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Great gran bailiffs threat - for owing just 1p
A SHOCKED Sheffield pensioner received a letter threatening her with bailiffs - because she owes the grand total of 1p.
Great granny Joan Hoyland was sent the letter from a firm of solicitors informing her: "Your account is .01 in arrears."
The letter went on to inform Joan, 73, that proceedings had been brought in Northampton County Court where a judgment had been made against her.
And it added: "Unless you pay the arrears in full within the course of the next 10 days the claimant will issue a warrant of execution against you.
"A court bailiff will call on you in order to satisfy the warrant."
Joan, of Wulfric Road, Manor, who has 15 great grandchildren, called the offices of Salford-based Horwich Farrelly Solicitors, the company which had sent out the letter.
She said: "I rang them to stop the bailiffs coming to my home because I had no idea how I came to owe anybody 1p.
"They told me that my case had been going on for 10 years when I bought something - for the life of me I can't even remember what.
"Whatever it was I was 1p short on my repayments.
"It has taken them 10 years to chase that penny up - I was absolutely dumbfounded.
"But at least the person I spoke to told me they were willing to waive court action which means now I don't have to worry about the bailiffs knocking on my door.
"When I told my friends and family they all hade a really good laugh and now I can't stop laughing.
"I'm going to have the letter framed and hang it on my wall as a reminder."
Now Horwich Farrelly Solicitors has apologised and said the letter should not have been sent.
A company spokesperson said: "This is a genuine mistake. It occurred due to us carrying out some minute adjustments to clear our systems following a management buyout.
"This was not meant to happen and we have apologised to Mrs Hoyland for any distress this may have caused."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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