Update - Couldn't BELIEVE I'd received another Equita letter saying I owe them money, but when phoning them up they confirmed the case was closed. Still no confirmation letter from SBC and no reply from Equita yet, tempted to send ANOTHER letter and wait a few weeks.

See I've tried that once or twice too, it just kept repeating the message then eventually cut me off! Luckily I shouldn't have to talk to them anymore, lol

I've tried all 0844 and 0845 numbers I can find for them (even a few landline numbers) and they all take you to an automated message asking for your bailiff PIN, then give you the assigned bailiff's name and number. The only time you get through to an office is when you don't have one assigned

I am truly disgusted by this! This is nothing but mindless thuggery! People like that should be in prison, not terrorising people on their doorstep!

Wouldn't be too surprised if this is illegal bailiff charges. They can charge you for sending one letter and 2 visits MAXIMUM providing no goods are levvied upon and no walk-in possession is made. Course someone who knows the exact figures better than me can comment on that. I would highly recommend speaking directly to the Council. Bailiffs can extend deadlines, they just don't like it. But if you can get a Council Official to demand an extension over the phone it does help a lot. They also accept arrangements of monthly payments but, again, they don't like doing it. Phoenix are being ignorant, the account is for Council Tax and they were the ones who passed it over, therefore it is still their responsibility. At no point should you let a bailiff in! I cannot stress that enough, I've watched enough Bailiff documentaries to know all it takes is a foot in the door or an open window and that's legally classed as "peaceful entry". If you are contacting the bailiff I wouldn't trust voicemail - I've left many voicemails to various bailiffs over one matter and I often got a "I never received that message" crap, so I started leaving voicemails, making a note of when I left that voicemail and calling back AGAIN. I've not been on the forum long, but the help I've received is immense, especially with the developing problems I had with a bailiff company. You're talking to the right people

My thread is http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bailiffs-sheriff-officers/256547-equita-experience.html I regularly update it, and unfortunately due to a nasty arguement between Swindon Borough Council and Equita over responsibility of a debt it's been stretched a bit. Most recent update is awaiting reply from Equita, and I've made a formal complaint against Swindon Borough Council. I've dealt with 3 different bailiffs - Bailiff 1 refused conversation and in the end I had to get the Council to convince him to extend the deadline. - Bailiff 2 was quite polite and apologetic when a mistake was made, and promised to chase things up and callback but never did. - Bailiff 3 was a very rude woman who didn't believe a word I said, and refused to talk about the case to me, just kept demanding payment. Must've made 20 calls so far to Swindon Borough Council, and at least a dozen to Equita. I'm half tempted to scan my phonebill on here (deleting obvious personal info) and show just how many calls were made, and the cost had gone up a whole £14 quid. I HATE how you can only speak to Equita through a bloody mobile number!

And I should just add, as I have not received a breakdown yet I don't know how many visits I've been charged for, but I'm aware of at least one.

I currently have a very dragged-out case with Equita in regards to council tax for 2005/2006 with Swindon Borough Council. Without levying on any goods or gaining entry, they've charged me £228.50 in bailiff charges and I've recently sent a letter off asking for a breakdown of this. I can provide more details if you want, I have a whole thread full! lol

Hi GillyBob, I've dealt with Equita myself in the past. Park your car away from your house, out of plain sight, NEVER park it on your driveway or near your property as they will search the area. DO NOT let the bailiffs in ever, no matter what excuse they use. They cannot gain entry to your house unless it is classed as "peaceful" aka invited in. However, if they find an unlocked door or an open window they can gain access then so KEEP ALL WINDOWS SHUT AND ALL DOORS LOCKED. Equita will try and collect on this debt a few times with letters through the door and eventually knocking on your door. When I dealt with Equita I found the bailiffs quite rude and chose to have most direct contact with the Council. Eventually Equita will pass the debt back to the Council again if they cannot collect, but will also try and visit twice (unfortunately I can't remember the costs of the two visits but they can't charge you more than £42.50 in total I think). I managed to make a monthly arrangement with the Council to pay off the oustanding amount, but my account was split in two and part of it was with Equita. If you badger the council enough, the Recovery Department will try and extend the deadline and set up an arrangement for you. But Equita are reluctant to give up a debt, and will let it drag out. I've received over a dozen letters from them and at least 1 visit (possibly more as I was too frightened to stay at my house). I wish you the best of luck.

As of today, I've not received any further contact from Equita, including a reply to the Breakdown letter to have the excessive bailiff charges refunded. I'm also waiting for a confirmation letter from SBC in regards to Equita no longer being responsible.

Ok, complaint letters to both SBC and Equita have been sent. Had a call from L***** at SBC today who had now been in contact with the Recovery Department (finally). They have confirmed they've called Equita and told them the debt is no longer their responsibility, so the bailiff visits should stop. However, as I've already been promised this once before several weeks ago, I've asked them to send written confirmation they've called Equita and agreed the debt is now the responsibility of SBC. I've also said I'm calling them back straight away and seeking legal advice if I get another Equita letter. Shall update when the confirmation letter arrives, or if I hear back from Equita/SBC's laughable customer service/claiming bailiff charges back. Or if I receive another damn removal notice.....

Any idea where I can find out who he or she is?

No callback ¬_¬ Called SBC back again, spoke to a very confused guy called G**** who admitted to me this was getting ridiculous. Couldn't get through to Recovery Department as they'd all gone home. Despite having an urgent memo sent to them asking to call Equita, and all G****** could do is send ANOTHER memo down to them. This desk I'm banging my head against is starting to collapse now..... I can't believe how much of a merry go around I'm being led on. Add to that, I dread to think how much my phonebill is going to cost The heat is killing me, and I can't even open my windows to cool down! ARGH!!! This made me laugh - G****** - Oh dear this is ridiculous Me - I know, this has been dragging on for 2 months now. G****** - Well I know you don't want the bailiffs knocking on your door and taking your stuff away Me - They're already trying ¬_¬ I have to keep myself locked in. Ok, I have another question here - Is there any legal action I can take? Either against SBC or against Equita? I've been promised so many things from both parties, sent several threatening letters and now have bullies knocking on my door, it's even making me lose sleep and I've lost my appetite.

Well here I am, sat by the home phone waiting for this Recovery Manager person to call me and confirm he's spoken to Equita. So far, nothing. What's misleading is, YesterdaysLady said he'd call me today, but she also said "If he hasn't called you in two days call me back". Luckily, I have her direct number..... muahahaha.

Thank you PlodderTom!

I've had 3 Liability Orders against me, one of which is currently being looked into as I've received 2 for one year. Also, can someone please forward me the template requesting a breakdown of charges? I'm not very good at creating letters. It's odd how one account has been split into three, but according to SBC this is allowed, and unfortunatley I have no idea.

Allo peeps! This'll make you laugh.... "I was registered, surname given, DOB etc etc, and waited some more. 11:30am came and, armed with a nick thick folder of letters, receipts and such I was sat down in a tiny room with a lovely lady called L***** and I began my story. She sympathised from the word go, informing me this happens quite often, and that unfortunately I won't be the last person who'll have this problem either and looked at all my documentation. Armed with the three most important ones: Letter from Swindon Borough Council confirming the £353.30 debt I had with Equita and the arrangement I had with the rest, the receipt from Equita saying I had paid £353.50, and the letter from Equita confirming they'd received payment and my balance outstanding was zero, she started dialling numbers to get through to someone at SBC to complain her head off. It didn't look hopeful when four different numbers dialled didn't answer their phones......... Eventually, after trying again and again she got through to a young lady who confirmed over the phone (even though I already knew this) I owe Equita nothing, and a note was on my record for an Urgent memo to be sent to the Recovery Department to tell Equita to back off. LadyOnThePhone was going to leave it at that until L***** kindly asked something else to be done, as this "urgent" request was put in on 29th June and this hadn't happened yet. So LadyOnThePhone took my mobile number and promised both me and Linda she was going to march down to the Recovery Department herself right now, and get someone to call the bailiff and tell them to go away. That was at roughly 12pm, and I still haven't received the call. I'm sorry to swear but THIS IS RIDICULOUS! All it would take to clean up this mess is one, simple phonecall between Equita and SBC, and it just isn't happening. Apparently the Recovery Department are hard to get ahold of, and this is what is delaying things. I've spoken directly to the Recovery Department once before (he was the nice gent who sent me the letter and made the arrangement for me) but while they're faffing about, I'm getting bailiffs on my door." That was earlier, I finally got the callback about 5 minutes ago. SBC confirmed that my case is being dealt with by the Recovery manager, but he's currently off sick! Should be in tomorrow, and an email has been sent to him to call me. The confusion is, as the debt was split slightly, when the £125 was passed over to Equita, accidentally ALL of the debt went over, and Equita were under the assumption they were collecting it all. Either SBC still kept it and said nothing, or they reclaimed the biggest part of the debt back and something went wrong somewhere. Anyways, it has been confirmed AGAIN this is a fuss over one debt I'm already paying off, and Equita should have nothing to do with this. I've got to sit tight for 2 days maximum for this callback from MrRecoveryManager and then keep my fingers crossed he has finally called them and they are leaving me alone. I have also sent a formal complaint to the top dogs at Swindon Borough Council, via 1st Class Recorded Post, and I plan on doing the same to Equita. Keep your everythings crossed for me guys! If I have bailiff knocking/another damn letter through my door I'm going to throw a temper tantrum. P x

Ah I was hoping you'd reply PlodderTom, can I make a claim against someone? Equita or SBC, I dunno. But this has been an incredibly elongated hassle over a non-existent debt...

Also gathering up all the paperwork and going to the Citizens Advice Bureau tomorrow morning, to see what can be done.

Have also just sent this email via the link on the Equita website: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been in contact with three of your bailiffs regarding an outstanding account. My first contact, Mr *******, I made a payment with of £353.50 to clear an account. I have also been in regular contact with Swindon Borough Council in regards to an issue with an outstanding amount. Both the Recovery Department of Swindon Borough Council AND the second bailiff assigned to me, Mr *********, have confirmed I no longer owe any money to yourselves, and was informed in my last conversation with Mr ******* than this would be sorted out. A conclusion was given that both Swindon Borough Council and Equita were collecting on one debt of £933. Swindon Borough Council have confirmed to me that the debt is with them, and I have so far made payments of £50 on 27th April, 27th May and 27th June with an arrangement to pay £50 a month until this amount has been cleared off, yet I am still receiving notices from Equita informing me my goods will now be removed to pay off an amount I apparently have outstanding. The third bailiff, Miss *******, I spoke to today (5/7) after receiving a hand-posted Bailiff Removal Notice and informed her that this issue should've been resolved with Mr ******* help, yet she claims I still owe money. Can someone from the Head Office please contact me ASAP via telephone or email as I have had it confirmed several times by both Equita and Swindon Borough Council over the phone that I do not owe Equita any money. Kindest Regards, ******

Another update. Just received a hand-delivered removal notice from a different Bailiff, the previous one never got back to me about confirming with Equita I don't owe them anything and now I have an extremely rude lady threatening to come to my house. I tried telling her that I don't owe Equita anything, even mentioned previous conversations about it but she didn't believe me, and when I asked her (politely) to speak to SBC her response was "Well I will be anyway". She was extremely sarcastic and pretty much treated me like crap on the phone. I phoned SBC straight away and spoke to someone else and asked quite desperately what's going on. He confirmed again I don't owe Equita anything but when I asked to receive this in writing he said "We can't send anything out until the Recovery department have received the memo". So, despite me calling them half a dozen times over the last month the Recovery department HAVEN'T called Equita and told them I don't owe any money to them. This is the third bailiff that Equita have used, they don't seem to be talking to each other. And seeing as the previous bailiff (who confirmed I owe nothing) is no longer handling the case I can't even call him and ask him to speak to someone in their damn head office. Whenever I call Equita I just get given that rude lady's mobile numberm which isn't helping me. The bloke at SBC couldn't tell me WHEN the recovery department is phoning Equita, and meanwhile I now have to keep my windows and door shut in case they start removing items for a debt I don't have have with them! Fiance suggests calling Citizens Advice Bureau, is this a good idea? I can't keep calling Equita, then SBC, then Equita, then SBC, and hearing nothing back until I receive ANOTHER red letter. Help please!

Hi there, I've been dealing with Equita myself so I know exactly how they work. First things first - KEEP YOUR DOORS LOCKED AND YOUR WINDOWS SHUT, whether you're in the house or not. Equita can't force entry unless they've been granted peaceful entry, either by you or by an unlocked door or open window. Secondly, they cannot break in, that is illegal no matter what they say to you. Peaceful entry is exactly as it is, peaceful entry, and breaking in is breaking the law. Thirdly, if the Liability Order is in his name and not yours then you can call Equita and tell them this, they will ask for contact information if possible. Have you contacted this person and told them the bailiffs have demanded the money? They need to be in contact with him, not you, and if the possessions in the flat are yours and not his they cannot legally remove them. In my experiences with Equita I have spoken to two Bailiffs, one was quite rude and short and one was very polite. As the Council Tax was in my name I communicated with both the Council responsible AND Equita, keeping a record of what I said and when. But this debt isn't yours, and they cannot take your possessions if it doesn't relate to you. Equita do eventually get their finger out and do things but never trust a bailiff on the phone when he says "I'll call you back" because they never do. But remember to be adamant that this debt doesn't relate to you. I hope my advice helped, other (and more professional) people will be along shortly to help you out too.

Allo everyone! Another update Equita and SBC arae fighting over one amount, its the one debt outstanding but Equita think its with them and SBC think it's with them. I've made 3 payments of £50 to SBC and all is well, and, when speaking to MrBailiffPerson he informed me its likely the debt is stuck in limbo and to call SBC to find out who I pay - them or Equita. Luckily, a nice gent at SBC told me to keep paying them, and they will contact Equita to tell them they're not longer responsible for it. So, big plus side is the debt is considerably less than first though! And the contact with Equita should stop as I have no outstanding amount with them.

Ah, thank you! I was worried that's what they'd done but now I know different

I have the template ready, just need access to a printer. It shall be sent as I think they've charged me for something I'm not liable for... Shortly after receiving this shot-out-of-the-blue Council Tax problem I was nice enough to notify the Council that my ex was claiming to be a student when he wasn't, though I wasn't sure of the dates. I think the reason I have two Liability Orders for 2006 is that the smaller one is the amount of Council Tax difference there is (my ex is jointly liable but because he doesn't work and they're not sure of where he lives they're chasing me). Anyway, I know for a fact that the only person who can declare whether they are a student or not is the individual, in this case my ex, and I cannot legally claim he is no longer a student, and therefore I can't be liable for this amount, especially as I clearly stated I wasn't sure of the dates he started and quit college. But they shall definitely be sent, I'm going to wait for Equita to contact me and then rub the letter in their face - they have said twice I still owe money yet the Council have no knowledge of this, so I'd like to see this evidence of this so-called remaining debt.