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Hi all, after spending hours and hours researching bailiffs fee's and how to deal with I kept ending back here on this lovely and truly helpful forum. I feel like I've done as much as I can and I have hit a brick wall with Equita and I am not sure of what I need to do next.....
So here you go with my Equita Experience...
I received my PCN charge certificate back in April 2012, but I wasn't aware of this until February 2013 as it had been sent to a wrong address. I sent in the TEC form to Northampton County Court but it was rejected on the basis of it being received out of the allowed length of time. ON 24/4/2013 I had my first letter from Equita saying they had been instructed by Sheffield City Council to pay £95.44.
During this period I had a bit of a breakdown due to a long term mental illness and being a working single parent simply forgot all about the letter until Equita sent out another letter again saying they had been instructed by SCC to collect the debt under a warrant of execution that was granted by the TEC. I then received another letter from them with REMOVAL NOTICE in bold capitals saying that a warrant had been issued by the TEC and they were sending a recovery team to collect my vehicle, impound it and sell it at auction.
I called Equita immediately and offered to pay the £95.44 but was told the debt now held with Equita was £329.44 nowhere in any of the letters had there been a mention of this debt, anyway I paid £95.44 on 7/6/2013 which was all I could afford and they said they would be able to put the account on hold until 7/7/2013 I wrote to them and requested that they send me a breakdown of the fee's applied to my debt with an explanation of what they were.
They sent a breakdown which was:
Debt - £82
First Notice - £13.44
First Visit Fee - £33.60
Attendance Fee - £200.40
Card Payment Fee - £1.50
Total Paid - £96.94
Balance Outstanding - £234
There was a further payment made of £33.60 on 19/6/2013 (which I thought covered the debt and leaving the £200.40 attendance fee)
I wasn't sure what the attendance fee was or about any of the other information so I wrote to them on 19/6/13 basically asking them for some advise and guidance on the following:
* who was the bailiff that attended my property for the first visit
* what date the bailiff attended for the first visit
* why the bailiff had no left any letter stating they had attended (which apparently is protocol for Equita)
* did the bailiff hold a certificate and could they forward me a copy for my own records
* what does Equita consider to be an attendance fee, especially as a customer service rep had said over the phone it was the same as a first visit fee
* Again I asked what date did the bailiff attend my property to incur the attendance fee
I gave them a summary of what the law stipulates in relation to charges, especially as no levy was made on the car. Which was of course considerably lower than what they were asking for. I also said I was reluctant to pay for fee's which I felt they were not entitled to.
I also mentioned that I would be complaining to SCC who had employed their services and felt I must raise my concerns to the Office Of Fair Trading to ensure they were working under lawful guidelines.
It took them until 1/7/13 to come back to me with a response
Dear Miss _____
Re: Sheffield City Council - Road Traffic Fine
I write to your recent correspondence in connection with the above.
Having looked at the case I note that no times of visits have been logged, there have been numerous visits made by our external team in the attempted collection of debts. On each occasion, where no contact has been established, a letter would have been left.
All charges are applied in accordance with the action taken to date to conclude the balance, and in conjunction with the Enforcement of Road Traffic Debts (Certified Bailiffs) Regulations 1993 (As amended).
With regards to the Attendance Fee, the bailiff attended your property equipt to remove goods, should payment not of being made.
Nothing on our files suggests we have acted incorrectly and therefore we do not feel a review of your account is necessary.
I can confirm there is currently an arrangement for the outstanding balance of £200.40 to be cleared no later than 7th July 2013. Failure to adhere to this agreement could result in further action and possible costs
I trust the above clarifies matters and is of assistance to you.
Yours Sincerely
Miss L Griffiths
Equita Ltd
So Im still rather confused they haven't answered any of the questions I asked them so today I've called their call centre and asked if they could help out, I was told that they have no knowledge of anything relating to the account. But I could write and ask for an access report, which was going to cost me £10. I could send them a cheque or cash through the post to the Northampton Address so I can get further information. They have also given me until the 2/8/2013 to pay the outstanding £200.40.
I am going mental trying to figure out what do next
Please Please Someone Help
Thanks
So here you go with my Equita Experience...
I received my PCN charge certificate back in April 2012, but I wasn't aware of this until February 2013 as it had been sent to a wrong address. I sent in the TEC form to Northampton County Court but it was rejected on the basis of it being received out of the allowed length of time. ON 24/4/2013 I had my first letter from Equita saying they had been instructed by Sheffield City Council to pay £95.44.
During this period I had a bit of a breakdown due to a long term mental illness and being a working single parent simply forgot all about the letter until Equita sent out another letter again saying they had been instructed by SCC to collect the debt under a warrant of execution that was granted by the TEC. I then received another letter from them with REMOVAL NOTICE in bold capitals saying that a warrant had been issued by the TEC and they were sending a recovery team to collect my vehicle, impound it and sell it at auction.
I called Equita immediately and offered to pay the £95.44 but was told the debt now held with Equita was £329.44 nowhere in any of the letters had there been a mention of this debt, anyway I paid £95.44 on 7/6/2013 which was all I could afford and they said they would be able to put the account on hold until 7/7/2013 I wrote to them and requested that they send me a breakdown of the fee's applied to my debt with an explanation of what they were.
They sent a breakdown which was:
Debt - £82
First Notice - £13.44
First Visit Fee - £33.60
Attendance Fee - £200.40
Card Payment Fee - £1.50
Total Paid - £96.94
Balance Outstanding - £234
There was a further payment made of £33.60 on 19/6/2013 (which I thought covered the debt and leaving the £200.40 attendance fee)
I wasn't sure what the attendance fee was or about any of the other information so I wrote to them on 19/6/13 basically asking them for some advise and guidance on the following:
* who was the bailiff that attended my property for the first visit
* what date the bailiff attended for the first visit
* why the bailiff had no left any letter stating they had attended (which apparently is protocol for Equita)
* did the bailiff hold a certificate and could they forward me a copy for my own records
* what does Equita consider to be an attendance fee, especially as a customer service rep had said over the phone it was the same as a first visit fee
* Again I asked what date did the bailiff attend my property to incur the attendance fee
I gave them a summary of what the law stipulates in relation to charges, especially as no levy was made on the car. Which was of course considerably lower than what they were asking for. I also said I was reluctant to pay for fee's which I felt they were not entitled to.
I also mentioned that I would be complaining to SCC who had employed their services and felt I must raise my concerns to the Office Of Fair Trading to ensure they were working under lawful guidelines.
It took them until 1/7/13 to come back to me with a response
Dear Miss _____
Re: Sheffield City Council - Road Traffic Fine
I write to your recent correspondence in connection with the above.
Having looked at the case I note that no times of visits have been logged, there have been numerous visits made by our external team in the attempted collection of debts. On each occasion, where no contact has been established, a letter would have been left.
All charges are applied in accordance with the action taken to date to conclude the balance, and in conjunction with the Enforcement of Road Traffic Debts (Certified Bailiffs) Regulations 1993 (As amended).
With regards to the Attendance Fee, the bailiff attended your property equipt to remove goods, should payment not of being made.
Nothing on our files suggests we have acted incorrectly and therefore we do not feel a review of your account is necessary.
I can confirm there is currently an arrangement for the outstanding balance of £200.40 to be cleared no later than 7th July 2013. Failure to adhere to this agreement could result in further action and possible costs
I trust the above clarifies matters and is of assistance to you.
Yours Sincerely
Miss L Griffiths
Equita Ltd
So Im still rather confused they haven't answered any of the questions I asked them so today I've called their call centre and asked if they could help out, I was told that they have no knowledge of anything relating to the account. But I could write and ask for an access report, which was going to cost me £10. I could send them a cheque or cash through the post to the Northampton Address so I can get further information. They have also given me until the 2/8/2013 to pay the outstanding £200.40.
I am going mental trying to figure out what do next
Please Please Someone Help
Thanks
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