Enforcement agent filming??

[tolson7]

Had a visit today from Rossendales as i have missed 2 payments for council tax which i had a payment plan set up with them, my wife answered the door and he has now demanded the full amount and also made it clear that she was being filmed, she says there was no camera visable and was wondering for what purpose was he doing it for if at all?

[Kati]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

If you are having difficulties keeping up with payments, you could always fill out the attached form and email it to enquiries@rossendales.com - explain your circumstances and why you missed two payments. If you are honest with them, I cannot see why they will not accept this :tinysmile_grin_t:

As for their videoing the visit, it is a regular thing with Rossendales now (from what I can find out) and is (IMO) not a bad thing. If there are any complaints about one of their EAs, there is video evidence to fall back on!

Kati

[tolson7]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

Thanks for that Kati, i will email them tonight as explain why i have missed the 2 payments and i can now pay to catch up so hopefully that will sort things out
Thanks again

[Kati]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

As it's a CT debt, you should have no problem getting them to agree (hopefully) especially if you suggest setting up a standing order for payments :tinysmile_twink_t2:

Just don't let them into your home, they cannot legally force their way in and it is better in the long run if they are kept out!

Kati x

[tolson7]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

As it's a CT debt, you should have no problem getting them to agree (hopefully) especially if you suggest setting up a standing order for payments :tinysmile_twink_t2:

Just don't let them into your home, they cannot legally force their way in and it is better in the long run if they are kept out!

Kati x

Hi Kati,

After getting in touch with Rossendales regarding the missed payments they told me only the EA can deal with it, he came again last week and has now demanded we pay the whole lot within 7 days! i told him this wasn't possible and he has given me till the end of the month and if i don't pay hes going to refer it back for committal to prison!! what do i do now?
Thanks

[Kati]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

he has given me till the end of the month and if i don't pay hes going to refer it back for committal to prison!! what do i do now?

Don't worry!! You would only ever get sent to prison for unpaid CT debt if you did not show a willingness to pay!!!!! The bailiff is just threatening you in order to make you pay up quickly. You have asked for affordable repayments, and (for CT at least) these should be accepted.

I think a complaint would be in order - complaints@rossendales.com (a Mr Stephen Crooks is the Complaints and Welfare Officer :tinysmile_twink_t2 - outlining you willingness to pay (but the need for affordable repayments) and their bailiffs threats of committal to prison because you are unable to pay in full. You should send this email to your council too. Remember, the council are the ones who EMPLOY the bailiffs, and it is therefore them who have to ensure their employees are acting legally (and without threats etc...) when recovering CT debt!

Kati x

[tolson7]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

Thank you ever so much Kati, i will email both Rossendales and the council to see what can be done and hopefully we can get affordable payments on track, he also told me that instalment plans cannot be set back up again due to the new regs that came in this year and thats why i need to pay the full amount up to April next year
Thanks again

[Johnboy007]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

Filming in a public place is allowed.
Your property is not.
Write to Rossendales and demand a copy of the CCTV footage.
I doubt very much if the EA was filming.

[Kati]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

Payments can't be set up again?? I think you'll find that the bailiff is not telling the truth there :tinysmile_twink_t2:

Yes the regulations changed (April 6th 2014) but they do not make the bailiffs threats of prison any more legal!

Here are the new regulations (so you can get a better idea of what they say/mean)

Happy to help

Kati x

[Guest]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

I agree Kati-A complaint to Rossendales should be made. The EA had no right to be suggesting referral to prison when the debtor had made an offer to pay. In addition, if there are young children in the household (which the EA would be aware of if he visited), jailing the parent could well be an infringement of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (a right to family life).

I would also send a copy of the email to the council.

[Guest]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

I bet he wasn't filmed claiming that payment plans can't be re-instated due to the new regs.

[Kati]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

I bet he wasn't filmed claiming that payment plans can't be re-instated due to the new regs.

me too - that'd be enough to hang him with :tinysmile_twink_t2:

[bizzybob]

Re: Enforcement agent filming??

Film him if he turns up, he cannot object nor demand deletion of any footage