Bright House are a bunch of {edit}. They pray on the vulnerable with excruciating inflated prices meaning you end up paying £3000 for a Telly worth £600-700. Rotten to the core I'm glad I read the Daily Mail's damning story on this bunch of legalised crooks. The behaviour of their in-house thugs is disgusting. This should be featured on programmes like Watch Dog.

I don't know what others think but I would let the HP company know and give them the details of the Bailiff. The HP Company might blow their stack as any car on HP belongs to them. They might even demand an immediate return.

No, but your council are totally responsible for the Framework Agreement, Policy and actions of their contractors / sub-contractors. FOI the council, they will probably flob you off at first but persist and remind them of their obligations. You could do it publicly whereby the council is clearly in the public spot light when raising an FOI request, this can be done at http://www.whatdotheyknow.com

I must say I was quite sceptical but encouraged by today's phone call. I'm placing an advert in the local paper to try and get in touch with people suffering similar experiences in the area in the hope that a Joint Action might throw more weight behind it.

Hi Old Bill, you PM Box is full

Interesting chat with the Fraud guys, been asked to submit a statement along with any evidence. It seems not all Police are 'friendly' with Bailiffs.

Good advice bn.

Hi seanmarts, I'm not going to argue the toss, just try to get a numpty Bailiff to carry it out on a victim who is prepared to make an issue out of it. I know where my money would be. On this occasion, let's just say, I wouldn't be following your advice on this particular matter. This doesn't include just UK law, it extends to ECHR law and privacy laws which also cover these particular actions by those who think they can wield a camera at will and intimidate people, especially those acting on behalf of a private organisation (Whether they have a warrant or not) I'd be very interested if the LA who foolishly subcontracts theses rossendale muppets, know their contractors are fannying about with video cameras. The LA is fully responsible and I don't think even they are stupid enough to let these morons do that. Ask any LA / Licensed CCTV operator about strict rules of commercially using ANY camera equipment with the public.

I know who I'd be taking advice from. You are a fool if you seriously think you can just use cameras to do just what you feel like when conducting your business at work, especially when it involves members of the public

This isn't out of context at all. They have no right. You can ask them to stop, if they don't, they'll soon find out which side of the law they fall on if the Police are called. You've answered you own question, this is a Civil Matter, they have no right to film you without your express consent. End of..

He'd be in the poo if he was standing on the pavement and filming through the windows and zooming in. Even LA's have strict blackout zones on their CCTV systems to prevent snooping into peoples properties. The consequences are quite severe.

Are these Bailiffs operating within the PACE rules? If so how? I made my feelings clear on here yesterday but the posts removed as they we're deemed unacceptable. There are strict rules governing video evidence, these bailiffs leave themselves wide open if they even think they can get away with using a video camera 'willy nilly' filming people on their property up close and personal. I do not retract my posts yesterday, I don't think whoever removed my posts realised the seriousness of what this alleged Bailiff done. Broadcast companies get away with this if it's in the public interest, Bailiffs can't make this claim because they do it for their own interest. I work in broadcasting and have a pretty good idea what is legal and what is not when it comes to filming on both private and public property.

Action Fraud have replied and want me to contact them, they have said: From the information provided it would appear you have been a intended victim of an Advanced Fee Fraud. here goes...

Oh man!

Sorry Jackie, I just can't believe what I'm reading. This sounds like something Arthur Daily or Del Boy would try to pull off.

How do they investigate themself? This makes me laugh...."Give us a chance to stop these thieves" Believe me, they won't have to look far

Oh, Hi JackieJ, I thought I'd catch up with you. Don't you remember in 1993 you borrowed £1000 from me in the Dog & Duck pub in Cloud Cuckoo land? I'm sorry, I've lost the IOU / Receipt you gave me. I have a note of it I found in my 1993 diary though. You can't make this stuff up!

Thanks Hallowitch. The second LO that followed the last was for the year 2012. We knew nothing of the second LO until Rossendales Threat letter came through. There's a mine of info on that thread, thanks again, very useful, I'm reading though it now. It's disgraceful how these LAs act. The courts should be just as accountable as the LA's. The fact is they (Council Exec's and Judges) probably all socially mingle together and hatch plans how they can shaft us all without getting us to bend over. It gives a bit of faith that the LGO might have some sway now and then, but they have been awfully quiet in recent times. Are they under pressure to cover up? It seems, as Arthur Daily might say, 'a nice little earner' for the Councils of this land to extort money out of the unfortunate and then try to hide behind their buddies in the likes of Liberata, capita et al..

Letter to MPs Office: Thank you for your reply. Only part of my plight is resolved with North Somerset Council (NSC) I am particularly annoyed at the threatening letter from Rossendales, a sub contractor used by a principal contractor of NSC called Liberator. I am sure you have seen the letter, if not I have attached the report to this email. It is a Criminal Offence in this country to send out threatening letters, demanding money with menaces and to make threats of Criminal Prosecutions / Fines from a private body such as the rogue company, namely, Rossendales. This company is acting on behalf of NSC and after seeking legal advice, the letter surmounts to no more than an illegal threat of prosecution indicating I am committing a Criminal Act myself. No Bailiff company can act on behalf of or prosecute criminal cases without either Police involvement and / or council intervention. The truth is, I have opened pandoras box, until this episode, I was ignorant to the fact that these practices even go on at all, I thought I lived in a civilized country. I thought our recent Governments have taken us to war to fight against counties that impose such draconian acts and threats to their people. I am disgusted that vulnerable families may be subject to these threats and who are not in a position or are simply scared to do anything. The CAB, a fine organization they may be are toothless and in general, tow the line with Council ‘policies’ due to the direct involvement they have with local authorities. This doesn’t leave the public with many choices. Some people may not be able to afford the criminal charges these companies hike on top of their bills, the council has even inflated court charges by well over 100% when in fact it costs no more than approx £3-£5 per liability order. As for the LGO, I have research them and they seem nothing more than a quango interested in their £15 Million pound finance to help decide environmental issues etc etc I don’t expect John’s office to support my cause as I am now determined to expose this sheer profiteering on peoples misery. I’m lucky enough to be able to afford these criminal charges but I will fight and expose this illicit profiteering racquet which seems to apply to ALL local Authorities but I will use NSC as a shining example. This is something the Daily Telegraph warned about and I will help them expose this further. I get the distinct impression this is something the Conservative representatives in this constituency will not want to get involved in. This isn’t a case of deciding what colour bins we should all be subjected to, this is defrauding the public. It costs NSC well over £345,000 a month for NSC staff to hide behind their telephones and they hope we get the impression they are totally unaccountable. I am happy that I have covertly recorded every encounter with NSC, it seems we are going back to the draconian dark ages where those in power hide behind thugs. The NSC customer service, and I use that term very, very loosely, is a disgrace. The Council should be a transparent organization answerable to the public they serve, instead, they have become an organization that hides away behind the private enterprises we fund. If it’s any merit, the Liberata lady I spoke to today (Because no one from NSC had the nerve to see me) was polite and tried all she can to help, she deserves a better job as she at least seemed human and didn’t get aggressive like the last ‘Lady’ I saw who started to bang the desk. Thanks again for your reply, I trust though, as so typical in this country, this subject is far too taboo for MPs to want to get involved in, after all, it might expose more than we all bargain for. Yours sincerely Banana Man from the Banana Republic of North Somerset

I have reported the fraudulent letter threat from Rossendales to NSC's Fraud Report Line and the Police 'Action Fraud' site: Dear North Somerset Council, I would like to bring to your attention an example of demanding money by menaces and making threats of legal action amounting to fraudulent behavior. Rossendales, a Bailiff contractor operating with Liberata and North Somerset Council have sent me a letter with a threat of a criminal prosecution and a £500 fine if I fail to complete an income and expenditure form. Rossendales, a renowned rogue bailiff outfit which featured on ITV’s exposure not so long ago seem to think they can issue threats and are legally in a position to carry these threats out. I have kept the evidence of this fraudulent act and will also make this a Police matter. A copy of the letter is attached below. I am in particular, keen to find out where Rossendales think they can prosecute a criminal offence by not returning this form. Question, are you saying I have committed a criminal offence. I am sure the Police would like to know about this odious crime I have committed. North Somerset Council is entirely responsible for the actions of your contractors and / or sub contractors and the framework you are obliged to manage between them. I have taken this letter as a very serious threat and wish to enquire as to who is responsible for contractors and tendering such work. If you fail to provide this information, I will be obliged to report this situation to the LGO for further auctioning. I also intend to gather information with regards to other constituents who have suffered the same illegal threats. > I trust you will assist in this matter. Yours Sincerely,

Wow, I admire your scrutinising outlawla!!Fascinating and enlightening reading for sure. My problem is, my council are gutless and have stone walled any questions. Replies I have had have come off the standard reply scripts these people or indoctrinated with. I'm particularly interested in that letter from the council to the courts dictating the new costs, is the council above the law, perhaps they ARE the Law? I'm going to try getting this info out of NSC and check the similarities, if any.

Hmmmmm, you've stumped 'em there outlawla, hence the silence

Hi Annette, just a quick bump to see how you are and how things are going, all the best, Banana Man Banana Republic of North Somerset

Thanks outlawla, that's a gem. I'll certainly be asking if he got the same threats from Rossendales. The costs, Liability 1 £90 and Liability 2 £90. They (NSC) automatically went for the second liability in order to charge me for the rest of the year. Why would it be £85 for him and £90 for me, special privaledges? or are they just making these up as they go along. His and my Liability orders we're from the same court.

A small victory, NSC, well, Liberata have agreed the payments go back to the Council on account I pay both £90 Liability costs in the next two months installments, however, I am not stopping there: I want to know how both Liability orders we're rubber stamped by the court in the morning when the cases we're not due to be heard until after lunch indicating the orders we're issued before any hearing takes place. I am still waiting to hear from the Magistrates court questioning the above fact and asking if the Judge, not a District judge swore in his position (Oath) that day. I have two letters from the courts saying they are consulting their legal team with regards to my questions but six weeks later still no reply. I am also still questioning the answers to my FOI and letter to the Corporate Director whereby NSC state they have no framework or agreement with Liberata and / or Rossendales. My appointment with the council was this morning and guess what, when questioned, it turns out the lady interviewing me was Liberata, not an NSC employee. She said NSC won't deal with clients direct! In all fairness, this time she was a polite person who did seem to do all she can to help (So full credit to her) At least she wasn't thumping the desk like the last 'Lady' I spoke to. I find it absolutely disgraceful that NSC have no customer facing people AT ALL and hide upstairs using a phone to consult. Totally inappropriate, totally draconian and typical of the Authoritarian attitude we are all walking into. I haven't finished yet as I am now trying to get a high court hearing as I have all the evidence I need to prove the Magistrate courts is nothing more than an administrational Kangaroo Court. All through this I have refused to deal with those legalised thugs at Rossendales and am determined to act on their threatening letter in which I am threatened with Court Action and a £500 fine should I not return the I&E form they sent, they have no right to demand this and poor administration from NSC is responsible for their threats. I must also point out that my local MP's office lied to me saying they we're going to call NSC with regards to my case, I had it confirmed they have not and couldn't give a monkies. Therefore, my conservative vote will definitely be going elsewhere in November, I will be thanking Mr Penrose for the rhetoric he gave but lack of promised action. One thing is for sure, today's Britain is akin to East Germany back in the 70s and 80s, there is no one in officialdom to help you out. Thank god for strong spirited people that frequent forums such as this. Thanks to those Caggers who offered both moral and sound support!! This has proved that people power is strongest, don't rely on officialdom for nothing. This whole saga has opened up a can of worms for me, now my eyes are opened to how we are treated and milked, I am determined to see this right through to the end. Like I say, I will get more than my monies worth in terms of Council Tax paid and I loath paying NSC a penny.