I fell behind my Birmingham Council Tax for 2010/11. The council issued a summons and liability order adding £65 to the total bill. The bill was then sent to Equita Bailiffs a Capita Company (Capita are also the outsourced contractor running the council). i paid the full amount over the next 18 months. So I was surprised to learn that Equita still had a balance of £274. I asked for a breakdown of charges but received none. In January 2013 I asked the Birmingham council for breakdown - they referred me back to Equita. In Decamber 2013 I eventually received a breakdown, showing lots of fees, including a charge for a bounced check, despite the fact that I have not used a cheque for over ten years! The council assure me that the charges are correct and that they do not intend to take my complaint any further. My argument is that Equita never visited my home let alone levied on my good and therefore a Van fee should not be charged. My question to the forum is, is it worth taking Equita to the County Court to try and recover what looks to me like scam charges?
Here is the breakdown provided by the council:
The bailiff costs incurred on your account are as follows
Any advice would be extremely welcome
Here is the breakdown provided by the council:
The bailiff costs incurred on your account are as follows
First Visit | £24.50 |
Second Visit | £18.00 |
Levy Fee | £43.00 |
Van Fee | £150.00 |
Card payment fees x 8 | £1.50 |
Bounced Cheque fee | £32.64 |
Total | £280.14 |
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