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KJD

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Posts posted by KJD

  1. Now, see how you've done a complete 360 degree turn around from your first posts :D

     

    Ok, so have done some more searching and what the above thread says about VAT not being applicable to council tax bailiff fees is correct (incidentally that goes for business rates, magistrates courts distress warrants, child support arrears and income tax in case anyone else needs to know). This is confirmed in the consumerwiki and tomtubby's site.

     

    And the fees, which are set down in law for England and Wales, state the following..

     

    BAILIFFS’ CHARGES FOR COUNCIL TAX AND POLL TAX FROM APRIL 2007

     

    EVENTCOUNCIL TAX CHARGES

    For a visit to your home where no entry is made and a list of goods is not made(i.e. a levy is not made)

    £24.50 for a first visit

    £18.00 for a second visit

    No further charges for further visits

     

    For making a levy (i.e. where the bailiffs gain peaceful entry and make a list of goods)

    £24.50 for the first £100 or less

    4% for the next £400

    2.5% for the next £1,500

     

    For entering into a 'walking possession' agreement

    Flat fee of £12

     

    For a 'close possession' agreement (e.g. bailiff stays with the goods)

    £15 per day

     

    For one attendance with a vehicle with a view to recover goods after the levy has been made under this heading

    Reasonable costs incurred

    (N.B. only one charge can be made.)

     

    For the removal and storage of goods

    Reasonable costs incurred

     

    For various items relating to sale or proposed sale of the goods (e.g. auctioneers' fees etc)Various fees and expenses

     

     

     

    (Taken from the National Debtline website)

     

    So, yes, you have been overcharged by the addition of VAT, but actually undercharged on the charges applied.

     

    Good grief.. if we know this, how come a certified bailif doesn't?! :eek:

     

    I think you need a short and to the point letter pointing out the error of their ways (copied to the council as well of course because by association, they've got it wrong as well ;-))

     

    Chris.. if you've got a moment to help..??

  2. may/16th dept £190

    June/7th visit fee 1 £22.50+vat£3.94

    June/9th visit fee 2 £ 16.50 +vat£2.89

    July/11th walking possession £11.00 +vat£1.93

    July/11th levy fee £27.00+vat£4.73

    Jan/12th attendance/van £90.00+vay13.50

    total costs £384.71

     

    Woah there Bessy!

     

    Since when have they been allowed to add VAT to these charges???

    In fact, there is a thread from last year when a poster spoke to HMRC and got specific details etc stating that they cannot add it on to ct charges.

     

    Got to go out for a bit but will try to find it when I get back.

     

    I'm sure in the meantime, someone will be along to confirm this.

  3. Well... my thoughts on this...(and please jump in Ell-enn, Chris etc)

     

    Firstly, in my experience, county court bailiffs seem to be a bit more human than private bailiffs, which is a plus here. However, you've already been knocked back by them after your first offer, so we need a re-think.

     

    I had a thread in January where Ell-enn posted the following re County Court Judgements..

     

    "Hi there, you can download the N245 here Her Majesty's Courts Service - Home. Select Forms and Guidance from the menu on the left hand side and enter N245 in the box. You can then go to the page to download the form. There is a fee of £35.00 when you put the application in at court.

     

    If they complete the form tonight or tomorrow morning they can deliver it by hand to the local court where the bailiffs operate from. No further action by the bailiffs can take place while the N245 is at court awaiting consideration. If they intend to repay over two months they should have no trouble getting the judge to agree. There is no hearing to attend, the form will go in front of the judge, probably in the next week or so, and then the decision will be posted to them."

     

    (I hope you don't mind me copying/pasting the above, Ell-en :D)

     

    If you are on benefits or low income you could well get help with the £35.00. Have a look round the HMCS website - it's quite good at explaining your options.

     

    After a good read come back with any questions.. :)

  4. I have a notice of seizure from Sherforce.

    They have not entered the premises and I have not signed anything.

     

    Original bill with Orange 1820.01 (Arrow Global LLC)

    Costs of execution 101.75

    1 visit from Sherforce 756.17

     

    It would seem (and this is just my opinion) that you have got an overdue account from Orange, which has been passed to (bulk-bought) by Arrow Global, who are debt collectors.

     

    If Sherforce are now involved, I would think it has gone to court and a CCJ been obtained. When this wasn't settled, it's been escalated to High Court (debts over £600), which is why SF have contacted you.

     

    Costs etc for High Court enforcement are different from your usual collections - quite a few seem to have cropped up lately, so you could have a look round this section to see what you may expect. There are links to the fees they can charge etc.

     

    Have you had a look at your credit report lately? Do you recall getting court papers at all (county or high court)?

  5. Well, I read my meters, called the readings through and yesterday got 2 seperate letters from them. The first was telling me they were going to put my monthly DD up by £25 per month. The second said thanks for the readngs, we're putting it down by £25 pr month (back to what I was paying anyway).

     

    I've decided to read the meters every two weeks and have set up to enter these figures online. That way at least I know the bill will be pretty acurate.

     

    Now if I could just educate the kids to turn off the lights / tv / xbox ...:D

  6. I'm sorry to hear of your situtation PP, but as you've gathered already, you're not alone. You've had some really good advice already, esp from Dame Bookie.

     

    We run a small business as well, and I really sympathise with you. We are directly linked to the housing market so are feeling the effects now, esp as January & February are traditionally quiet months for us any way. In December we thought we'd better try and 'gather' ourselves for these lean months, and so had some leaflets / cards printed and over the last few months, whenever we've had some spare time (us or our employees), have been doing a 'leaflet drop'. We are able to target the specific properties we want to reach so a bit different to your situtation, but was just thinking you might be able to do the same? On your computer, why not design a little leaflet, say 4 to an A4 sheet, get a map which shows the houses within walking distance of your shop and then over a couple of evenings, park up in a central spot and walk along the roads, droping leaflets in to the houses / flats etc. If you make your design really bright and cheery, and may be have some sort of offer (be realistic with it - 5 or 10% off, a free something, you get the idea). It might generate some more business for you. We get calls all the time from companies offering this service, but thought why pay them to do something we can do ourselves? We've had a pretty good response so will definately be doing it again.

     

    If you're not sure what to put on your leaflet, I'm sure us on CAG could come up with some ideas. Oh and be careful what you say if you are putting in an offer (eg 10% off all sales over £10.00, or you'll get people asking for 10% off 50p!)

     

    Just an idea :)

     

    Karen

  7. I have the form and will tick both years to try my luck.

     

    I tried but got knocked back :(

     

    Is there a letter that I could use to support 2001/2002 year?

     

    I seem to recall reading about people trying to argue that we should still be able to claim that one because it wasn't our fault we didn't know about it in time. I'll have to have a look to see what new news (if you see what I mean) there is on this.

     

    I think it was on MSE.

  8. Not my area, but I would have thought the best place to start is not to talk to them on the phone. When they call again, tell them to write to you and that they need to supply figures / evidence as to how they've got this figure. They probably won't have it, so you may have to do a Subject Access Request to get to the bottom of this.

     

    Have they got the right to collect it?

    Have they added any charges?

    etc

     

    I'm sure you'll get some more detailed advice soon, but thought I'd just reply & give you a 'bump'...

  9. Hi Ruralgirl,

     

    Can definately see what you mean in your photo (tho I can also see why a man might think that's ok :D).

     

    The fact that the fitters are employed by the shop & the receipt was from the shop is good news for you, I would say. You're more likely to get resolution from them than just the fitter. Compose your letter, post it on here if you want some 'impartial eyes' to be cast over it before sending, and, as Bankfodder said, they can sort it out between themselves.

     

    The owner lives in Spain? - blimey, we never did that well out of it! Mind you, we wouldn't be trying to pull the wool over your eyes like this lot seem to be doing. Perhaps that's why!

     

    Do keep us informed.

  10. I'm pretty certain the owner of the company knows nothing about this (these 2 muppets are employees)

     

    Maybe not, most fitters are usually self-employed and contracted to various shops etc. Especially as you paid him direct. What does it say on the receipt? The fitter's details or the shop?

  11. And I was hoping for a good outcome with this. I was in carpet business (retail) for years and certainly seen & heard some things, but have never heard such tosh from a carpet fitter!

     

    Follow FB's advice and contact the owner.

     

    The only potential issue I can see is if it gets 'sticky', there could be an argument about who is responsible for sorting it out. Did you get a written estimate from the shop? What was written on it re the fitting. As you paid the fitter direct, the carpet shop might say you've got to take it up with him. But if it is on your estimate, I would say the shop needs to sort it. But let's not jump the gun. The owner may not be aware of what the fitter has said, so give them a chance first. Personally, I would write to them, outlining the details, but try not to be too emotional (as per your posts). Stick to the facts ;)

     

    Do keep us informed.

  12. Thanks for replying Clare.

     

    I decided to forearm myself with a bit more info before phoning them this morning. So at midnight I was running around outside in my pj's with a torch, reading meters! After working out the cost of what I've used to date (giving myself a mild heart attack when working out the gas wrong @ over £2k! Decimal point in the wrong place!), I've actually worked out that as of today I'm actually £180 in credit. However, I know that when I call them they are going to say that my monthly dd is in fact correct, if I carry on using elec / gas the same all through the year. But of course I won't - it's become a lot milder now and we're back to work / school after being at home contstantly for a fortnight over Christmas.

     

    So plan is to call them with new readings, discuss things with them - telling them the above and see what they suggest. If I get no joy, I'll take another reading same time next month and see what difference it makes then.

     

    Mission for today - majorly adjust timer & thermostat on c/h, extra linings on curtains and energy bulbs throughout!

     

    Will keep thread updated in case any one else is experiencing the same...

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