Ross and Roberts - fees CTAX arrears

[speedfreak]

hi guys ,

I have a question regarding Ross and Roberts fees .

 

They were instructed to collect my council tax arrears of around £800 ,

I entered into an agreement to pay at £150 pcm and they levied on my car ,and charged me around £150 to do so .

 

I was late with a monthly payment and a bailiff turned up saying that unless I could pay £500 there and then that he would take my car .

I couldnt do that ,but offered to pay it two days later ,when I got paid.

He refused.

 

He made a call and said that someone was coming to take my car .

I phoned a friend who offered to lend me £350 ,which the bailiff accepted .

 

I never saw anybody turn up with a tow truck ,and he made a call to someone to cancel taking my car .

 

I then entered a new agreement to pay £150 pcm .

 

later I realised I had been charged about £310 for the visit

- presumably 150 for him ,and £160 for the tow truck ,which I never saw and was not used .

 

Is this allowed/right ,or have i just been screwed?

 

Cheers

 

SF

[chris600uk]

You may have been screwed.

 

I'd suggest writing to the bailiffs and making a Subject Access Request, so that you can go over every transaction made on their account with you.

 

Then you'll know.

[Voxter]

yes you've been had......common bluff to pretend truck is on its way.

 

They can only charge reasonable costs for the van charge. sounds very eccesive to me.

[speedfreak]

Thanks for the responses folks - a more detailed breakdown follows.

 

First visit - not in

 

Debt 769.84

fee 24.50

TOT 794.34

 

2nd visit

 

Paid off previous account of 254.01

 

 

Current debt to Smiths bailiffs

 

TOT from above 794.34

Levy fee 49.00

Walking pos fee 12.00

Charges 49.00

TOT 904.34

 

Agreed payments of £150 PCM from 28/12/08 ,levied on my car.

 

21/1/2009 ,not been able to make first payment

 

Turns up ,a/c now with Ross and Roberts(Smiths sold)

 

Went through a few hoops and paid him £350 ,agreement to continue at £150 pcm

 

Got a receipt from him showing bal of £738.84 , with costs of £319

 

 

On looking at the maths of this whole case closely ,it just does not add up - literally!

 

 

£904.34+319-350 is 873.84 ,so our balances are £134.50 adrift (at least it is in my favour) I think i might be able to account for £24.50 ,as when my car was levied I was again charged a first visit fee of 24.50 ,which they may have written off ,though I would be amazed!

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on this ,as I am beginning to lose a grip on it!Also ,would it be reasonable for them to turn up in a small van to attempt to take away a large car and charge me for it,and also to charge me for a truck which was never needed!Lastly ,if a bailiff company changes hands ,is there any process that needs to be followed ,ie notifying debtors ,etc?

 

Cheers

 

SF

[speedfreak]

I am trying to find out if a bailiff is currently certificated ,but the process now seems very hard ,to say the least!

 

The no 0207 210 0516 is no longer available ,nor is 0207 210 1883 ,both numbers for HMCS headquarters.

 

i understood the list they keep is a little out of date(or can be-updated Nov annually?) ,so I tried my local county court ,who have no record of the bailiff I am checking(NO names in public!).the bailiffs company say he has been registered at my local county court for nearly a year ,so this is before Nov 2008 ,so do I smell a rat?

 

Also ,if the bailiff changes employers ,I assume that the certificate has to be updated ASAP ,or levies will be invalid?

 

Cheers

 

SF

[Michael Browne]

If you have the name of the bailiff, then call the Ministry of Justice on 020 3334 3555 and ask for details of the certificate. Their list is not always up to date however but they will be able to tell you which court issued the original certificate and you can then call that court.

 

 

 

You can also check with the OFT who maintain a register of bailiffs at this number 020 7211 8608 .

[Voxter]

hmmm whats the bit about smiths selling ?

these arent debt collectors

bailiffs cant be in the business of buying debts.

 

Bailiff companies have to tender for the contracts.

 

Are you sure Smiths havent just returned the order to the council once they got their fees ?

[speedfreak]

hmmm whats the bit about smiths selling ? these arent debt collectors, bailiffs cant be in the business of buying debts. Bailiff companies have to tender for the contracts. Are you sure Smiths havent just returned the order to the council once they got their fees ?

 

 

Sorry ,should have made myself clear.Smiths Bailiffs was taken over by Ross & Roberts after the founder of Smiths died.

[Voxter]

aaah ok