Problem with Philips Collection Services.

[old bill]

When I was with the Met, my patch was Victoria and Pimlico. We used to have a lot to do with the BTP in that area. When I was with MDP, my patch covered Cornwall to the West and Somerset to the East. There were quite a few stations we covered. I was medically-retired after a knee injury I sustained on duty.

 

With regard to which force first, Met first, got fed up with London, and spent best part of career with MDP. Quite a few ex-Home Department police officers in MDP where I was (Hampshire, Met, Surrey).

[transient]

Wasnt sure if best to say but was based at Baker St and then Euston Met wise was Charing X, got to the stage where I had enough

[old bill]

In the Met, I was based at Rochester Row, which has since closed and been replaced by Belgravia. Most of the BTP officers we had dealings with were based at Victoria Station or St James Park (CCTV). In the MDP, I was based at Devonport, in Plymouth, but served all over the UK, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Somerset, Hampshire. Being a national force, like BTP, MDP officers can be sent anywhere at a moment's notice. Some lucky beggars get posted overseas. Like yourself, I got to a stage, in the Met, when I had had enough.

[Feebee_71]

Hey old bill,

 

My dad was a special based at Rochester Row! That was after a spell at Shepherds Bush and spending every home match day at Loftus Road!!

 

Feebee_71

[Dylan/]

I emailed the courts a few days ago about the warrant. they sent back an email sayin:

 

Dear Sir,

 

Re: Fine account xxxxxxx

 

I am in receipt of your email regarding the above account, I can confirm that the distress warrant issued on 08.09.2012 remains outstanding. You are advised to contact Philips Collection Services on 0870 609 1554 to arrange payment, quoting their reference - xxxxxxx.

 

 

could anyone tell me how long the distress warrant will be active for and what can they do with it ?

[old bill]

Hey old bill,

 

My dad was a special based at Rochester Row! That was after a spell at Shepherds Bush and spending every home match day at Loftus Road!!

 

Feebee_71

 

When was that?

[old bill]

I emailed the courts a few days ago about the warrant. they sent back an email sayin:

 

Dear Sir,

 

Re: Fine account xxxxxxx

 

I am in receipt of your email regarding the above account, I can confirm that the distress warrant issued on 08.09.2012 remains outstanding. You are advised to contact Philips Collection Services on 0870 609 1554 to arrange payment, quoting their reference - xxxxxxx.

 

 

could anyone tell me how long the distress warrant will be active for and what can they do with it ?

 

What the Fines Office at the court told you is total b****cks.

 

To the best of my knowledge and belief, Distress Warrants issued by the magistrates courts are effective for either 6 or 12 months. I do know that an Arrest Warrant is effective for 6 months, then has to be renewed if the suspect is not arrested within that time.

 

There is nothing to stop you paying the fine into court, obtaining the necessary receipt and paying Philips only those fees they are lawfully due separately.

 

If Philips have only sent you a letter so far, all they are lawfully due is £85. If they have sent you a letter and visited your home, then the maximum they are lawfully due is £300. If they do not have a valid or lawful levy and have not gained entry to your home, then £300 is still the maximum they are lawfully due.

 

Do not take any BS or lies from Philips. If necessary, threaten them with a letter to the Regional HMCTS Contracts Manager and Area HMCTS Enforcement Manager. The Enforcement Manager can nip any sharp practices in the bud. The Contracts Manager oversees Philips performance of their contract with HMCTS and has the power to terminate said contract. It might be worth reminding Philips and their parent company, SERCO, that the HMCTS contract is up for renewal this year and any bad practices brought to the attention of HMCTS Contract Managers before the tender date could prejudice their eligibility to be considered.

 

Incidentally, Marston, Excel and Swift, the other HMCTS contractors, are due to tender to renew their contracts this year. I would recommend ALL AND ANY bad practices by ANY of these contractors are reported to Regional HMCTS Contracts Managers.

[Dylan/]

Thanks Old bill, I really hope they don't come out and can they break in or will they just threaten with locksmith?

[old bill]

Philips cannot break in without written authorisation from the court. In any case, there appears to be something highly irregular, if not, potentially illegal going on here. You need to find out why Philips are involved when you were paying the costs order off without any problem. HMCTS need to answer that question first. You also need to speak to the Area HMCTS Enforcement Manager, first thing tomorrow morning. Ring the court switchboard and ask for the Enforcement Manager's direct telephone number. You also need to obtain the direct telephone number of the Regional HMCTS Contracts Manager. From what you have said, Philips should not even be involved.

[Dylan/]

Thanks again Old Bill. I was paying the courts then suddenly get a letter off these, I don't see how I can pay £5 p/week to the courts then have to pay £50 p/month to these!! seriously, didn't get no notice off the court saying I defaulted my fine or anything give them my new address when I moved house.

[old bill]

Unless you had a letter from the courts called a Further Steps Notice, it is illegal, under Rule 52.2, Criminal Procedures Rules 2011 (as amended) to proceed with enforcement without sending the FSN. It sounds very much to me that HMCTS has broken the law and need to have this drawn to their attention. You will probably get denials and that they did send a FSN, but I don't think they have much of an argument, unless they can prove you missed any payments. How was the costs order paid, please? Attachment of Benefits/Earnings Order, Cash, Standing Order, Electronic Funds Transfer (Debit/Credit Card via an automated system over phone/internet)? As long as you have evidence of payments to the court at the rate determined by the court, HMCTS are in the **** and so are Philips.

 

I am attached a copy of the Criminal Procedures Rules 2011 (as amended) to this post. It might be a good idea if you quote from this to HMCTS, which they won't like, but need reminding about.

[Dylan/]

I used to pay it with a card they supplied! What I am going to do Friday is ring them when my new phone line is connected I'm going to ask them to print screen every payment I've made I'm also going to ask them where the FSN is!

 

Which way do you think this is the best to do email or phone.

 

Also when I rang before they said Philips has it in their hands now and we can't do nothing.

 

 

Thanks!

[old bill]

I used to pay it with a card they supplied! What I am going to do Friday is ring them when my new phone line is connected I'm going to ask them to print screen every payment I've made I'm also going to ask them where the FSN is!

 

Which way do you think this is the best to do email or phone.

 

Also when I rang before they said Philips has it in their hands now and we can't do nothing.

 

 

Thanks!

 

HMCTS are talking total crap. They are in charge, not Philips, and it is HMCTS who call the tune. As far as you know, are you up to date with all payments to HMCTS? If so, asking them to provide you with screenshots of your payments to date is the right way to go. If you were up to date when somebody at HMCTS, in their wisdom, decided to involve Philips and there is no evidence that the FSN was send, as this should be on their records, it is likely Philips have a Distress Warrant that is invalid, in which case, their actions are not only unlawful, but illegal, too.

 

Email your request for screenshots of your fine account and follow up with Signed For Letter. This should have HMCTS panicking. Do not be surprised if you get a phone call or email or letter admitting an administrative error. If Philips come calling, either personally or by phone, make it clear that the matter is being pursued with HMCTS as there is "reasonable cause to suspect the Criminal Procedures Rules 2011 (as amended) have not been complied with". It is important you stress to Philips the phrase I have put in quotation marks. Being certificated bailiffs, it is unlikely they will anything resembling a clue of what you are going on about. Therefore, print off a copy of Rule 52.2 and hand to the bailiff or send to Philips. Expect them to argue, but make it clear that until it is clarified exactly what has happened, Philips are, potentially, in breach of the law.

[tomtubby]

If you had been paying this fine then you should write again to the court. Address the letter to the Clerk to the Court and you need to ensure that the letter is marked: Formal Complaint.

 

How much have you paid so far?

[Dylan/]

Thanks Old bill I've just emailed them.

 

£40 to courts £0 to bailiffs. I don't see how one minute this can be in courts the hands at £40 the next it can be Philips at £110. That's why I've defaulted Philips.

[old bill]

It sounds very much like an HMCTS foul-up to me. Put them on the spot and turn the pressure up on them. I wouldn't be surprised if they panic when they see your request for screenshots of all payments to date and the payments history. If they have not complied with Rule 52.2, Criminal Procedures Rules 2011 (as amended), they and Philips are acting illegally. This also applies if they had no lawful reason to instruct Philips, particularly if your fines account was up to date.

[ploddertom]

They appear to have a new name http://www.collectica.co.uk/

[old bill]

They appear to have a new name http://www.collectica.co.uk/

 

Yes. Their website is full of 24-carat BS and untruths. Report this lot to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) who can force them to substantiate the claims being made on the website. If they can't, the ASA can force them to take it down as misleading.

[brassnecked]

Yes. Their website is full of 24-carat BS and untruths. Report this lot to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) who can force them to substantiate the claims being made on the website. If they can't, the ASA can force them to take it down as misleading.

A nice chestnut like this?

 

"

I no longer own the vehicle this debt relates to?

If it is a HMCTS fine you would still need to pay the fine regardless of whether you still owned the vehicle or not. Call our contact centre for details."

 

Not if it was incurred after the vehicle had been sold, and DVLA had been informed,

[brassnecked]

They appear to have a new name http://www.collectica.co.uk/

 

Yes a typical Wordpress site cheap to build template based. online payment system plugin provided by One step.

 

IE=edge,chrome=1

en_US

Home - Collectica

http://www.collectica.co.uk/

Collectica

article

WordPress 3.5

[Fulhamboy]

They appear to have a new name http://www.collectica.co.uk/

This website, very informative but very condescending To put it politely they are so

full of shxt they must have to squeeze their heads when they go to toilet. Miss a payment , not your fine,

nothing to do with me , phone us to discuss matters. We will not believe a word and be rude to you.

If you dont comply we will send round the heavies. On the other hand , to a potential client this

site looks quiet proffessional with the hmcts logo grabbing your attention.

[old bill]

And that's the problem. They use the logos of government departments and local authorities to give themselves an air of credibility. Their parent company, SERCO, are either seriously taking the p*ss or deluding themselves. The website needs taking down and the only regulatory agency I know who can force them to do so is the ASA. A change of name does not change ingrained attitudes or behaviour, in my experience.

[Dylan/]

Thanks for the help guys. They were soon enough to email when I asked if a warrant was out. So now it's just the waiting game. Wouldn't surprise me if they refused to send screenshots to be honest. But I'm going to demand them!

[brassnecked]

And that's the problem. They use the logos of government departments and local authorities to give themselves an air of credibility. Their parent company, SERCO, are either seriously taking the p*ss or deluding themselves. The website needs taking down and the only regulatory agency I know who can force them to do so is the ASA. A change of name does not change ingrained attitudes or behaviour, in my experience.

 

I or anyone could knock out a site like that in Wordpress, the problem is have HMCS, and the LAs been consulted and given express permission for the use of their logos, which no doubt are copyright to the respective parties? Further if SERCO are the parent, that should appear somewhere in the site, as in say a footnote stating that " Collecctica, a SERCO company."

 

Wonder if it is hosted in the UK?

[Dylan/]

 

@Brassnecked this says it all really they're not willing to give their office details etc on the Whois Records. These records should show: Address, Telephone Number, Business Type etc....

 

And it's hosted in the UK with Webfusion Internet Solutions.