Rossendale bailiffs

[Aimz]

I just wanted to share my recent experience with the bailiffs at Rossendales.

In September of this year my local coucil wrote to me informing me they was taking me to court because I had an outstanding amount of £82.00 on council tax from a property i moved out of on April 2nd. I rang my council who informed me it was for the month 15th April-15th May. I pointed out that I actually wasn't a tenant at that property during that time and would not be paying the amount. I also pointed out that I had been paying council tax on my new property since the 2nd April. The council informed me that unless I could prove I wasn't a tenant during that time within 7 days it would go to court. Everything i took to the coucil wasn't sufficient enough and they proceeded with action without notice.

In october I returned from work to find a hand delivered letter from Rossendales saying I owe an outstanding amount of £120.58. I tried to ring the number on the bottom of the letter to only get his answerphone. I rang rossendale head office only to be told if I had a hand delivered letter I had to deal with the named baliffe direct. I left an answerphone message telling the baliffe I would be putting a cheque in the post the following day for the full amount. I awoke to an answerphone message informing me that £24.50 charges had been added and i now owed £145.08. I posted the cheque simply for an easy life.

I continued to check my bank account for the cheque to clear but didn't for 2 weeks. This was because at the time the postal strike was on. As soon as it cleared I bagan to rest knowing this debt was sorted.

Yesterday I returned from work to find another hand delivered final notice saying they had come to collect goods and will be returning in 24 hours at their convenience to remove goods if total amount is not paid. No amount was on the letter.

I tried ringing the named baliffe and as before only got his answerphone again tried ringing head office and got the usual speal reguarding only talking to named baliffe. I had no idea any money was owing or how much. After 5 hours I managed to get through to the baliffe to be informed I owed £18.50!!! this was a charge put on my account because my payment was late due to the postal strike! I had not been notified in any way of this charge.He then informs me that charges had been added to this amount for the visit that day and the amount I now owed was £158.00. He then informed me that a levy had been put on my car which is worth 6k and if I didn't pay £158.00 immediately my car would be removed tomorrow!! I at the time put the phone down on him because i was feeling extremely angry and extremely shocked. I then tried to ring him again 10 times to which i either got his answerphone or no answer. I reluctantly rang headoffice and paid full amount. I treied to ring the baliffe again and he didnt answer so I left both a text and an answerphone message saying £158.00 paid in full and quoted the payment reference number.

I had a telephone call this morning saying he would still be calling today because the payment should of been made direct to him not headoffice and he put the phone down.

I have spent all day worried incase that dreaded knock comes

[WendyB]

Re: Rossendale bailiffs

First thing to remember about bailiffs - if their lips are moving then they are lying! Have a read of this Bailiff Guide. They cannot levy on your car as you have signed no levy forms etc. They have no doubt overcharged you and I'm sorry to say it might be a battle to get your money back. You should consider reporting the bailiff with a Form 4. Also remember that as the bailiffs are acting for the council then the council have vicarious liability too. Complian in writing to the council about the conduct of the bailiffs and also about their (the council's) total incompetency in dealing with your council tax account correctly.

And Amy or Cet will be along later with more info, they are much more expret than me.

And welcome to Beagles!!:2w32gd1:

[Amy]

Re: Rossendale bailiffs

I agree with Wendy, you need to complain about this and not only to the bailiff company, but to the council.

Do you know precisely what fees have been added and why? If not, send the bailiff a Subject Access Request (from the link provided by Wendy).

The rules governing what fees a bailiff is allowed to add to a council tax debt are very strict and there is no doubt from what you have said above, that this bailiff has simply made them up.

It is not good enough for any local council simply to wash their hands of a debtor merely because the debt has been placed with a bailiff. The council are complicit and by not correcting this behaviour they are encouraging the bailiff company to pursue nefarious and erroneous fees and that is just wrong.

[mollymoo123]

Re: Rossendale bailiffs

I am having the same problems with a Bailif that called at my house I had a Council Tax debt of £72 that were supposed to have been paid whilst I was not working but due to an admin error on the Job Centre part its was not sorted.. I escalated it and told it would be sorted. I then discovered I had be given £48 court costs and the debt had been given to Rossendales.. I then had cost put of of £24.50 and £18.00.

I escalated this again and told it would be dealt with.. but to my suprise a very aggresive bailif showed up at my house and I do believe because he thought I was on my owe and I was working from home ( He didn't know that) I wasn't dressed so looked a mess. he became very aggresive.. I told him in a polite manner that it was being dealt with so please leave my property.

The next thing I had a note pushed through my door saying I now owed £288.. and he was going to take my car.

I rang the council and they said that the debt outstanding was £162.50 with Rossendales leagal costs.. and they wouldn't help me get it sorted I had to ring the company who only spoke over you never listened to you and told me to ring the bailif. I rang the bailif whom may I add never showed me any ID told me that my car was leagally his now and he would be coming back to remove it. I told him I needed it for work... he said well catch the bus. I said what 136 miles round trip (that's how far I work away from home). I told him he couldn't take my car he became very aggresive.. In the end my son spoke to him I was nearly having an heart attack I was that upset thinking some one could take my car like that, he slightly changed his tune when he spoke to him but demanded I give my my bank details over the phone... I wouldn't do this because I did not know him from Adam.

I tried to pay the original debt to the council but they refused to take it saying I had to pay Rossendales direct... I rang them yet again and they refused to take it... so I paid £162.50 via there telephone payment system I had reference numbers etc.

In the meantime this bailif kept constanly harrasing my son because I used him phone not mine... he said he wanted my number my work number etc but I wouldn't give him it.. he told me the car belong to him now.. I told him I would lose my job if this happened and I would be unemployed so he wouldn't get anything if that happened anyway.. he said tough the car belong to him now.

I looked on line got advise from my company solicitors CAB and UK Debt Line who all told me that because I did not let him in to my property and I did not sign anything this was theft. also looking at guide lines the amount they are supposed to levy is meant to be propostional to the debt its self. I told also that I was a single parent and needed my car for work and he couldn't do that. I also told Rossendales but no one would listen to me they just said pay up pay up or the car is gone.

I have since complained to the council but and copied my MP in the email the council reply back but they don't confirm that Rossendales have paid the council this debt they just keep saying I have to pay.

Can they do this take my car away??? It makes me so angry that Loan Shark make head line news but these people are far worse preying on vunrable people I could scream.. god know how old people who find themselve in this situation cope... How can a country like ours let this keep happening??????

Please help me can my car be taken I have paid my debt plus I paid £54.50 costs which I thought appropriate to Rossendales.. This person is still harrasing me now saying the debt is over £300.. help help help..........