Bristow & Sutor

[bluebottle]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus, Are you under the doctor for this and are you prescribed medication? this is prima facie evidence of vulnerability without anything else, Formal complaint ASAP, the skanks at Bullies & Stupid are beyond the pale.

I've worked with people with disabilities, as well as now being disabled myself, bb, and Lupus can be very serious in some cases. That is why I have advised the OP about legally-restraining both the local authority and B & S. IMO, a Regulation 46 complaint to the magistrates court would not be appropriate in this case.

[bizzybob]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

I've worked with people with disabilities, as well as now being disabled myself, bb, and Lupus can be very serious in some cases. That is why I have advised the OP about legally-restraining both the local authority and B & S. IMO, a Regulation 46 complaint to the magistrates court would not be appropriate in this case.

It is beyond a Regulation 46, it is in the realms of criminal action by the bailiff and council, MP should be involved and Milly should get on to her local councillor tomorrow, a councillor should be available everyday and needs to be aware of the downright stupidity of their revenues department and appointed bailiffs for which they are wholly liable. Milly's illness is enough to ground vulnerability even without the benefit situation, and as the council shopuld know, her vulnerability renders the whole household vulnerable.

I think Brisket & Simples, need a spoof phone call recorded to put up on youtube to expose their stupidity

Have to agree with you bluebottle regarding injunction, if bailiff calls she should film the muppet even with a mobile phone and use it as evidence to help ground her case. Wonder if the bailiff would be such a prat if they were disabled, or another bailiff did something similar to one of their family?

[Milly29]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus, Are you under the doctor for this and are you prescribed medication? this is prima facie evidence of vulnerability without anything else, Formal complaint ASAP, the skanks at Bullies & Stupid are beyond the pale.

Yes bizzybob, I am under the doctor for this and I am currently being prescribed anti-inflammatory medication whilst waiting on an appointment with a rheumatologist..........

[CleverClogs]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

As the bailiffs can almost be guaranteed not to know SLE from the London School of Economics, have you considered putting up large signs in your window(s) stating that the house is under quarantine?

I'm sure they'd not want to catch Wolf Disease. :rofl:

[bluebottle]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

As the bailiffs can almost be guaranteed not to know SLE from the London School of Economics, have you considered putting up large signs in your window(s) stating that the house is under quarantine?

I'm sure they'd not want to catch Wolf Disease. :rofl:

Ha-ha, CC. Correct me if I am wrong, Milly, but Lupus is an auto-immune condition where the persons own immune system attacks them. In the case of Lupus, it is the muscles and, sometimes, other systems within the body. Believe me, it can be nasty. A lot nastier than the Fibromyalgia I have.

[bizzybob]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

As the bailiffs can almost be guaranteed not to know SLE from the London School of Economics, have you considered putting up large signs in your window(s) stating that the house is under quarantine?

I'm sure they'd not want to catch Wolf Disease. :rofl:

The sign could also remind them to take especial care around the time of the full moon, and check the moons phase before calling. I used to be a werewolf, but I'm alright Now-OOOOOOOOOOOOO.

But seriously, send the council a list of medication and a note with this text and link from Wikipedia, whilst you await a note from the doctor if the muppets demand it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemi..._erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (ⁱ/sɪˈstɛmɪk ˈluːpəs ˌɛrɪθiːməˈtoʊsəs/), often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.^[1] It is a Type III hypersensitivity reaction in which antibody-immune complexes precipitate and cause a further immune response.
SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women in child-bearing years ages 15 to 35, and is also more common in those of non-European descent.^[2][3][4]
There is no cure for SLE. It is treated with immunosuppression, mainly with cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants. SLE can be fatal. Survival for people with SLE in the United States, Canada, and Europe has risen to approximately 95% at five years, 90% at 10 years, and 78% at 20 years,^[4] and now approaches that of matched controls without lupus.
Childhood systemic lupus erythematosus generally presents between the ages of 3 and 15, with girls outnumbering boys 4:1, and typical skin manifestations being butterfly eruption on the face and photosensitivity.^[1]
Lupus is Latin for wolf. In the 18th century, when lupus was just starting to be recognized as a disease, it was thought that it was caused by the bite of a wolf.^[5] This may have been because of the distinctive rash characteristic of lupus. (Once full-blown, the round, disk-shaped rashes heal from the inside out, leaving a bite-like imprint.)


Tell them that Busted and Stupid are now in the realms of criminal harassment, they being aware of your vulnerability so should not now be involved, as they are demanding sums unaffordable to you and adding fees that may well be unlawful, you cannot trust them to deal fairly with you, so the council should recall the account forthwith.

[Milly29]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Thankyou bizzybob, much appreciated

[bizzybob]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Thankyou bizzybob, much appreciated

Not a problem, love to kick sand in the face of bullies, or cut the ground from underneath them, especially when they are acting in an obnoxious illegal, and reprehensible manner.

[bluebottle]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

My view on this is that the local authority and B & S need to be each served with a Cease and Desist Notice, if only to provide Milly and her family with some breathing space. Getting the media involved might be worth considering. A newspaper, radio or television news report of a local council sending bully-boy bailiffs to harass a seriously-ill woman, with children under 5, a baby and a husband who is doing his best to find work and then breaking the law by refusing to accept payments is the sort of news story journalists can only think of in their wildest dreams. Such stories are rare. Try contacting your local newspaper, radio stations and television stations. The fallout from a such news story could cause major embarrassment to the local council and, you never know, may even affect B & S's other public and non-public debt contracts. Although councillors and council staff are often portrayed as callous and unfeeling, there are instances where even the most hard-hearted person recoils in repulsion. The fact that Lupus can have serious consequences should mean that a risk assessment should have been and must be carried out. This appears not to have been done, which places both the council and B & S in breach of Section 3, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (Endangering the Health and Safety of the Public) and Regulation 3, Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Failing to Conduct A Risk Assessment).

Milly's case has echoes of a case I was involved in, on another site, which occurred in Hampshire, during 2012. The woman was seriously-ill, like Milly, and had her home besieged for five hours by a Ross & Roberts bailiff and an uncertificated lout who was allowed to engage in bullying and intimidation unsupervised. When Hampshire Police arrived on the scene, the bailiff lied to them that she was a court bailiff and that they had to help her gain entry. A certain Woman Police Sergeant went back to the police station, checked things out and discovered the bailiff had lied to her and her officers. She was back out to the woman's house like a shot out of a gun, kicking the backsides of the bailiff and her loutish sidekick. Subsequent to this, the woman wrote to the District Judge at the court that issued the bailiff's certificate, enclosing statements from eye-witnesses, video footage and a copy of the police report on the incident. Two weeks later, the woman received a letter from the Court Manager informing her that the bailiff's certificate had been discharged, which means it had been revoked. Under Civil Procedures Rules, a court has the power to make a decision on its own initiative and to dispose of a case without a hearing, which it clearly did in that case. Not surprisingly, the bailiff was sacked by Ross & Roberts.

So you see, Milly, what goes around comes around. What you are going through is, probably, only temporary. Stay focused, stay strong.

Nil illegitum carborundum.

[bizzybob]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Problem is bluebottle, obviously Bristols & stupid haven't learned that lesson yet, Milly should tell Busted & stupid of the vulnerability, and ask them if they have alonfg with the council carried out a Risk asserssment into enforcing in a vulnerable situation, if not tell Council & B & S they are being reported to HSE under Section 3, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (Endangering the Health and Safety of the Public) and Regulation 3, Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Failing to Conduct A Risk Assessment).

[bluebottle]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Problem is bluebottle, obviously Bristols & stupid haven't learned that lesson yet, Milly should tell Busted & stupid of the vulnerability, and ask them if they have alonfg with the council carried out a Risk asserssment into enforcing in a vulnerable situation, if not tell Council & B & S they are being reported to HSE under Section 3, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (Endangering the Health and Safety of the Public) and Regulation 3, Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Failing to Conduct A Risk Assessment).

Oh, they will, bb. Milly's local council and B & S.

Milly,

Go to the NHS Choices website where you will find a section on various illnesses. Find the information for Lupus/SLE and print off some copies. You are going to send these to -

Local Authority
Bristow & Sutor
Health & Safety Executive

A suitable letter to the local authority, addressed to the Chief Executive, would be something along the lines of -

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Ref.: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I refer to the matter at reference.

I suffer with Systemic Lupus Erthyromatosis (SLE), an auto-immune illness in which the body's own defences attack muscles, connective tissues and internal organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. I enclose information from the NHS Choices website for your information and retention.

In addition to the SLE, I have two young children, both under the age of five years, and a young baby. My husband is a sub-contractor in the construction industry who is currently out of work and on benefits, as am I. You will, therefore, appreciate that our income is considerably limited.

[Name of local authority] Council has seen fit to instruct Messrs Bristow & Sutor to collect the Council Tax arrears that we owe. However, despite informing Bristow & Sutor of our situation, they refuse to enter into an repayment arrangement that we can realistically afford. Also, when I attempted to make a payment to the Council, one of your employees refused to accept the payment. It is my understanding that a refusal to accept a payment, in these circumstances, constitutes a contravention of the law. Furthermore, our current situation and my illness means that my family is classed as vulnerable under the Ministry of Justice National Standards for Enforcement Agents of which both [Name of local authority] Council and Bristow & Sutor have signed as accepting and agreeing to abide by its provisions.

At no time has either [Name of local authority] Council conducted a risk assessment as to the effect and risks its contracted enforcement agents' action are likely to have on my health. It would also appear that Bristow & Sutor have not conducted a risk assessment either. Failure to conduct a risk assessment is a breach of Regulation 3, Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which places a statutory requirement to conduct a risk assessment. Furthermore, it is a statutory requirement of Section 3, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure the safety of those not in the employment of an employer. In this case, it is members of the public. From events to date, neither [Name of local suthority] Council or Bristow & Sutor are compliant with their statutory duty under Section 3 of the Act or Ministry of Justice Standards.

Both my husband and I are attempting to clear the Council Tax arrears owing, but, with our income somewhat limited, we cannot pay this all in one lump sum. Not only are the actions and conduct of your contracted agents, for which [Name of local authority] Council has complete and total vicarious liability, contrary to Ministry of Justice standards, but, it would appear, health and safety law also.

My family is under no obligation, legal or otherwise, to deal with your contracted agents, as [Name of local authority] Council will know or ought to know. We will, therefore, be making payments directly to [Name of local authority] Council in order to clear the Council Tax arrears owing. In order to ensure that my health is not compromised by the actions and conduct of your contracted agents' employees, I would be grateful if [Name of local authority] would recall the Liability Order from Bristow & Sutor. Should [Name of local authority] be unwilling to do so, then I reserve the right to take whatever action is necessary to protect the health and safety or myself and my family without further notice. This shall include, but not be restricted to making a formal complaint to the Health & Safety Executive, Local Government Ombudsman or a court injunction.

I am also minded to make available details of the actions and conduct of [Name of local authority] Council employees to local and national press and broadcast media.

I would be obliged if you would provide me with your response within 14 days of your receipt of this letter.

Yours faithfully,"

Give that a try.

BB

[CleverClogs]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Milly's case has echoes of a case I was involved in, on another site, which occurred in Hampshire, during 2012. The woman was seriously-ill, like Milly, and had her home besieged for five hours by a Ross & Roberts bailiff and an uncertificated lout who was allowed to engage in bullying and intimidation unsupervised. When Hampshire Police arrived on the scene, the bailiff lied to them that she was a court bailiff and that they had to help her gain entry. A certain Woman Police Sergeant went back to the police station, checked things out and discovered the bailiff had lied to her and her officers. She was back out to the woman's house like a shot out of a gun, kicking the backsides of the bailiff and her loutish sidekick. Subsequent to this, the woman wrote to the District Judge at the court that issued the bailiff's certificate, enclosing statements from eye-witnesses, video footage and a copy of the police report on the incident. Two weeks later, the woman received a letter from the Court Manager informing her that the bailiff's certificate had been discharged, which means it had been revoked. Under Civil Procedures Rules, a court has the power to make a decision on its own initiative and to dispose of a case without a hearing, which it clearly did in that case. Not surprisingly, the bailiff was sacked by Ross & Roberts.

Why did they hire her?

Was this really the first time she had engaged in such behaviour?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Go to the NHS Choices website where you will find a section on various illnesses. Find the information for Lupus/SLE

What other illnesses may one choose to have on the NHS? :rofl:

[bluebottle]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

Why did they hire her?

Was this really the first time she had engaged in such behaviour?

I very much doubt it, CC. But it was the occasion that cost her her certificate and her job.

[bluebottle]

Re: Bristow & Sutor

What other illnesses may one choose to have on the NHS? :rofl:

Take a look, CC. There is quite an archive of information on the NHS Choices website.