Okay, yeah it makes sense. Brain says relax. Heart says "under threat!" Goddamn bailiffs really mess with your basic sense of security. Unarmed racketeers kinda...

Yeah, after speaking to him on the phone and then notifying him once I had transferred the total we agreed to the account details he gave me, I found another Removals notice delivered by hand when I got home. This is a violation of my civil rights according to all of the information I have been able to source. So if it continues and somehow the bailiff gains entry to my flat and removes goods, then what chances do I have of getting free legal assistance in a) recovering my losses, and b) prosecuting the bailiff? If he breaks the law in one way, why shouldn't he do it in another way too and break into my flat?

After an unsuccessful visit to the Council office, where apparently nobody with more authority than a customer service representative works anymore, I called up my bailiff and got into an argument. Told him that I knew my rights and what they were and that I would take him to court if he charged me a penny more than the standard 42.50. He went from Phil Mitchell to Billy mitchell just like that and conceded. Goes to show that they will try anything-don't stand for it.

If I pay the council then can the bailiff still bill me for their additional costs?

Thanks a lot for the info Yoshiro. What do you mean by, "if they haven't levied on anything"? I am shocked that bailiffs appear to have total freedom to charge what they please. They are a legitimate business like any other. No other business would attempt to charge roughly 8 times the legal value of their work. It is the people who are least able to pay that suffer the most extortionate scams. It is disgusting.

I have a council tax bill which has been passed on to the bailiffs and which I have been unsuccessful in having withdrawn. I accept my liability for the CT bill, but not it's 'bailiff status'. After negotiations with the bailiff assigned to my case (From Equita), I was told that my bill has roughly been doubled from the original 234 quid, because of the two letters sent by Equita. I know that at least one visit has also been made to my house, so I expect to be charged something for that. I have just done a little research however, and the fees I have been quoted sound totally unreasonable and perhaps illegal? Tomorrow morning I will try once more to prove to Lambeth council that the liability order has wrongly been passed onto the bailiffs, but I am not confident that I'll succeed in getting them to contact Equita. The bailiff will call between 12 and 1pm. I agreed to pay his quote at that time, during a telephone conversation today. Now I am wondering what my rights are? If I question his quote, will he force his way in and start taking goods to cover it anyway? How can I rightfully challenge this amount quoted? Please help me, as I am in urgent need of advice. Thankyou