Just a question really, under the new Taking Control of Goods: National Standards dated April 2014 in the Complaints/Discipline section it says: "The debtor should be able to easily find out how to make a complaint and obstacles should not be placed in their way." I know I have looked on the Bristow and Sutor site for their Complaints procedure in the last 24 hours and found nothing, and I just wondered if the others had hit the same brick wall with other Enforcerment Agents.

The programme information and a tag line in the broadcast asked the question: "whether new laws to curb the bailiffs' worst excesses go far enough", personally I felt it didn't really answer the question. All it showed was bully tactics that the Bailiffs use and are which continue to be used by newly named the Enforcement Agents. The basic fees might have changed but you can still be charged for additional court charges, storage of vehicles, locksmiths to get into vehicles, the removal of vehicles and the sale of the vehicle. The one thing it did mention, at the end, and I’m sure we are all on agreement on, is that the industry needs an independent regulator with teeth. There is really nobody to complain to about unfair charges, incorrect charges, bullying and intimation etc etc. Even the newly named Enforcement Agents give you no details of in house complaints procedures or anything when I have looked for them, they just seem act how they want.

Probably end up paying, given it is the last payment to get them out of my hair and just eat beans on toast. I know it seems like I'm giving up but I will write to my MP about the new law and the way it is being used and to the council, but in the case of the later, in particular, I not holding out much joy, although the people working their are just honest people the council leadership has a reputation for being bullies themselves. Wanted to say thank you to everyone and I hope this discussion helps others and brings the practices of these legal bullies to light even given the new laws which were hailed as helping the poor people in debt by the current government, which seems so far from what is really happening here. BTW since starting this thread I have been looking around and this isn't an isolated case, Bristow and Sutor have sent the same sort of letters with the same wording to other people who they are collecting money from.

There was a charge for the initial visit if I remember correctly when they delivered the original letter that was add to the amount I owed to the council in council tax when they took me to court because my payments were late two months in a row (i.e at the end of the month rather than the beginning)

I have been paying Bristow & Sutor for the last five months, following an arrangement I made with them by phone after they left me a letter through the door one day. Just one final payment left at the end of this month. There is nothing about default in the letter.

Don't know.... the letter says that from the 6th April 2014 that they will acting as Enforcement agents with a view to taking control of my goods in accordance with schedule 12 of the tribunals courts and enforcement act 2007. Funny thing is I have just one payment to make of around £200 at the end of April. They really picked their moment mind, me and the kids will be eating value beans on toast for the rest of the month.

You are correct in saying that they have no levy, well as far as I am aware. It basically says if I don't pay a Enforcement Agent will be instructed to visit my address to take control of goods and that the minimum cost will be £235. If goods are removed then additional costs will be due payable and then goes on to list the following fees: Compliance Stage £75 (not applicable here) Enforcement Stage £235 (plus 7.5% recovered exceeding £1500) Sale or disposal stage £110 (plus 7.5% recovered exceeding £1500) Additional costs include: storing goods, locksmiths, court fees, costs of removals by specialist contractors, cost of selling goods. What the poor person debt gets in terms of rights not be bullied at certain times of the day is not worth the additional expense of new fee structure. All that was need is regulation and realistic fixed fees. All I can see the new law doing is that a bailiff will turn up once and charge the £235 and the next time you see them it will be a fee of £110 and all the additional costs. If anything this new law plays right into the hands of the bailiffs and makes them more powerful as demonstrated by the letter I got this morning.

Just like to say your not alone in having problems. I got a letter today demanding full payment of £200 in 5 working days (2 of which are left), or they would come round and demand a further £235 in fees for an old council tax debt which I having paying off each month. The pretext for this action seems to be that have visited before and to them that is a good enough reason for them to bully me with this threat of further action and fees. Who ever came up with this new law thinking it would help us people struggling to pay back what we owe needs their heads examining to see if they have any brains. It seems it has given the people at Bristow Sutor more power to bully and cause more stress to hard hit families trying survive. Additional Information. The letter I received was dated the 7th April 2014 and stated I have five days to pay from that date. It wasn't sent until the 8th April 2014 and then it was sent by SECOND CLASS post and arrived on the 10th April 2014. They really are trying hard to get that extra £235 out of me. Bristow Sutor are such lovely people and the Government should be so proud of their work and their business methods. Thank you Mr Cameron and your pet monkey Clegg for making my life hell.