A couple who have never missed a mortgage payment in 25 years have been evicted from their £650,000 family home in Stotfold High Street.

The Comet: Rose and Bob Jackson outside their home in Stotfold High Street, which they have been evicted from despite not missing a mortgage payment in 25 years.Rose and Bob Jackson outside their home in Stotfold High Street, which they have been evicted from despite not missing a mortgage payment in 25 years. (Image: Archant)

Bob and Rose Jackson have also been left bankrupt after a wrangle with a company in which Bob had a franchise.

Pirtek UK, a multi-national company which provides hoses and hydraulics, accused Bob of buying and selling other companies’ products in breach of his contract – an allegation he strongly denies.

The dispute has seen the home Bob bought in 1992 repossessed over the debts he owes to Pirtek.

Bob and Rose, 62, were only given 15 minutes to leave their home after bailiffs forced them to vacate their home. They’ve also been declared bankrupt and had their assets frozen.

When Pirtek gave him a bill of £30,000, which he refused to pay, it started court action. Three years on legal bills have left Bob, 63, owing more than £500,000. The bitter legal dispute resulted in them ending his franchise, shutting his business and seizing all its assets. It also resold his franchise to a third party.

Now his cause has been taken up by a campaign group championing small businesses, with at least 14 other people who held franchises with Pirtek involved in similar complaints – raising questions about methods the company is using.

John Goddard of the Serious Banking Complaints Bureau said: “We’re aware of at least 14 individuals with similar types of complaints to Mr Jackson.”

Bob told the Comet: “Shaven-headed bomber-jacket wearing bailiffs turned up at my door one morning. They were really aggressive and gave us a quarter of an hour to leave our home we’ve lived in since 1992.

“It’s been a nightmare time. The stress has been awful.”

A spokesman said: “Pirtek wholly rejects any allegation it has unfairly targeted franchisees coming towards the end of their agreements.

“A financial motivation to churn franchisees simply does not exist.”