Thanks for the info Recycler, all is much appreciated and will be used. As for offsetting what been paid against their fees rather than the debt, I had thought about this issue; the way I see it is we began paying through their website after they repeatedly refused our offer of £10 a week in person, but before they added most of these charges, they ahd added maybe the £11.20 for the letter and the £20 odd quid for the first visit fee - which, on recipt of a full statement detailing these charges we would be happy to pay. All the £140 + "attendance with van" fees have been subsequent to our payment plan. I've kept all the email invoices for the payments, and also screen captured the confirmation page on their website to prove we've been trying to pay off a reasonable amount every so often. I don't know if that'll help us in the long run but it's somthing at least. We did request for the acount to be sent back to NCC after the harrassment started, but they didn't want to know. Another intresting point is that we have been passed from bailiff to bailiff - one of the previous, and yes, more threatening ones having been suspended for misrepresentation of powers. I think we're getting a new one this weekend! The guy on the phone said he would pass the case on to one of the more "firmer" bailiffs if we continued with our course of action. Ah, yes, Also got a SECOND letter put through the door stating that they could and would call "at any hour of the day or night" - which I believe is misrepresenting their powers again? - This will result in another fee of £140. Yay...

Nope the only car in the household is mine, and it's not me on the liability order, so if they tow that then I will have a field day. Complaining to the bailiff and the acea is just going through the motions to cover my back, we've been recording recent conversations and sockpiling letters that make threats so we have the actual hard evidence. These guys are doing my nut. If I can cause them anykind of paperwork then I will find a way to do so. Just got off the phone to one f their bailiffs, who said quoting things from the internet that you dont fully understand will get you in trouble. Hah. Know your rights people, it really rattles their cage.

I know. and the ACEA have a rediculously long winded complaints procedure that, in the end, dosen't really achive that much. however I still like to badger people.

Hello People. I'm new here but I have consulted you website and forums fo advice for a long while and wish to thank everyone for all their hard work and good advice that has appeared on these pages over the years. I am currently dealing with Equita who are persuing my friend that I live with for a parking ticket. We have paid it off via their website after they refused our reasonable offers of payment) but they are still harassing us with reguards to their extortionate fees. At present they are planning to call again at the weekend, and have already charged us for several visits with the van in attendance. how eer although there is more often than not someone always in, we are yet to see anyone! All correspondance bar one letter has been recived by post, and they have, other than the first visit, left no evidence of their attendance at our property. I Think maybe they are championing a new employment initiative for invisible people. Anyway, below is a letter I have just finished writing to them, I was wondering If I could be cheeky and ask for feed back, just to double check I have my facts right. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I am also happy to share the contents of this letter for anyone wishing to use it as a template to write to Equita about a similar matter. I really detest those cowboys and if anyone wishies to use any parts of this letter to make their lives slightly more difficult, you have my full permission to do so. Many Thanks x The Letter: [DENOTES EXPLANATION ON INFO REOVED FOR PERSONAL REASONS] Equita Certificated Bailiffs 42-44 Henry Street Northampton NN1 4BZ 15/10/207 Data Protection Act 1998 Subject Access Request Dear Sir/Madam RE: ACCOUNT - BAILIFF REF XXXXXXXX, PIN XXXXX We are writing to you to request a full statement of the above account. Your records will show that we have paid in full the remaining £XX.XX [uNDER £85] that was left on the original account balance via your website, as your bailiffs who have worked on this case repeatedly refused to accept our reasonable offers of payment and demanded recompense in full, often over the phone and refusing to give any exact amount due or offer to provide a receipt. However, following your letter dated 11/10/2007 Informing us that you would call this coming weekend to “remove our goods for auction” we were informed over the phone by your bailiff Mr [bAILIFF] over the phone that the remaining balance was £XXX.XX [iN EXCESS OF £350], which we can only assume to be your charges. Please could you send us a full and comprehensive statement of the above account, explicitly detailing the charges that have been made, what they were for and the dates on which the were added to the account. Please also include with this information any dates and times that your bailiffs have claimed to have visited this property, either with the van/removal contractor or a walking visit, that have incurred any charge. Please note that failure to comply with above request will result in us issuing a complaint to the Information Commissioner regarding your handling of my personal data. Please could you also include the most recent copy of Equita Certified Bailiffs’ fee tariff so we can compare this to the Road Traffic Act Schedule of Statutory Fees. On receipt of the above requested information, we shall examine the fees charged to this account closely, and any we feel are unlawful, made as the result of a ’phantom call’, unreasonable or excessive we shall report to Northampton county council and also the County Court. Please be advised a copy of this letter ahs been sent to both. We feel it nesseceary to once again re-iterate in writing that we will still refuse entry to your bailiff should he call. You are not, or ever have been, in ownership of a walking possession order, so attending with a van is pointless, please do not say you have done so and continue to add charges. The property will be fully secured at all time and any attempt to gain access via other means will be reported to the police. We are fully aware of our rights to refuse entry in this matter, seeing as the warrant was issued through the county court. Please do not continue to threaten and harass us. Any further threats made by yourselves or your bailiffs like the ones we have already received about “drilling through locks” “attending anytime of day or night” or “informing the police” will not be tolerated, They will, however, be continued to be recorded and reported to your trading standards association (ACEA) the county council and the count court that issued the certification of your bailiff. Please also expect a full written complaint regarding these matters to reach your own complaints department shortly. We have been assured by your offices tat there are no charges incurred in requesting copies of the above data, so none has been enclosed. We look forward to your prompt and professional reply within the next 14 working days Yours Sincerely Etc Etc