Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

[sja85]

Hi all,
I need a little advice/guidance from you guys about Rossendales.
So from the top.....
Me and my husband bought a new house and I was very disorganized with the paper work and didn't set up a direct debit for the council tax. I spoke to the council people when I received a date to attend court regarding the council tax but explained that I would be able to pay £200 now and would set up installments for the remainder. Council guy was happy with this and stated I didn't need to go to court. A few weeks later......Rossendales turn up expecting the remainder of the council tax which came to around £800+. Me and husband paid this direct to the council and cleared the balance with them. A week or so after the balance has been cleared with the council, the bailiff guy states I owe £39.50. I asked what this was and he explained that it was part of the council tax. When i questioned him a little further he explained it was a charge for the first visit. 2 days later, the bailiffs wife rings me and asks for the payment of £39.50 - struck me as VERY strange but i didn't pay the charge....sounded too much like a scam.
now to the present day.....so a few months later...
I basically arrived home from work on Monday (12/08/13) and had a letter on the door mat from these guys stating there was a van fee of £65 and a levy for £24.50 - the car they have documented doesn't actually belong to me. I don't know who it belongs to (I live very close to the city center in Wakefield so people park their cars in my street and go into town). I don't actually know what to do....the bill they have now state i owe has gone from £39.50 to £129. The letter he posted through the letter box on Monday states its council tax that I owe but I have checked with the council and I don't owe anything in terms of council tax so I am convinced it is their charges. Do I need to pay anything?
All advice is welcome...

[bluebottle]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

This bailiff is playing with fire and so are Rossendales by letting him do what he is doing.

If the CT arrears have been discharged and you have a letter of satisfaction from the council, Rossendales may only ask you to pay lawful fees they are due. If the council officer told you that you did not need to go to court, how the hell are Rossendales involved?

You need the following information from the council -

1. Were they granted a Liability Order in respect of the CT arrears (now cleared)?
2. Why did Rossendales turn up when the council had agreed to accept payment in instalments?

As for Rossendales fees, the maximum for a first visit, in respect of CT arrears, is £24.50, not £39.50. This is enshrined in law (Council Tax (Administration & Enforcement Regulations 1992 (as amended)).

As for the other fees, the law allows an £18.00 fee for a second visit only. As for the levy, because the vehicle they levied on is third-party property, the fee is invalid and, accordingly, so is the "van fee". A bailiff may only lawfully seize goods belonging to the debtor and no-one else.

Get some straight answers from the council, then come back onto this thread for further assistance.

[wales01man]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

The bailiff was instructed by the council I think you will find they are responsible for the bailiffs actions,they cannot levy someone elses car its illegal contact the council and ask whats going on

[sja85]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Thank you Bluebottle...on the phone as I type! I shall update as soon as I know more...

[sja85]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Thank you wales01man

Well I managed to get somewhere...! I rang the council and spoke to a guy who was a parrot on replay. Every time i asked a question, i just got an automated repetitive crap. I did what you mentioned Bluebottle and asked how it ended up in Rossendales hands particularly as I had spoken to someone who had reassured me that everything was ok and it would not go any further and it wouldn't go to court. His response was "the advisor who you spoke to explained to you that you don't need to attend court, he left the choice up to you" UFFFFFF....as it turned out, he couldnt answer the questions AND he had a completely different balance to the one the bailiff had left. He confirmed I was up to date with the payments and that the balance of the liability order was clear.
I spoke to Rossendales and had a chat with a lovely advisor, George, who was brilliant. He explained that I needed to send in a letter stating the vehicle was not mine or my husbands and members of public park here to access the city centre. Rossendales will then check this with the DVLA and if the vehicle is not mine then the additional charges will be removed. I explained I would pay the first visit charge on Monday.
Hopefully it will all get sorted next week.....thank you so much for your help guys....it really helped calm me down

[wales01man]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Are they comedians?/why cant they just check with the DVLA

[bluebottle]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Rossendales' call centre staff being helpful? Are you sure you got the right company?

Let's hope this is a change for the better where Rossendales are concerned as their call centre staff have been very rude and unhelpful in the past.

[bizzybob]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Hopefully this will work out, but be prepared to send a Formal Complaint to CEO, elkected leader, and your MP, if the bailiff carries on demanding the unlawful levy and associated fees.

[charitynjw]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Hi all,
I need a little advice/guidance from you guys about Rossendales.
So from the top.....
Me and my husband bought a new house and I was very disorganized with the paper work and didn't set up a direct debit for the council tax. I spoke to the council people when I received a date to attend court regarding the council tax but explained that I would be able to pay £200 now and would set up installments for the remainder. Council guy was happy with this and stated I didn't need to go to court. A few weeks later......Rossendales turn up expecting the remainder of the council tax which came to around £800+. Me and husband paid this direct to the council and cleared the balance with them. A week or so after the balance has been cleared with the council, the bailiff guy states I owe £39.50. I asked what this was and he explained that it was part of the council tax. When i questioned him a little further he explained it was a charge for the first visit. 2 days later, the bailiffs wife rings me and asks for the payment of £39.50 - struck me as VERY strange but i didn't pay the charge....sounded too much like a scam.
now to the present day.....so a few months later...
I basically arrived home from work on Monday (12/08/13) and had a letter on the door mat from these guys stating there was a van fee of £65 and a levy for £24.50 - the car they have documented doesn't actually belong to me. I don't know who it belongs to (I live very close to the city center in Wakefield so people park their cars in my street and go into town). I don't actually know what to do....the bill they have now state i owe has gone from £39.50 to £129. The letter he posted through the letter box on Monday states its council tax that I owe but I have checked with the council and I don't owe anything in terms of council tax so I am convinced it is their charges. Do I need to pay anything?
All advice is welcome...

You're lucky it's still there!

http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...your-doormats!

[enquirer]

Re: Rossendales levy fee on someone elses car... And van fee help!!

Thank you Bluebottle...on the phone as I type! I shall update as soon as I know more...

Phone initially if you like, but get it in writing. If you don't, you are asking for trouble later on.