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    • Make sure the WS is sent 14 days before the hearing. You can e-mail the court theirs.  In the subject line put the case number, the names of the parties and "Witness Statement".  Obviously click on "Return Receipt". Send Simple Simon his by 2nd class post - all VCS are worth - and get a free Certificate of Posting from the post office.
    • The outlet is in Camden Town and was set up in 2006, a year after my husband established the business, in addition to selling at exhibitions, online, shows, events, and having licensing agreements in some places overseas.  The only thing I have stopped doing since I got ill is the physical stuff, which I’m working on. The business has not changed name or anything like that either. I’m not sure where the original contract with Camden is but the management must still have it. My husband died in Jan 2017, and until Sept 2018, I would take the stock in every week; after that I was sending it in by post. I went in now and then when possible to re-do the display but that was about it. No one had access to any files until 2020. Moved house in 2020 thought would have to pull it all, Covid had just hit as well. The person in question said he would be interested in taking over and paying the rent etc. so I said I would let him sell the pictures for nothing as long as he would ‘keep it warm’ for me.  Obviously, everywhere was closed for lockdown. During this time I was working out how to go forward.  In May 2022 I told him I couldn’t  give anything away for free anymore, and put in place the wholesale agreement.  I’ve disregarded any discrepancies from before this date. I sent over the jpgs electronically, so I’ve still got them too. He hasn’t got any original files like .psds negatives or memory cards etc, I’ve got proof of all ownership/copyright. A co-op is whereby a small number of neighbours work on a rotational basis so they each of them can have time off, that way everyone doesn’t need to be there at the same time, he had never been an employee of mine.  The only reason I allowed him to have the files in the first place as I didn’t want to lose that side of the business.  It’s a good, constant source of income. However, the rent was becoming crippling as I believed there was something fishy going on well before this as there’s so much cash dealt with there, and I couldn’t go in regularly in person, and I’m sure sales weren’t being recorded properly and cash was being pocketed. My husband was too busy to be doing any stock control properly, he wasn't really into paperwork, and the guy who was ‘helping’ me after my husband's death, was making things very difficult for me to implement a solid stock control system by refusing to co-operate on simple things like using email etc. which I thought was a smokescreen, so I severed ties with him just before I made the agreement in question. I sent about 100 images, jpg files, sent via We Transfer. I’ve got the confirmation of which files were sent with dates. I will have to go through closed bank accounts and previous tax returns to get a proper estimate.   Before I made this agreement, I was selling retail there, this is a wholesale agreement so I’ll have to do some calculations but it is definitely in the thousands.  I haven’t got his his home address, and I don't think he's got any sizeable assets. I’m also worried that he might send the files overseas and start selling them there. I know he’s not stupid enough to sell them online. He knows for sure how serious this is, but he’s been chancing it and thinks I’m stupid, if not soft and stupid. I don’t know if this would work but I am thinking that when he does contact me, I tell him we need to talk, tell him I know what he’s been up to, and strongly urge him not to order any more prints from wherever he is having them printed because it will make things much worse for him if he does. Then when I do tell him about the gravity of the situation, maybe a few days later, I think it will scare him into complying because the consequences definitely trump the few quid he thinks he is saving by getting his own printing done. Tell him an amount that I want back for lost revenue, and make it clear that if he doesn’t destroy the files and if I find out he is still doing it at any point down the line, I will seek prosecution for copyright infringement and fraud, which I will. I don’t know how I can enforce any of this without involving the courts though. I will be able to tell, though, and he will know this. And the only reason I am doing this now rather than before, is that I couldn’t prove anything until now.  It was screamingly obvious from the beginning though, as he wasn’t ordering enough from me to pay the rent, let alone make a profit. If I decided to come down like him lie a ton of bricks straight away, how would I go about a cease and desist, would I have to get one from the court? And what do I do about the stock he currently holds? It has also occurred to me that he might file for bankruptcy or similar if things get heavy, where would that leave me? I could put the feelers out for a brand-new person to take it on, obviously without giving them access to files, that is an option. But that comes with its own set of issues. Also, would there be any implications for me, if I kept quiet for now? Let him order again from me as if nothing has happened, as it will be any day and I want to get all my ducks in a row first ideally….   Thanks again
    • I’ve also just realised their online website they’ve got 12 photographs of my vehicle, including close ups of the inside?? Not sure why that’s relevant.  The time stamp on the first photo is 13:57, the PCN incident time is 14:12. 
    • I’m tempted to send a letter to the company outlining the reasons why I think their PCN is illegitimate. I guess will technically be an appeal.  Their documentation states they won’t discuss over phone, I also don’t want them to have my email address.    re signage on entrance, having looked at land registry, the whole road is private, and when you turn into the road off the highway, there is a sign on the lamppost about 20m in, again not noticeable and on the other side of the road.  I feel like I am in a difficult position with this, I understand that I may have a good chance of not having to pay, but at the same token the stress this is already causing me makes me feel like it’s not worth the £60!
    • Well done with the photo. Of course the signage is insufficient.  PPM are not interested in competent management of a car park, they are interested in catching drivers out so they can issue their PCNs. For a start, according to their trade associations' Codes of Practice, they are supposed to have signage at the entrance. Any e-mail reply from the company and whether they will/won't/can/can't get the invoice cancelled?    
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    • We have finally managed to obtain the transcript of this case.

      The judge's reasoning is very useful and will certainly be helpful in any other cases relating to third-party rights where the customer has contracted with the courier company by using a broker.
      This is generally speaking the problem with using PackLink who are domiciled in Spain and very conveniently out of reach of the British justice system.

      Frankly I don't think that is any accident.

      One of the points that the judge made was that the customers contract with the broker specifically refers to the courier – and it is clear that the courier knows that they are acting for a third party. There is no need to name the third party. They just have to be recognisably part of a class of person – such as a sender or a recipient of the parcel.

      Please note that a recent case against UPS failed on exactly the same issue with the judge held that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 did not apply.

      We will be getting that transcript very soon. We will look at it and we will understand how the judge made such catastrophic mistakes. It was a very poor judgement.
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      This is good ethical practice.

      It would be very nice if the parcel delivery companies – including EVRi – practised this kind of thing as well.

       

      OT APPROVED, 365MC637, FAROOQ, EVRi, 12.07.23 (BRENT) - J v4.pdf
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Making an FOI request to Council regarding Bailiff's help


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Some more interesting information from my FOI requests - I have had responses from all Welsh Council's, but some are currently only Partially responded too.

 

Conwy Council:

It costs them £3 to obtain a Liability Order, the Debtor however must pay £70.

To be fair :rolleyes: This £70 includes "Staff Costs" "IT Costs" "Stationery" £67 is pretty impressive for that, considering most processes will be automated, and the staff will be doing other stuff as well - how come the normal Ctax bill doesnt include "Staff costs, IT Costs, Stationery" amongst the list of items such as Police, Fire, etc. Funny how becoming a debtor makes your automated processes become more expensive!

 

Also it seems - the Welsh Assembly has now banned Local Authorities from charging more than £70 for gaining a liability order.

 

Interestingly, Conwy Council believes that the Data Protection Act limits/stops it from making the appropriate enquiries to establish if a debtor is Vulnerable before a bailiff visit.

 

Rather oddly, they say that somebody "consulting their Councillor/MP" classes as vulnerable which I must admit sounds rather odd to me, and therefore suggests that, anyone whi receives a liability order should start Consulting their councillor or MP, tell the council and thus get Bailiff action stopped! :D This they say is from their Bailiff Operational Guidance - I suspect that this is due to a fear that if their Bailiff's are being naughty, and councils know full well they are, then they don't want the MP/Councillor getting to hear of it.

 

With regards getting the Council to take the debt off the Bailiff's Conwy says the following:

Once a case has been referred to the bailiffs any payment arrangements must be made with them. Only in exceptional circumstances, if appropriate, will a case be called back from the bailiffs.

 

Again under interesting, this is what Conwy has to say with regards to the Bailiff's it uses!

Since April 2010 Conwy C.B.C. has a joint-working agreement with Denbighshire County Council who have in-house bailiffs. Those bailiffs are now acting on behalf of Conwy C.B.C. for all new liability orders, apart from out of area cases which are referred to Jacobs bailiffs. The Council previously referred liability orders to Excel Civil Enforcement Ltd., who still have a number of ongoing cases.

 

Conwy Council does not keep records of complaints, or numbers of complaints regarding their Bailiff's.. How strange. :D

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The requests so far - some are currently only partially responded too

 

Flintshire http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou_4#incoming-179026

 

Powys http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou_7#incoming-178041

 

Gwynedd http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou_5#incoming-177415

 

Denbighshire http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou_3#incoming-176820

 

Conwy http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou_2#incoming-176767

 

Wrexham http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou#incoming-176128

 

Ynys Mon http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_and_cou_6#incoming-170452

Not responded too at all - I mentioned in my upthread that I wondered what sort of response would come from Mon, given the taking over of the Council by Senate Commissioners :oops:

 

Ceredigion http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_for_bailiffs_council#incoming-169754

 

This link is for Dyfed Powys Police's response and I will be tackling other Welsh Forces

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/trainingguidance_given_to_office#incoming-165739

 

I just realised that for some reason, I havent FOI'd any South Wales Councils, I will get to work on them asap.

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Some interesting stuff from Denbighshire Council.

 

From April 2011 they say that they no longer charge the Debtor for Liability Orders. However, up to that point, there was a £3 charge for "Accomodation"?????????

 

This is Denbighshire's Code of Practice for Bailiff's - they still use Jacob's for certain things.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/69830/response/176820/attach/html/2/code%20of%20practice.pdf.html

 

Their Costs up to April 2011

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/69830/response/176820/attach/html/4/Court%20costs.pdf.html

 

And, one of the few to supply it - Here is the Contract of Service/Service Level Agreement between Denbighshire and Jacob's as signed in 2009!!! This seems to be a fairly rare thing to get hold of.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/69830/response/176820/attach/html/3/Jacobs.pdf.html

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I have just noticed that someone else made a FOI request to Ceredigion Council.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bailiff_fees_unpaid_by_debtor_fo_3#incoming-184136

 

Ceredigion Council believe that once a Liability Order has been settled with the Council, the Bailiff can continue to use the Order including attempting peaceful entry/levy on cars/goods purely for the recovery of their own charges.

 

Is this correct?

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Some interesting stuff from Denbighshire Council.

 

From April 2011 they say that they no longer charge the Debtor for Liability Orders. However, up to that point, there was a £3 charge for "Accomodation"?????????

 

I have the same curiosity about the £3 Accommodation. If you have the patience to read through it 120% increase in summons fee penalty this deals with the doing away with the charge for Liability Orders, however, they increased the summons cost by 120% and will inevitably force more households into paying the fee.

 

P.S

 

There is some discussion going on here about Rossendales, court, liability orders etc Help is available for your Council Tax Bill.

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Interesting stuff folks, obviously Conwy and Sir Dinbych are going to be working very closely, but both are equally incompetent, so nothing new here, but at least they say vulnerable cases must be referred back

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The bailiff: A 12th Century solution re-branded as Enforcement Agents for the 21st Century to seize and sell debtors goods as before Oh so Dickensian!

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Rather oddly, they say that somebody "consulting their Councillor/MP" classes as vulnerable which I must admit sounds rather odd to me, and therefore suggests that, anyone whi receives a liability order should start Consulting their councillor or MP, tell the council and thus get Bailiff action stopped! :D This they say is from their Bailiff Operational Guidance - I suspect that this is due to a fear that if their Bailiff's are being naughty, and councils know full well they are, then they don't want the MP/Councillor getting to hear of it. - BOG?

 

PT

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The Isle of Anglesey has finally responded.

 

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/69833/response/198482/attach/html/1/FOI%20What%20do%20they%20know.com%20P%20Williams.doc.html

 

They make NO checks as to whether a debtor is Vulnerable before sending files across to the Bailiff's.

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The Isle of Anglesey has finally responded.

 

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/69833/response/198482/attach/html/1/FOI%20What%20do%20they%20know.com%20P%20Williams.doc.html

 

They make NO checks as to whether a debtor is Vulnerable before sending files across to the Bailiff's.

 

Well there's no surprise, as Cyngor Sir Fon is a complete bunch of clowns

We could do with some help from you.

PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP THIS SITE RUNNING EVERY POUND DONATED WILL HELP US TO KEEP HELPING OTHERS

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The bailiff: A 12th Century solution re-branded as Enforcement Agents for the 21st Century to seize and sell debtors goods as before Oh so Dickensian!

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17 How many complaints were made to Wrexham Council in 2010/11

regarding Bailiff’s

 

  • Wrexham Council did not receive any formal bailiff complaints during 2010/2011. The bailiffs received 13 complaints in total for 2010.

Thats wrong fact: I made a formal complaint to WBC in 2010 and the debtor had approx £300 removed from the debt which was the total outstanding according to Jacobs and a overpayment of approx £300 returned

 

this complaint was dealt with within 2 days of a formal complaint letter being hand delved and addressed to Chief Executive Mr xxx xxxxx

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17 How many complaints were made to Wrexham Council in 2010/11

regarding Bailiff’s

 

  • Wrexham Council did not receive any formal bailiff complaints during 2010/2011. The bailiffs received 13 complaints in total for 2010.

Thats wrong fact: I made a formal complaint to WBC in 2010 and the debtor had approx £300 removed from the debt which was the total outstanding according to Jacobs and a overpayment of approx £300 returned

 

this complaint was dealt with within 2 days of a formal complaint letter being hand delved and addressed to Chief Executive Mr xxx xxxxx

 

I wonder if there is some action that can be taken, or complaint to be made, that they are clearly "fiddling" the information they are giving out on lawful FOI requests then? :D

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it was February 2011 i made the complaint not 2010

 

still got all the paperwork from the bailiffs and a copy of the letter i sent i also have receipt for the letter with FTO Chief executive Mr xx xxxx baillifs formal complaint letter

 

the only thing i haven't got (could get i think) is the reply letter from WBC to the debtor

 

having said that all the letter said was could you please phone xxxxx at WBC and they told her over the phone that the bailiff had allegedly levied a car (not hers) didn't explain why they're were 2 amounts being collected when there was only liability order

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it was February 2011 i made the complaint not 2010

 

still got all the paperwork from the bailiffs and a copy of the letter i sent i also have receipt for the letter with FTO Chief executive Mr xx xxxx baillifs formal complaint letter

 

the only thing i haven't got (could get i think) is the reply letter from WBC to the debtor

 

having said that all the letter said was could you please phone xxxxx at WBC and they told her over the phone that the bailiff had allegedly levied a car (not hers) didn't explain why they're were 2 amounts being collected when there was only liability order

 

Ahh, now, if you read the FOI request, I asked for the tax year 2010/2011, which presumably is April 10 to April 11, therefore your complaint should have been included in the figures ;)

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Agreed it should be in the figures

We could do with some help from you.

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The bailiff: A 12th Century solution re-branded as Enforcement Agents for the 21st Century to seize and sell debtors goods as before Oh so Dickensian!

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