newlyn plc

[Guest]

Hello,
I just wanted to see if there was anything I can do in regards to my situation with Newlyn plc as I've seen many people have problems with this company and their lies and abuse of power.
I was behind on my council tax and when I called my council to pay and get up to date, they had told me that the situation had been passed on to a debt collection agency, Newlyn Plc and that I would hear from them. After not hearing from them at all, via post, via email, via phone, I decided to reach out myself via their chat forum on their website. The man asked me for my case ID which I could not provide as I hadn't heard from them before. I gave my information (name, address etc.) and we discussed a possible payment plan, I wanted to split the payment into two and the man I was talking to said that in order to do that, I would have to pay £75 upfront and that is the only option, which I did not have on that day. I explained that I didn't have the money to pay £75 upfront as well as make half the payment on the date I was able to (14th of February) so once I do find that extra £75, I guess that's the only way I will have to set up a payment plan. I then haven't heard from them again until they have sent a debt collection agent to my home to bang down my door at 7am when my one year old and my one month old are asleep and for him to tell me they have now upped what I owe to from just over £700 to £1,000 because he now had to come to the house. The bailiff said that they have added this additional charge because I didn't stick to the payment plan agreed but as far as I am aware, I wasn't allowed to set up a payment plan because I didn't have the additional £75, I wasn't contacted or made aware that the payment plan I had asked for was now put in place and that I was able to pay without having to pay the £75 upfront and so now I've been coerced into making two payments of £500 (one on the 14th of March and one on the 14th of April) that I don't have as a single mother of two under two all because they have hired people who don't know how to communicate properly and have put things on the system, setting up payment plans without notifying me that what I have asked for has gone through. The bailiff then gave me a letter that states that they will seize my assets and enter my premises regardless if I do not stick to the payment plan. I called Newlyn Plc to discuss my situation and see what I could do and their response was that because I did not call to say I can't pay the £75 by the 14th of February, they've put the plan in place as that is what I have asked for them to do. I wasn't made aware of this at all otherwise I would have been able to pay the half owed like I said I would without stressing about finding the extra £75 from somewhere. I said that on the message I did say I don't have the £75 upfront and they went back to the transcript and saw that I did in fact say that and still continued to repeat themselves that the payment plan was put in place without me being aware and that is apparently fine and normal because I didn't contact them in regards to the £75? I don't know what to do as I really do not want to be paying £1000 all because they hire people who don't know how to communicate and put things in place without letting me know?
Thank you for any help and response in advance!*

[ploddertom]

How much was the Liability Order the Council obtained against you?
When did you receive the Notice of Enforcement from Newlyn? What date was on the letter and what date did they give you to contact them by?

[hereforhelp]

I owed the council £690 and then was charged an extra £75 as they had to pass the case onto the debt collection agency, so altogether I would be paying back £765. I didn't receive anything from Newlyn at all apart from the letter the enforcement agent gave me today (19.02.2020) stating that I now owe £1000 and have to call him to set up a payment plan within 24 hours or they can come and seize goods (we arranged payment at the door)

[ploddertom]

I'm a little confused about events - did the £690 include the Court Fees. You say you have been charged an extra £75 as it was passed to a debt collector - do you mean Newlyn? This is the same as the Compliance Fee which would have been on the Notice of Enforcement. By no contact being made they have now charged the Enforcement Fee of £235 which is where the £1000 comes from.

Yes they can come and seize goods but I bet they forgot to tell you they have to gain access to your home - unless you have an expensive car outside they could take. They have no automatic right of entry and even if they did gain entry then most household items are exempt from seizure. I would serve a Subject Access Request on them asking for all & any details they have on you.

You mention the age of your children and as a single parent you may actually be classed as being vulnerable. Did you make the Bailiff aware of your circumstances when he came?

[hereforhelp]

Update: I received a letter (my first from newlyn) after the agent came to my home, stating that I owe them the £765 and need to call to set up a payment plan for this amount but when I called, they wont let me.
The £690 didn't include court fees, solely council tax and yes to newlyn.
I didn't make the bailiff aware as I have never been in the situation of having a bailiff come to my door, I didn't know what to say or do.
I have emailed them for a breakdown of fees incurred but haven't received anything back just yet.