Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

[Barney666]

I was advised to post on Legal Beagles from the forum Daftmoo.org.uk



My husband was convicted in August 2010, My husband claimed full legal aid for the trial.

My husband has just over a year to go, his release date is the 23rd August 2013,

Yesterday I received a letter addressed to my husband from a company called

ROSSENDALES LTD,


Following your conviction in the Crown Court, you are required to pay a
contribution to the costs of your defence representation. The amount you are
required to pay is £7,877.44, this amount must be paid within 28 days of
this order 10/08/2012.

I called my husbands solicitor today, they called the National Courts Team, and the Crown Court where the trial was held, the solicitor said that I would have to call them as they as a solicitors did not deal with this sort of problems, only criminal. So I called the National Courts Team, who told me they could not deal with me as I wasnt my husband, so then I called the Crown Court, who said they couldnt advise me only to call the CAB, which I did, I didnt get anyone local so have to go on Monday at the local branch.

Has anyone else had a letter like this, this is two years after the trial, and my husband got full legal aid, so how can they ask for this sum of money now after all this time?
They know he got sentenced so why sent it to the home address nd not to the prison?

I have no money to pay this amount, I am on benefits, as I am unfit to work, mentally and physically, im on 25 tablets a day + morphine patches. I had my benefit stopped, and had to appeal against it, I won the appeal, I am still waiting for them to sort my money out, so I am on basic until they do so, Ive been on basic for a year.

I am sorry if I have rammbled on, and hope this makes sence for someone to help me,

[bluebottle]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

Hi Barney666 and welcome to Legal Beagles.

You need to contact the Legal Services Commission (LSC) (part of the Ministry of Justice) who administer the Legal Aid Scheme and find out what is going on. You also need to make it clear to them your vulnerable status.

Their postal address is -

102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ

The main switchboard is on 0207 783 7000

If you wish to make a complaint, send an email to ho.complaints@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk

As for Rossendales, speak to the LSC first as they may need to call this lot off.

[Guest]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

You need to contact police and report this as a fraud.

That letter is made by a con artist impersonating Rossendales.

Rossendales only do council tax, and someone has swiped a list of recent convictions from HM Court Service records, and sending them bogus demands.

[bluebottle]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

You need to contact police and report this as a fraud.

That letter is made by a con artist impersonating Rossendales.

Rossendales only do council tax, and someone has swiped a list of recent convictions from HM Court Service records, and sending them bogus demands.

As well as this, Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission need to be told asap to alert them as to what is going on.

[Barney666]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

You need to contact police and report this as a fraud.

That letter is made by a con artist impersonating Rossendales.

Rossendales only do council tax, and someone has swiped a list of recent convictions from HM Court Service records, and sending them bogus demands.

Thank you for replying, is there anyway to clarify this?:tinysmile_hmm_t2:

[LSC-Bailiff]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

You need to contact police and report this as a fraud.

That letter is made by a con artist impersonating Rossendales.

Rossendales only do council tax, and someone has swiped a list of recent convictions from HM Court Service records, and sending them bogus demands.

Unfortunately this is incorrect. Check on the LSC's website which will confirm that rossendales handle all collection & enforcement activity for any cases at the Crown Court.

I work as a solicitor and have dealt with these before.

When your husband applied for legal aid, he filled in a means assessment about his income. He was also asked about his mortgage, home value and any savings. If he declared any assets that are valued above £30,000, such as equity in his home, then he will have to pay towards his defence costs. It sounds like this is the letter you have received and the LSC will confirm this. Your husband will be expected, having declared that he has assets, to release the funds from his equity. If he doesnt then rossendales would push for a charging order until this is paid. Ive seen several of these now and they are being enforced. A judge will also grant any enforcement costs as part of any later rulings eg charging orders.

Get signed authorisation from your husband and then contact NCT / rossendales and they will have to deal with you and explain fully why you have this, but it sounds like your letter will say "Capital Contribution Order" and has been printed on behalf of the courts.

[Guest]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

Hi

Checks out

http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/crim...ent_agency.asp

D

[legalese]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

This sounds as if the law firm that represented your husband has began the procedure of collecting a bill, otherwise a real court bailiff would be coming and not the bad guy (Rossendale), if it is the law firm then they know its a civil matter so do not worry about it, again do not communicate with the bailiff.... Crown court, sounds scary doesnt it barney. A TYPICAL TACTIC.

[Guest]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

This sounds as if the law firm that represented your husband has began the procedure of collecting a bill, otherwise a real court bailiff would be coming and not the bad guy (Rossendale), if it is the law firm then they know its a civil matter so do not worry about it, again do not communicate with the bailiff.... Crown court, sounds scary doesnt it barney. A TYPICAL TACTIC.

The collection and enforcement agency

The LSC has contracted out the collection and enforcement of contributions for Crown Court Means Testing to Rossendales Ltd.
Rossendales is responsible for

• collecting income contributions
• capital and equity checks
• calculating final contribution orders (ie from capital and equity following conviction)
• communicating with applicants and taking enforcement action where necessary.

Their contact details, which can be given to applicants, are:
Telephone: 0844 701 3991
Fax: 0844 701 3992
24 hour payment line: 0845 078 1194
Online payments: Rossendales website

D

[legalese]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

The collection and enforcement agency

The LSC has contracted out the collection and enforcement of contributions for Crown Court Means Testing to Rossendales Ltd.
Rossendales is responsible for

• collecting income contributions
• capital and equity checks
• calculating final contribution orders (ie from capital and equity following conviction)
• communicating with applicants and taking enforcement action where necessary.

Their contact details, which can be given to applicants, are:
Telephone: 0844 701 3991
Fax: 0844 701 3992
24 hour payment line: 0845 078 1194
Online payments: Rossendales website

D

Has anyone else had a letter like this, this is two years after the trial, and my husband got full legal aid.

As barney has not reapeared then yes daveyb you could be right regarding the assets

[Guest]

Re: Help Need with ROSSENDALS LTD

Unfortunately this is incorrect. Check on the LSC's website which will confirm that rossendales handle all collection & enforcement activity for any cases at the Crown Court.

I work as a solicitor and have dealt with these before.

When your husband applied for legal aid, he filled in a means assessment about his income. He was also asked about his mortgage, home value and any savings. If he declared any assets that are valued above £30,000, such as equity in his home, then he will have to pay towards his defence costs. It sounds like this is the letter you have received and the LSC will confirm this. Your husband will be expected, having declared that he has assets, to release the funds from his equity. If he doesnt then rossendales would push for a charging order until this is paid. Ive seen several of these now and they are being enforced. A judge will also grant any enforcement costs as part of any later rulings eg charging orders.

Get signed authorisation from your husband and then contact NCT / rossendales and they will have to deal with you and explain fully why you have this, but it sounds like your letter will say "Capital Contribution Order" and has been printed on behalf of the courts.

I am unfamiliar with this, what is the procedure before they can apply for a CO.

D