What is a realistic charge for a bailiff attendance?

[fcumred]

I am sat here laughing my socks off at this thread.

 

The whole crux of this section of the forum is that there are set guidelines as to what Bailliffs can charge, and most if not all of the bailliffs are ignoring those rules and making up their own fees. Relying on ignorance of the law and using bullying tactics that they know full well they have no legal powers to use.

 

Before we start talking about whether bailliffs are making enough money to cover their costs, how about you start by addressing the issue that most bailliffs are acting illegally, overcharging when they know they shouldn't and more importantly making threats that are wholly illegal.

 

That is the real issue that needs addressing here. Whats the point of discussing what constitutes a reasonable amount when they can't even follow the standards they are supposed to abide by anyway.

 

HCEO also happens to ignore so many factors that should be taken into account but are not. Such as how many properties a bailliff atttends with one van in a day. I have it on very good authority from an ex bailliff that one van can bring in amounts of up to £2100 per day, simply by charging every person they visit a "van hire" fee. Not bad considering he bought the van for £1000 from an auction and used it every day of the week. The actual cost of using the van ( insurance, diesel, road tax, ear and tear ) was ( according to him ) less than £50 per day, and he would charge each and every house he visited £150 in "van hire fees". Thats not including the fees he would charge for "waiting time" or attendance fees.

 

Those kinds of actions cannot be justified, and it because of unscrupulous actions such as that, that forums like this are here to expose the lies, cheating and downright fraud that occurs within the bailliff industry, and the person being threatened is being bullied into believing the bailliff has the law on their side.

 

And, the final insult, is you actually sit there saying "no ones mentioned the creditor". Bailliffs have absolutely no concern for the creditor whatsoever. Their only interest is to make as much money as they can from the debtor, for doing as little as possible. The more fees they can charge the more they will try and [problem] off the debtor. The fact the debtor cannot afford to pay and the actions of the bailliff is actually more likely to mean the creditor takes longer to get paid, is something that doesn't even cross the tiny minds of the bailliffs. If the bailliffs cared about the creditor in all of this, they would not be charging sums that increase the debt to levels that make it even harder to sort out.

 

Rather than ask us what we think is reasonable, why don't you go to the bailliff conpanies and start by asking them to act reasonable, because the way I see it, if I pay for something I expect a professional service, and the amount I pay should be reflected in the level of service I am given. If a bailliff does not act professionally then I should not have to pay him a professional fee.

 

Act like a professional and you should get paid as such. Act like a bullying lying cheating thug, and what you should get is what I personally would pay bailliffs.. NOTHING....

Edited December 1, 2012 by fcumred

[fcumred]

Are we not forgetting that a bailiff visit is a last resort because people haven't paid something that is owed. They have always been chased by post but still ignore it.

 

Almost all of brassnecked's comments refer to the vulnerable again. NOT EVERYBODY is vulnerable. There are many debtor's out there who just refuse to pay what's owed.

 

Remember, in the HCEO business the debts have made judgment. The creditors are often small businesses struggling themselves yet this always seems to be missed in this forum.

 

Not all debt is Council Tax!

 

Well how about the Bailliffs start by doing something really sensible and finding out WHY people haven't paid and rather than treating everyone like a criminal ( which they are not ) working out the best way to proceed rather than just using the "you are paying now whether you can afford it or not, and by the way I've added 25% onto your bill because I am a thieving thug".

 

You say SOME refuse to pay it, that is a very very small minority. The majority cannot afford it and in most cases I think that pride means they refuse to face up to it and admit there is a problem. That pride takes a further knock when some thug is stood in front of you telling you that you should ring friends or family and admit to them they are in trouble. That is the most disgraceful thing a bailliff can do. Not only do they make the matter worse by adding on huge charges, they then force them to go to other people and tell them that they are being blackmailed into borrowing money which they cannot afford to repay.