Thanks Glenn, I thought that would be the case. Cheers, Stu.

Hi, I've just completed my Money Claim Online as per the forums guidlines and I have posted a copy of the schedule of charges to the court for attachment to my particulars of claim. The question I have is whether I need to send Abbey a copy as well. I have already sent them a schedule in previous correspondances but that didn't include the interest and I'm not sure if I have to send anopther copy now I have lodged my claim. Can someone please advise. Thanks.

Thanks Nathal. I thought it would be the same but wanted to be sure.

I've read through the material regarding bank charges and I have started the process off with Abbey for my personal current account but do the same pinciples apply to my business account with Barclays? I haven't really looked into it too much but I did go through a phase last year where due to bad debtors bouncing cheques on me, my account went a bit haywire. If I got charges during that period can I recoup those like I'm doing with the personal account? Thanks, Stu.

I have one at my office that I could use. Should I fax them and demand the satement or write a recorded delivery letter so I have proof of asking? By the way Bristow and Sutor are used by Warwick District Council.

Zooman, thanks for the advise. The sequence of events was this: After making a seies of payments to them we stopped paying because we belived we had paid the debt but they visited us for full payment or removal of goods. My wife refused to let them in so the bailiff agreed to allow my wife to pay an installment only if she took the details of the car. My wife agreed to this and paid an installment. Despite requests they never sent a breakdown of the payments or the charges. We paid another couple of installments in the months following before stopping the payments because they had not sent any proof that we still owed them anything. So they visited us again in a van stating they had come for full payment or the vehicle. I emphasise a van because the car is a 4X4 and they could not recover a vehicle using a transit van. My wife had to pay an installment to get rid of them. Again despite requests no statement or breakdown was sent and so we made no more payments. They then phoned our house and my wife answered and they said they were on their way round to collect the vehicle unless we paid a final installment of £230.00. My wife gave them my debit card number and they took £504 out of my account. The additional amount of £274.00 was for their 'charges'. They did not tell my wife this was going to be taken they only stated £230. I only found out when I checked my balance a few days later. We phoned them and complained and they said they were entitled to charge taht amount because they had the recovery vehicle and the men to take our 4X4 but they didn't even attend the house. We got no paperwork, receipt, statement, nothing. They basically fobbed us off. We complained to the council and the also washed their hands of it and referred us back to the bailiffs. I have now received a compliant form but I don't have any faith it will do any good. Have I got grounds to take legal action? I hope I've given you enough background on the case without waffling too much and I really appreciate any help you can offer. Sorry I meant to add that I do habve the necessary HP documents for the courts to view if necessary. Thanks Stuart.

No they have never gained entry to the property and have not levy against any possessions but whilst I was at work one day they did list my wife's vehicle because it was sitting on the driveway and they wouldn't go away. This vehicle is on a 4 year HP agreement which we are half way through.

Thanks for this reply Lesser but I should have pointed out that I have now fully paid the amount owing. My bugbear is the excessive charges I have had to pay (mostly without my knowledge) and I would like to take action to try and recover them. The problem is I don't really know how to and I'd like to know how other people have tackled this problem. Thanks again, Stuart.

Hi everyone, I've had real difficulty with a collection company called Bristow & Sutor due to council tax arrears and I am planning on taking them on to recover what I feel are excessive and disproportionate charges. I paid over £500 to them last month half of which was for 'charges'. I won't bother you with all the details because it is quite a long story but I would really welcome any advise from people who have crossed swords with Bristow and Sutor before. My main grievances are: They have never shown me any breakdown of charges. Amounts always seem to vary and they give no explanation. They levied against a vehicle that is on a HP agreement and therefore technically I do not own (I believe this is something they can't do and they were told about the vehicle being on HP) They have charged me for attending to collect the vehicle when they didn't even come to my property, they just threatend my wife over the phone. Any help would be very welcome. Thanks Stuart.