Tomtubby - have you received a reply. I'd be really interested to hear their excuses.

Form 4 can be downloaded here. You need to send it to the court where the bailiff obtained his certificate. You can get this via the court helpline. http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/form4_0606.pdf

You are jointly liable for council tax so yes, unfortunately they can do this. However, they appear to have levied illegally on items that you do not own. You can counter this with a Form 4 complaint.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bailiffs-sheriff-officers/115030-how-complain-court-about.html

A Form 4 complaint is a form you fill out when complaining to a court about the actions of one of their bailiffs (you have to send it to the court where they received their certificate). It can be downloaded here: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/form4_0606.pdf

Threaten them with a Form 4 complaint (send them the draft you intend to send the court). Send a letter to the bailiff company (by fax, email and special delivery) telling them that the levy is unlawful (send registration docs to prove it) and therefore invalid. Send a copy to the council informing them that their representative has acted unlawfully and you will be taking action through the courts. Keep a copy of everything. I did all this a few weeks ago; had all charges rescinded and the council is investigating both the bailiff company and the bailiff himself.

Excellent news - I would proceed with the form 4 complaint explaining that the bailiff threatened you with unlawful actions; etc. As to prison, you will not be sent to prison unless you wilfully refuse to pay. You are not; so no judge would jail you. Two success stories with CCS - I wonder if CCS reads these forums?!

I have decided not to sign until I get written confirmation from them that the levy was unlawful and the charges associated with it invalid. I posted a letter today. I have also asked them for assurances that procedures are put in place to ensure such actions are prevented in the future.

Any advice tomtubby? Should I refuse to sign? Incidentally, they STILL haven't given me a full breakdown of fees and appear to have picked the amount out of thin air. They claim the amount owing on fees is £146; yet the initial bailiff letter last week added £227 worth of fees onto the account. (his van fee was £201 the bailiff said on the phone). I feel that they should be stopped from doing this to others. Nowhere in the letter does it mention what the fees were or address my complaint that the fees were unlawful and invalid. It merely agrees as a 'gesture of goodwill' to rescind them. (By the way, something that made me laugh - they even included a stamped addressed envelope for me to return signed form!!!!)

BSC - the exact wording of the form they want me to sign is: 'Without prejudice' I confirm that I accept the offer of a reduction in fees of £XXX made to me by CCS Enforcement Services Limited, as full and final settlement of any claim against CCS Enforcement Services or its representatives' Which makes me kind of want to face them down - the bastards.

The thing is tomtubby - I've already sent the Form 4 complaint to the County Court! (I did copy in CCS but it's already probably sitting on someone's desk at the court). Would this affect their offer to rescind the charges? They were very intransigent when I spoke to them last week and the bailiff in question simply kept telling me over and over again that the charges were valid and legal. The officials at CCS also agreed until I told them I was issuing a Form 4 complaint. Suddenly, they put the account 'on hold' and then I get this letter. I'm really tempted to tell them to shove it and dare them to pursue these charges (particularly as my debt to the council is 100% satisifed).

Thanks. In fact, I just have a letter from CCS saying the same. However, they have a form I have to sign agreeing that the charges will be dropped if I don't take action against them or their employees. Frankly, I'm very tempted not to sign it and let the courts deal with the Form 4 complaint. I'm concerned that this is merely more blackmail and they will continue to unlawfully pressure vulnerable people. It's also interesting that the charges they list are around £100 less than the charges written on the letter the bailiff stuck through the door and yet they claim that writing them off means 'your account is paid in full and would conclude CCS' involvement in this matter'.

Ha ha ha! Just phoned CCS to ask where the breakdown was and why it was taking so long to get it to me. Apparently yesterday (after receiving notification of the Form 4 complaint); CCS have removed the levy fee and van attendence fee from my account - get this - 'as a gesture of goodwill'!!!!! This despite the bailiff in question telling me that it didn't matter who I complained to - the charges were lawful and I would HAVE to pay them otherwise face further charges and having my locks broken. Lesson for all - never believe a bailiff - they are liars. Thank you to tomtubby btw.

I have asked them in writing BSC (no response yet). I also asked them to give me a breakdown over the phone and they had trouble getting to the figure! They merely mumbled something about the bailiff not having uploaded all of the charges onto the system yet!

I've had a problem with CCS in the past couple of weeks. They were chasing an outstanding debt of a mere £116! (Council tax). I got a bailiff letter in the door saying they had been round to collect £367 and would be back in 48 hours to take away goods. On calling, I discovered the bailiff had levied on my neighbour's car (I don't even have a license!!) but didn't leave any supporting documentation or any breakdown of charges. I called CCS and told them I was going to issue a form 4 complaint; that I believed these charges were unlawful and the levy invalid. I then paid the council direct from their website (the full amount) and the council then confirmed to CCS that the debt had been paid. The bailiff still claims he is entitled to his fees and will gain entry to collect when my 14 day extension has expired. I then issued a form 4 complaint and sent it to the county court (a poster here - the wonderful tomtubby - let me have the court where he got his certificate because CCS were being quite difficult about it - saying I needed to apply in writing and they would give me the reply in 14 days). I'm hoping the charges will be rescinded.

'They are saying they have checked with the dvla and the know its registed to my gf and are allowed to remove it regardless of who has a bill of sale.' This is a lie. They cannot levy/remove goods not belonging to the debtor. Write a letter to the bailiff company stating that you know the levy is invalid and if it is not removed; you will complain to the courts. Fax/email the letter AND send by special delivery. However, you may have difficulty proving your gf doesn't own it (is the debt in her name also?)

Yes, the registration document is fine. It proves that the car does not belong to you. Good luck. If they do come back and you see them starting to levy the car, threaten to call the police and ask them (through an upstairs window) what court they got their certificate from as you intend on complaining.

They cannot take your cars. My advice is to write to them (keeping a copy for yourself) informing them of the status of the cars and that issuing a levy on them is unlawful and therefore any levy and subsequent levy charge will be invalid. When they come to the house, hand them the copy of the letter you sent to the bailiff company through the letterbox (with supporting documentation such as HP agreeement and your father's insurance documents).