Help With Marston/TV License Fine

[bizzybob]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

When I have been dealing with HMCTS Senior Enforcement Managers (SEM) on behalf of LB members, one thing that has come up is that if HMCTS don't know what is going on, they cannot do anything about sharp and illegal practices by contracted bailiffs. So it is important that HMCTS, HSE, local authorities et all are continually informed as to what is going on. It is only through them being kept up to speed with what is really happening can they do anything to address the situation that has been allowed to persist, mainly, through apathy and adopting a "nothing will change" attitude. Things can and will change as soon as people realise that the power to bring about change is in their hands. It just needs a change of attitude.

Problem is the good court staff realise what is going on but are powerless to do anything themselves, so bailiff malpractice should be reported in via Formal complaints, and referrals to HSE trading Standards and OFT, along with copies to MP's at every opportunity.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

When I have been dealing with HMCTS Senior Enforcement Managers (SEM) on behalf of LB members, one thing that has come up is that if HMCTS don't know what is going on, they cannot do anything about sharp and illegal practices by contracted bailiffs. So it is important that HMCTS, HSE, local authorities et all are continually informed as to what is going on. It is only through them being kept up to speed with what is really happening can they do anything to address the situation that has been allowed to persist, mainly, through apathy and adopting a "nothing will change" attitude. Things can and will change as soon as people realise that the power to bring about change is in their hands. It just needs a change of attitude.

Even if the number of reported misdeeds were to increase tenfold or twentyfold, I doubt that there would be any change.

This is because:

1. to change the bailiff company would require actual work to be done
2. the status quo is less stressful on the public or civil servants
3. one firm of bailiffs is likely to be just as bad as another

This does not mean that complaints should not be made - just that there seems to be little prospect of improvement.

[bizzybob]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

I feel we must look on the bright side, and keep on pushing the barrier CC, as every time we win, the ground subsides under their feet

[bluebottle]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Problem is the good court staff realise what is going on but are powerless to do anything themselves, so bailiff malpractice should be reported in via Formal complaints, and referrals to HSE trading Standards and OFT, along with copies to MP's at every opportunity.

Got it in one, bb.

[bluebottle]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Even if the number of reported misdeeds were to increase tenfold or twentyfold, I doubt that there would be any change.

This is because:

1. to change the bailiff company would require actual work to be done Make the buggers earn their keep
2. the status quo is less stressful on the public or civil servants No. It is vested interests, including the banksters, who are maintaining the status quo. As long as the public are kept in the dark as to what is going on, that's fine by them. However, when the proverbial hits the air conditioning, they crap themselves big-time. If you thought the LIBOR scandal was bad, there's an investigation going on at the moment, involving the SFO, which will make LIBOR look like a fart in a biscuit tin.
3. one firm of bailiffs is likely to be just as bad as another. Close the civil enforcement industry down, as Lord Denning advocated. As Denning said, they are a 12th Century solution to 21st Century debt. There are more effective - and cost-effective - means of enforcing debt than bailiffs.

This does not mean that complaints should not be made - just that there seems to be little prospect of improvement. Oh there will, CC. Just as soon as people stop being apathetic and start asking the politicians uncomfortable questions and keep badgering them until they get the message that they are servants of the people, not their masters.

@@@@

[bizzybob]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

"If you thought the LIBOR scandal was bad, there's an investigation going on at the moment, involving the SFO, which will make LIBOR look like a fart in a biscuit tin "

I suspect banksters, and politicos will be going to jail with this one

[bluebottle]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

"If you thought the LIBOR scandal was bad, there's an investigation going on at the moment, involving the SFO, which will make LIBOR look like a fart in a biscuit tin "

I suspect banksters, and politicos will be going to jail with this one

Can't say too much, but any dodgy dealings involving banks or the financial services sector should be referred to the SFO.

[ploddertom]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

The Bailiff working for HMCTS could be a thing of the past in the not too distant future if and when the recent Tender is awarded and put into action, and that will be sooner than later.

[Fizzy77]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Big thank you to everyone who replied!! I will certainly go down the declaration route if needed, to be totally honest I just want to pay it off and be rid of the mess, happy to do that via the court, had I had known about it back in 2011 I would've sorted it then!

I posted all the letters off yesterday via Recorded Post (MC, MoJ, OFT & MP) also emailed copies of the letters to the appropriate address.

I know MoJ / OFT probably wont do anything or even reply but like someone stated further up said we need to complain as much as possible about these thugs.

Bizarrely this morning I had an email from Marston saying they had sent me a response via letter today (1st).

To which I thought~ hmmmmm.....??!!

Haven't sent them anything recently (last correspondence was via email and they replied to that) so I can only assume that the MC has been on to them and/or forwarded my letter.
Seems very "kind" of them to notify me via email to say they had posted a letter to me ?! Will be interesting to see what it says

Hopefully MC will be diligent and get back to me quickly and will take the debt back (I did mention in the MC letter that I wasn't avoiding payment and was happy to pay the court if they could be so kind to send me the details or a payment card etc..)

Hope that all made sense Will keep you guys updated with the progress.

[Fizzy77]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

So nearly 2 weeks after sending the court a letter (which they received and signed for) I haven't heard from them or Marston, so I have sent another letter to the court today (rec. post)

[bluebottle]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Telephone the court in question. It will be dealt with quicker. A Statutory Declaration needs to be sworn and a date for a hearing to do this can normally be arranged over the telephone.

[Fizzy77]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Have a strong feeling I have been fobbed off~

(I have blanked my details out)

I told them I hadn't ever received the original summons or the further steps letter.......

[ploddertom]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Can you post up what you sent to the Court?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

Have a strong feeling I have been fobbed off

You have.

Get free legal assistance from your local Law Centre (link) or, failing that, Citizens' Advice Bureau (link).

[Fizzy77]

Re: Help With Marston/TV License Fine

I told them (in 2 letters, the 2nd of which had a copy of the 1st with it and both sent by rec post) that I hadn't ever received the original summons and that the address they would have sent it to hadn't been occupied by me for atleast 5 months prior to the court date and I had not been back to the address since I moved out , and that I hadn't received a further steps letter and that by law they had to provide me with these (I quoted the legal bits to them) and requested they take the debt back to the court and provide me with a means to pay (payment card) and that I would make a payment asap and that I wanted to get this sorted out.

I can't copy you in the letter as it's on my partners laptop which he has taken to work.

I am pretty disgusted at them as I had to send 2 letters before I got this silly reply. I do not want to deal with Marstons and do not see why i should have to (and why I should have to pay their extortionate fees) just because the court cocked the paper work up, there isn't a Law Centre where I live (Norfolk) but I will try CAB, The funny thing is if they had just sent me the stupid paperwork and taken the debt back from Marston I would have probably had half paid of by now! Well I say that..... maybe if the silly little man from the TV licensing had actually told me that we weren't covered by the the buildings TV License (landlord told us not to worry about a license as we were covered by a communal one) I wouldn't be trying to sort this mess out 2 years later!

Thanks for the replies