Bristow and suitor problems

[Rubyroo]

Hi, don't suppose anyone could give me abit of advice on what to do next.

about 3 years ago me and my partner moved in to a mobile home on the property of parents, to save for a mortgage. A year down the line we received a letter from the council saying that we have to pay rates for the mobile home, bearing in mind we had no running water or anything it was just somewhere to get our heads down. We disputed this for a while as we thought 124 a month was very pricey given our circumstances.
we had no choice to pay this, but threw stubbornness after paying for quite a few months we stopped paying it.
in the end we had run up a bill of just under 1000, we moved into our brought accommodation in June 2012, and received a visit from a bailiff but we wasn't here so was just posted in our letter box at front of the drive.
tried ringing bailiff as well as bristow and suitor but no one ever answers there phones, so we left it. Silly I no, then we had another visit again wasn't here letter left again.
we then had the money to pay the outstanding balance but instead I went down to my local council and cleared the balance with them, the council said you will then have to clear outstanding with bristow and sutor.
So couple of days later we received a letter from bristow and sutor stating they wanted 150 from us, which we paid on 21/01/2013.
all going well and relived it is off our backs now and bugger me come home from work to find a bailiff had been again, with a letter saying to remove goods?.. And saying that I still owe them money, 140 they trying to charge for his visit. On them saying I owe another 75..
iv received no letter notice to say I owe 75, now they are trying to charge 140 for Bayliff.
i am at my wits end with this company, I got hold of the yesterday and said I don't owe you a penny they said you owe us 215 now from 75 that wasn't settled so I said but iv had no knowledge of this so how am I supposed to no.
and I am refusing to pay it.
i have ask them for break down of costs which they have sent, so will post that to, if anyone could help would much apprieated xxx

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Council Tax Arrears due to Boston Borough Council

We acknowledge receipt of your recent email in respect of the above.

We would advise that our bailiff attended your property as we were instructed by our client to collect the outstanding balance and therefore fees were incurring in accordance with the Council Tax (Administration & Enforcement) Regulations 1992 (as amended) and are due and payable. A statement of your account is attached as requested showing the fees charged and payments received on this account.

Also, as requested please find below the times, dates and certification details for the bailiffs who have attended your address:
Mr I Cross, certificated at Worcester County Court on 10/10/12 attended at 17:55 on 30/10/12
Mr M Morley, certificated at Worcester County Court on 12/03/12 attended at 13:44 on 29/11/12
Mr P Topham, certificated at Worcester County Court on 20/02/12 attended at 12:38 on 07/01/13
Mr C Diaz, certificated at Worcester County Court on 23/01/12 attended at 10:22 on 01/03/13

Following receipt of the payments you have made directly to our client, your current balance is £215.50. We are prepared to allow until 13/03/13 to receive the £215.50 to clear the outstanding balance.

Failure to comply with the above will result in further recovery action and you will then be liable for any additional fees incurred.

Please be aware that if you wish to correspond with us electronically in the future, you must do so using the facility available in the ‘my account’ section of our website.

We trust this clarifies the situation.

Yours faithfully
Bristow & Sutor


Mr W Brown
Recovery Officer
Bristow & Sutor
Tel: 0871 677 0070

[ploddertom]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

That isn't a breakdown of costs as there are no fees on it. All they have done is list a total but you need to know how that is arrived at. To the best of your knowledge did they ever levy on any of your possessions? Have they ever gained entry to your home?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

That isn't a breakdown of costs as there are no fees on it. All they have done is list a total but you need to know how that is arrived at. To the best of your knowledge did they ever levy on any of your possessions? Have they ever gained entry to your home?

From the two posts, it seems that Bristols & Hooters have claimed their "fees" to be £365.

Even if they had (improperly) charged for all four visits and made a valid levy on goods, there is still no way it could be that much unless they'd charged "van fees" or added in the date!

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

That isn't a breakdown of costs as there are no fees on it. All they have done is list a total but you need to know how that is arrived at. To the best of your knowledge did they ever levy on any of your possessions? Have they ever gained entry to your home?

I have just received them tonight so will upload what they have sent me,
whats a levy??? And no I have never been in when they have come, not signed anything or even seen them just letters in post box.
thanks for reply

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

First visit 24.50
second visit 18.00
33.00 levy fee.... On what I don't no???
276.63 paid direct
140 van removal
215.50 current balance.
I paid the council 900 what they said I owed, then I paid bristow and sutor 150 now they want another 215.50. I just don't no where they get this figures from.
especially when I thought everything had been cleared.
where do I stand?

[ploddertom]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

Can you put dates to the charges?

[ploddertom]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

I assume from what you say you know nothing of any goods being seized/levied. I also assume they did not leave a Notice of Seizure (Form7) - a legal requirement.

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

30/10/2012 1st visir
29/11/2012 2nd visit
07/01/2013 levy fee
08/01/2013 paid direct
01/03/2013 van removal

thanks

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

I assume from what you say you know nothing of any goods being seized/levied. I also assume they did not leave a Notice of Seizure (Form7) - a legal requirement.

No nothing, no they couldn't get in my house or my garden so nothing has been seized thanks

[labman]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

If nothing was levied upon, and you are sure this is the case, all the bailiffs are entitled to charge is £42.50 for Visit 1 and Visit 2. As you have paid them £150.00, they owe you £107.50 which you have overpaid. I would be inclined to send them an invoice for this with a copy to the council (Head of Revenues) reminding him of the council's vicarious liability for their appointed enforcement agents.

Please post any reply you may get.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

First visit 24.50
second visit 18.00
33.00 levy fee.... On what I don't no???

I cannot understand it either, as the alleged "levy fee" is too low for the CT allegedly owed and far too much for the fees then allegedly outstanding.

The attached file shows the fees that may be charged - paragraph 2 (1)(b)

£24.50 for the first £100
£16 for the next £400
£10 for the remaining £400
------------------------
£51 (rounded up) for the £900
£62 (rounded up) for the £900 and 2 visit fees

Working backwards from the "levy fee" of £33, we get:
£24.50 for the first £100
£8.50 for the next £212.50
---------------------------
£33 for an alleged debt of £312.50 or thereabouts, or £270 with 2 visit fees deducted.

They couldn't get £33 as a levy fee even if they had added in the date!

[bizzybob]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

More speculation from Bristols & Stupid, from the Enid Blyton, guide to bailiff fees. Formal complaint time perhaps.

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

More speculation from Bristols & Stupid, from the Enid Blyton, guide to bailiff fees. Formal complaint time perhaps.

so what shall i do next? do i contact the council? surely if iv cleared the debt via the council anyway, bristow and sutor cant surely charge for something they havent collected?
this has given me such a headache and im not good with stuff like this ie writting letters etc

thank you all so much for your time

[Rubyroo]

Re: Bristow and suitor problems

Iv just spoken to my local council and she has said the case is all closed with them so anything to do with this company is between me and them. iv told her that i am not paying anything more then i already have and she said they can charge what they want in charges and if i dont pay or get it frozen they will keep adding costs on and the bailiff can gain access with out my consent even through an open window???? WHAT???
Then she said they must have levy on your goods and i said how as they couldnt get on my property and there is no vehicles on the drive.
she said its not there problem its to do with bristow and sutor. in there eyes the case is closed.

So that was no help at all. worried now but why should i just give up and pay them more money when the debt got cleared 3months ago.