Excessive Bailiffs charges

[tree]

I have just borrowed money from my family to clear a council tax debt of £850 that has been in the hands of bailiffs since nov last year. I was paying them £10 a week but my income stopped and I was waiting for some money to come through that I was owed with which I was intending to pay in full. I have only had 2 pieces of paperwork pushed through the door in that time, I have signed nothing, my blinds have always been closed, they have not gained entry in all that time but they are asking for £700 - how on earth can they justify this??? I think they came with a van a couple of times - but as they have no levy can they charge for this?
There is a previous council tax debt of £200 which has gone to a different bailiff which I am intending to pay the mininmum on (£70) and instalments - which wont be much because I have little income.

[labman]

Re: Excessive Bailiffs charges

There's two separate issues here. Firstly the new CT debt. Phone the council and ask them the exact amount of the Liability Order gained against you. Make a note of this. If it is less than £200 then if the bailiffs have not gained entry to your house, ignore them them totally. Do not let them in. If you have a vehicle on which they could levy, move it a few streets away. Keep your front door locked and the windows closed.

Once you know the amount of the Liability Order, pay this directly to the council using their online payment system or automated telephone payment system. You may well get threats from the bailiffs, but ignore them, there is honestly nothing they can do.

Once paid, you may have to pay the bailiffs £42.50 for two visits (only if they've made two visits), but they would have to purue this money under a new Liability Order which is unlikely.

As regards the other debt, you need to send the following letter to get a full breakdown of their fees - again ask the council how much the Liability Order was for initially:

To:
Acme Bailiff Co
Bailiff House

Ref: Account No: 123456

Dear Sir,

With reference to the above account, I would be grateful if you could provide me with a breakdown of all charges incurred.

This includes, but is not necessarily limited to the following:

a the time and date of any bailiff action that incurred a fee or charge.
b the reason for the fee or charge.
c the name(s) of the bailiff(s) that attended on each occasion a fee was charged.
d the name(s) of the Court(s) at which the Bailiff(s) was/were Certificated.
e the date of certification.
f the initial balance, and any amount currently outstanding on the account

This is not a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act S7 1998 so does not incur a fee of £10. You are obliged to provide this information.

I require this information within 14 days.

Yours faithfully,

Sign

PRINT NAME

Write to the Head of Revenues at the Council explaining you have written to the bailiffs asking for a breakdown of their fees and asking him to put a hold on your account and instruct them to cease enforcement until they answer (he may well refuse). Tell him you want to pay the fine, but need the breakdown of fees as you simply can't afford what they are demanding. You will offer a repayment arrangement once received.

[ploddertom]

Re: Excessive Bailiffs charges

You need to speak to someone at the Council and ask the following questions:
1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you
2 - the dates they were obtained
3 - the addresses they were for
4 - the period of time each covers
5 - how much each one was for
6 - how much is still outstanding
7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement