Visit from Marstons CTAX

[Mr. Kipling]

Cut off the clamp and throw it in the river

[jotty]

Now that the dust has settled, my lovely wife has stopped shaking everytime someone goes past the house and the dog has stopped wimering all because of the visit yesterday morning I have had a look at the docs left during and after the cretin called.

All 3 have different surnames at the bottom even though it was the same guy, on the 3rd visit when they clamped my car he had a woman with him and left her details even though when I rang her number he answered.

The lowlife refused to give me his name and didn't show any id.

 

Charges for the honour of dealing with them are :-

 

£42.50 Attendance fees

£61.70 Levy fee

£120 Van/Porterage

 

Not bad for a few mins work. The clamp was fitted before I could provide copies of my hp agreement and my wife lost a days work as a result.

 

Are these fees legal and is there anything else I could have done apart from have an all out row at 7 in the morning with all the neighbours watching, and more important can I claim any fees back etc.

[MarstonGroupComplaints]

I was contacted by Marston Group after falling into difficulty due to two commercial debts in my name. Judgement was entered and one week after Judgement was entered against me and on both occassions I received a letter from "Marston Group High Court Enforcement Officers", the letter stated that they were in possession of a High Court Writ to remove my belongings to recover the debt. The letter stated that the original debt of £670 would increase by £250 for "fees" associated with the costs of executing the Warrant. Numerous other charges and interest have been applied and I consider the amounts to be unfair and they do not relate to the amounts claimed on the judgement by the claimant.

 

The amounts claimed by them to the best of my knowledge had not been applied to before a court and in fact it was Marston Group that applied these charges simply for receiving the case file on a recently issued judgement and prior to allowing sufficient time for the judgement debtor to come to an arrangement to repay the creditor. This could be seen as an abuse of the courts process and an unnecessary intervention by Marston Group which is clearly nothing more than an effort to extort money from those thay may be in financial difficulty due to the downturn in economy.

 

I am an educated businessman with a good understanding of UK law. The way in which Marston Group has acted by using threatening behaviour which can often be conveyed to be aggressive and in a manor likely to cause alarm/harrassment/distress to the receiving party could be deemed to be unlawful. I intend to gather as much evidence as possible in order to prepare a case against Marston Group and to fully expose their actions to the public, the courts and the HCEOA.

 

Today, the 10th of December 09, I contacted Marston Group in response to the answerphone message I received to the effect of "Mr xxxxx, its Mr xxxxx calling from the High Court Enforcement Office, I will be attending your property today to remove your possessions as you have not kept up to date with two warrants. I have received 7 of these messages which I have logged.

 

Marston Group records all calls, therefore they have logs of any calls which can be examined to substantiate allogations of threats made during calls which cause unnecessary alarm and harrassment to those who have had similar experiences.

 

Prior to receiving this threat I had contacted Marston after speaking with the Consumer Debt Helpline. I had offered to pay the maximum I can currently afford on both debts; £15 per month. I had made payments on these terms however Marston staff advised me that they will still continue with enforcement action even though I have made payments. I am applying to have both cases relised at Court as I dispute the amounts claimed in relation to the bailiff fees.

 

I am in possession of a local newspaper article whereby Marston Group Bailiffs injured a girl over a £30 parking fine. Again in this case Marston applied extortionate fees to the debt. I have read several other articles in this forum where others have received similar occurances which could be deemed to be unlawful. Here is the link: Girl hurt in bailiffs row - COMMENT ON THIS STORY - Scarborough Evening News

 

I greatly appreciate any input from those who have had past similar dealings with this company. PLEASE PM ME or respond to this topic and I will contact you. I intend to carry out a full private investigation into their actions, evidence shall then be presented to The High Court Enforcement Officers Association, to the Financial Ombudsman and as evidence in any eventual claim the parties may make as a result of the findings.

[jotty]

Just read Jimbos postings re warning letters, prior to our visit on Monday morning we did not receive any notification from the council of their intentions, 14 days before.

Also Marstons did attend on the tuesday before and left a note giving us 7 days but then called back on the thursday, saturday and monday as stated which even with my limited maths isn't 7 days.

 

Is there any point in complaining as we are still so angry about all this and what is the likely outcome of the complaint bearing in mind we had to also pay £200 in costs as outlined above.

[jotty]

bump

[twonames]

Hi there

While Rossendales was looking for my car (which he didn't find -- has Dutch plates on it which would confuse the pea size brains these guys have anyway) I clamped his :D - as I recognize the number from other people compaining about the tactics being used by these "so called enforcement officers"and now we might have a "Mexican Standoff".

 

He parked ON MY PROPERTY without my permission so I have 100% right AFAIK on this one.

 

If he had any right at all he would already have called the Police - but he threatened me with "His mates would do me".

 

That's all I needed to make a formal complaint against a Bailiff - especially I had just visited the Council Offices to arrange payment of back tax and also make a Formal complaint against undue charges.

 

 

It's taken me over 60 years to get really angry and start fighting back against these sort of people but it's game on with Rossendales at the moment -- and he's NOT getting HIS car back until he goes to court and he'll have to explain why he was looking to clamp my car first - and if he brings his thugs round I have more than enough collegaues to keep them at bay.

 

I've got a bit of cash to use here so I don't care if I have to pay eventually --great to see him having to call a Taxi / take the bus so he can't do any more damage to "other victims" today.

 

OK Marsons aren't the same but DON'T PAY ILLEGAL FEES.

 

Cheers

jimbo

 

Jimbo you are lucky the bailiff didnt report to the police as you would have been in breach of the PRIVATE SECURITY ACT as clamping is a licenseable activity, even if clamping on your own land.

You could be fined upto £5000 pounds.

 

Just be careful if there is a next time.

[hallowitch]

£61.70 Levy fee

£120 Van/Porterage

 

if the bailiff has levied clamped a vehicle on finance you can claim these fees back