Merton Bailiff Services.... WRONG BAILIFF CHARGES !!!!

[tomtubby]

As many on here will know....Merton Bailiff Services is the in-house bailiff service for Merton Council. Due to the many complaints about this "company" I have done some checking and the fee scale from Merton Councils's OWN website:

 

"For example if the debt is cleared in full to our bailiff on their first visit to you the approximate costs you will incur would be as follows:

 

 

For a debt of £250.00:

• Letters £39.00
  
• Enforcement fee £210.00
  
• Levy fee £26.00
  
• Total £271.00 (plus the original debt of £250.00)
  

If your debt is not paid in full, then the costs will increase depending on the action the bailiffs take.

 

 

We will only instruct our bailiffs to collect a debt as a last resort and all other attempts to make an arrangement for payment have failed. We do not want to use the bailiffs as you will incur additional costs that need to be paid directly to the bailiffs, on top of your original debt".

 

 

I am shocked that a council such as this can POSSIBLY be charging figures that are NOT in accordance with Statutory Regulations. Our office has written to the Chief Executive of Merton Council and to the IRRV (their governing body) to ask for an immediate explanation and I do think that a Freedom of Information letter needs to be sent as well to ascertain how many people have been charged these fees.

 

The correct fees according to the Council Tax Administration & Enforcement (Amendment) 1993. should be as follows:

 

 

 

For a debt of £250.00:

• Letters £39.00
  

There is no Statutory Fee that provides for a "letter fee"

• Enforcement fee £210.00
  

Enforcement fee cannot be charged at first visit. The Statutory fee is £24.50 for "attending to levy".

• Levy fee £26.00
  

Levy fees can be charged....but only if a levy is carried out and a walking possession signed.

• Total £271.00 (plus the original debt of £250.00)
  

[WWOW]

I'd suggest making a formal complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman. There's no provision enabling Merton to rebuke statutory bailiff fees with their own.

[tonycee]

Why am i not at all suprised by your findings ?

[anais35]

Tomtubby - have you received a reply. I'd be really interested to hear their excuses.

[SURFBOY]

tomtubby- any updates on this threrad?

[FairPlay77]

As many on here will know....Merton Bailiff Services is the in-house bailiff service for Merton Council. Due to the many complaints about this "company" I have done some checking and the fee scale from Merton Councils's OWN website:

 

"For example if the debt is cleared in full to our bailiff on their first visit to you the approximate costs you will incur would be as follows:

 

 

 

For a debt of £250.00:

• Letters £39.00
  
• Enforcement fee £210.00
  
• Levy fee £26.00
  
• Total £271.00 (plus the original debt of £250.00)
  

If your debt is not paid in full, then the costs will increase depending on the action the bailiffs take.

 

 

We will only instruct our bailiffs to collect a debt as a last resort and all other attempts to make an arrangement for payment have failed. We do not want to use the bailiffs as you will incur additional costs that need to be paid directly to the bailiffs, on top of your original debt".

 

 

I am shocked that a council such as this can POSSIBLY be charging figures that are NOT in accordance with Statutory Regulations. Our office has written to the Chief Executive of Merton Council and to the IRRV (their governing body) to ask for an immediate explanation and I do think that a Freedom of Information letter needs to be sent as well to ascertain how many people have been charged these fees.

 

The correct fees according to the Council Tax Administration & Enforcement (Amendment) 1993. should be as follows:

 

 

 

 

For a debt of £250.00:

• Letters £39.00
  

There is no Statutory Fee that provides for a "letter fee"

• Enforcement fee £210.00
  

Enforcement fee cannot be charged at first visit. The Statutory fee is £24.50 for "attending to levy".

• Levy fee £26.00
  

Levy fees can be charged....but only if a levy is carried out and a walking possession signed.

• Total £271.00 (plus the original debt of £250.00)
  

 

IT looks like they have taken these illegal charges off their website (Ive just checked the page Non payment of council tax - Merton Council)

 

But does it mean they have stopped trying to impose illegally inflated fees?

[PaulyV]

FYI and in order to update this thread these charges appear to remain in force:

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bailiffs-sheriff-officers/165698-merton-bailiff-services-advice.html

[tomtubby]

I intend writing a letter of complaint to this company once again today which I will be copying to the Chief Executive.

 

I will also be sending an FOI request to be provided with the total of the charges that this council have received from their bailiff department.