have to try and get them to talk to me when i answer lol

[DGP1]

Just another point about 'bad debt' - never put things off, always talk/communicate with these people and if necessary go along to the CAB and talk to them about it (never deal with debt conciliation companies).

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAnd ... G_10013291" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IWW Fellow Worker]

Thanks for advice everyone i really didnt want to contemplate walking through and now my mind has been made up, stick at it. Now the problem is when they ring, i have to try and get them to talk to me when i answer lol

Chin up lad! We were out for three weeks solid in 1988 when my wife was expecting and mine was the only wage coming in. We survived, and over twenty years on I've got two grown up kids who know their dad never scabbed. Don't let these scumbags win!

[johnston65]

[antcpfc]

Thanks for advice everyone i really didnt want to contemplate walking through and now my mind has been made up, stick at it. Now the problem is when they ring, i have to try and get them to talk to me when i answer lol

Chin up lad! We were out for three weeks solid in 1988 when my wife was expecting and mine was the only wage coming in. We survived, and over twenty years on I've got two grown up kids who know their dad never scabbed. Don't let these scumbags win!

I remember that well.We had just moved in to our first home and the loss of pay was all I needed.
But as you say not only do my kids know after 24 years I have never scabbed,just as importantly I can live with myself.

[Fred B]

Thanks for advice everyone i really didnt want to contemplate walking through and now my mind has been made up, stick at it. Now the problem is when they ring, i have to try and get them to talk to me when i answer lol

Chin up lad! We were out for three weeks solid in 1988 when my wife was expecting and mine was the only wage coming in. We survived, and over twenty years on I've got two grown up kids who know their dad never scabbed. Don't let these scumbags win!

I remember that well.We had just moved in to our first home and the loss of pay was all I needed.
But as you say not only do my kids know after 24 years I have never scabbed,just as importantly I can live with myself.

Same here. Things were a bit tight for a month or so, but as you say, I can live with myself. Dignity and self repect intact.

[hantsman]

Thanks for advice everyone i really didnt want to contemplate walking through and now my mind has been made up, stick at it. Now the problem is when they ring, i have to try and get them to talk to me when i answer lol

Never ever speak to them on the phone, put all communications in writing, including you wont speak to them on the phone. Get down to the CAB