What is a realistic charge for a bailiff attendance?

[ploddertom]

Where I find the problem is making the distinction between the Certificated Bailiff & the HCEO. I don't see a difference between the two & strongly believe the charges applied should be the same, after alll there is little diffrence to knocking on the door and asking for Council Tax/Unpaid PCN & that of Southern Water's Bill. It is the same goods you are attending to seize & remove. The HCEO is in the same position as the Certificated Bailiff when the debtor refuses you entry.

 

There is one firm who make charges akin to telephone numbers yet the attending officer receives nothing like the £750 demanded for a visit, they use blanket charging and have lost on more than 1 occasion when challenged, which is very akin to the Certificated Bailiff either blatatntly overcharging or going for multiple fees.

 

I can't put a figure on what the charges should be but as the person attending is basically no more than an unqualified collector of monies then the £75 per hour the local plumber charges looks value for money. Until such time that challenging charges is simplified - preferably to a completely independent body - then the complaints will carry on. They may have put the "Bailiffs & HCEO's" out for consultation but with some of the figures that are being bandied about then in the present climate more are going to resist.

[ploddertom]

To me the Government will never change things to a fair system as the majority of debts collected upon all appear to be taxation in one form or another. We also have the Local Authorities regarding the issuing of Liability Orders or PCN's as another profitable income stream mainly because they cannot be bothered to find out why the sums go unpaid.

[ploddertom]

 

I see no real distinction between a Bailiff and an HCEO.

 

They had a golden opportunity to change things but as usual have well & truly fudged it up. Bailiifs & HCEO's are throwbacks to a medieval system when you doffed your cap to the local Squire. To bring it into the 21st Century they need scrapping and introduce an Enforcement Officer only. Looking at other industries the Government in different disguises have scapped most nationalised industries why not put the enforcement agencies out to grass - just look at all the comments concerning Marstons yesterday, the blatatnt overcharging that goes on with JBW & Newlyn and of course it is only a year since Mr Boast from Rossendales was on the telly.

[ploddertom]

If I still have it I had a guide to how some of the HCEO's work their fees out - these are for the most contentious charges they make.

[ploddertom]

This was always going to be an emotive subject and as expected not one of you has mentioned the creditor in this thread.

 

To answer one of your questions, we expect to make 10% profit but have found this difficult in recent years. Many others trade at less than this, some break even, some at a loss.

 

It appears from the current postings that many have little understanding of the true costs of running such a company. Office space, systems and staff all come at considerable cost. I can assure your the 'bailiff' is only getting a small part of the fee charged for attending due to these costs.

 

Many enforcement officers also have to work in twos for their own safety also meaning the 'attendance fee' is diluted further.

 

The recent consultation has suggested initial visit fees of £230 for a Certificated Bailiff (CT/NNDR/Parking) and £185 for an HCEO (Both plus 20% Vat of course). This is after the initial £75 letter fee.

 

I feel that these fees are a sensible way forward and standardisation can only make things clearer for everybody.

 

If I still have it I had a guide to how some of the HCEO's work their fees out - these are for the most contentious charges they make.

 

It took some finding but here it is. I must emphasise that not all charge on this basis but do know of at least 2 companies that do and in some respects blows the 10% figure out of the water. They have been based on the Chargeable Rates for Solicitors as advised by the Senior Courts Costs Office you can read the whole document at http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/Resources/JCO/Documents/Guidance/guideline-hourly-rates-2010-v2.pdf . The timelines they use are broken down into 6 minute increments, thus 10 charging points per hour, and the figures I have seen are all based on London 3 - at the bottom.

 

You will note that that the beginning of the document gives a key to the costing grades and these have been adapted as:

A - Authorised HCEO's & Company CEO's

B - Managing Directors

C - Solicitors, Senior Management, Other Directors

D - Enforcement Officers, ParaLegals & what appears to be Office Staff

 

It doesn't take much to work that there is 1 particular company who charge £300 for a Management Fee & even at the bottom rate this seems to work out at them doing approx 2.5 hours work to set this up, the same firm charge £720 for an enforcement Officer to visit - again a time of nearly 6 hours + how can an person with no qualifications be charged out at this type of rate.

 

I leave you to your own conclusions.

[ploddertom]

isn't an action for damages against an HCEO (or ordinary bailiff) covered by their bond ?

 

The HCEO isn't covered by a bond in the same sense the Certificated Bailiff is. This I assume would be covered by the HCEO/Employers Insurance.