Chandlers massive charges!

[beer guzzler]

June 2012

[tomtubby]

Interesting and what I suspected !!!

 

The fee scale for council tax enforcement was introduced in 1992 and slightly amended around 6 years ago. Accordingly as there has been NO change WHY did Chandlers attempt to charge an "attending to remove " fee at the very same time as "attending to levy" in 2013 and NOT in 2012 !!! Odd.

 

Does anyone know when Capita took over as "back office" provider for this particular local authority?

[renegadeimp]

Arent some of those levys unallowable? He is levying on sofa's and white goods.

[beer guzzler]

Sorry Tomtubby but I'm confused. On all 3 of the distress notices I listed they added a "levy fee" and an " attendance / removal costs fee" at the same time. So i'm not entirely sure what you mean?

First i knew about Capita in swindon was about 2009/2010 as i was working in direct mail and they aproached me to work for them on their new council contract. could be just a coincidence,

[beer guzzler]

Arent some of those levys unallowable? He is levying on sofa's and white goods.

 

With what I have learnt on here, you are probably right!

[tomtubby]

The fee charged in each case for an "attendance" fee was £24.50 but frankly, I am certain that you will find that this fee is EITHER an initial visit fee of £24.50 or alternatively, a Head H fee ( not permitted).

 

From the info provided it is clear that until 2013, Chandlers have NOT properly charged you an "ATR" fee.

[beer guzzler]

Ok, I see, but charging it at the same time as a Levy fee. Is that allowed?

[Queens_king]

Being an ex Swindonian Capita have been the Swindon Borough Rip Off Council back office since 2006 as far as I am aware.

[tomtubby]

 

Ok, I see, but charging it at the same time as a Levy fee. Is that allowed?

 

.

The regulations provide for a fee of £24.50 for "attending to levy" ( where no levy was made).....i.e. where the debtor came to the property and was unable to get a response. ALTERNATIVELY, if he was able to levy he could INSTEAD charge a "levy fee" (according to the scale of fees).

 

Therefore he can charge one or the other. However, he can visit the property at 7am the morning and charge £24.50 and then return at 6pm and if he is able to levy then he can charge a levy fee. It is not ethical to visit twice on one day but as an example he could do.

 

I have been addressing enquiries about bailiffs for many years and I will never "jump straight in" and accuse a bailiff or his company of wrongdoing until the facts are known and it is for this precise reason that you will see in almost every thread that I respond to that I will always ask many questions starting with the most important one being clarification as to the starting figure for the Liability Order.

 

Unfortunately, bailiff companies when responding to enquiries about fees charged to the account simply type a list of fees. This is NOT sufficient. What is required is the amount of fee charged and the date on which it was charged to the account.

[outlawla]

Ok, I see, but charging it at the same time as a Levy fee. Is that allowed?

 

There's a news article about council maladministration focussing on bailiff fees, specifically "Head H" and "Attending to Remove".

 

I believe reference numbers are provided for the relevant Local Government Ombudsman reports.

[beer guzzler]

I recieved this response from Chandlers:

Thank you for your email,

 

The below visits were for reference ******.

 

On Reference ******* the visits are as follows:

The certificated bailiff Mr C***** attended the property for the first time on the 01/07/2013 with the intention to levy distress, as no response was received a letter was left and a fee of £24.50 was incurred on the account.

 

On the 15/07/2013 the Certificated Bailiff Mr A******** attended with the intention to levy distress for a 2nd visit, after receiving no response a letter was left and a fee of £18.00 was incurred.

 

 

As we still received no response, on the 24/08/2013 the Certificated Bailiff Mr G***** attended with a van with the intention to remove goods and chattels. On this date he levied upon goods, for this lawful course of action a £57.00 fee was incurred. For attending the property with a van with the intention to remove goods a £250.00 attendance fee was incurred as no response was received.

 

Please find attached a copy of the Walking Possession Form that was filled in by Mr G***** on the 24/08/2013.

 

 

Regards

 

Chandlers Limited

 

I have no record or letter regarding the second visit and any one spot the difference between the amount of the attendance fee on the 24th?

[ploddertom]

And what does their "alleged" Walking Possession tell you that was seized?

[beer guzzler]

The only thing listed was the car on the drive!

[brassnecked]

The only thing listed was the car on the drive!

 

 

There is the levy then, but he should have left a Notice of Seizure listing it on 24/08/13 the date he seized it, cannot have the ATR for same day, for " attending the property with a van with the intention to remove goods a £250.00 attendance fee was incurred as no response was received." did he come prepared to tow a car, or did he come in the usual Berlingo?

Edited September 30, 2013 by brassnecked

[outlawla]

....For attending the property with a van with the intention to remove goods a £250.00 attendance fee was incurred as no response was received....

 

Apart from the reasons already stated, this attendance fee cannot be lawful....it's been imposed solely to make a gain for the bailiff. If as bailiffs state on their threat-o-grams they "will remove goods even in your absence", it would appear that no response is necessary so you're not telling me this bailiff attended with a van with the intention of removing goods.

Edited September 30, 2013 by outlawla

[beer guzzler]

I emailed them and asked them just to confirm a couple of details today, this was the response:

 

Thank you for your email,

I can confirm that the levy and attendance fee was charged on the same day, the levy fee was charged for levying on goods and the attendance fee was charge for the attendance to the property with the intention of removing goods and chattels.

I can also confirm that the attendance fee applied was £250.00.

Regards

[beer guzzler]

I think thats pretty clear. They still havent noticed the attendance fee is less than on the paperwork!

[outlawla]

I think thats pretty clear. They still havent noticed the attendance fee is less than on the paperwork!

 

Perhaps the bailiff wanted to keep a little back for himself.

 

I notice the difference between the sum on the paperwork (£292.50) and the amount quoted in the email is £42.50 – coincidentally the aggregate of a first and second fee.

[beer guzzler]

Look what I got today from the CB register:

 

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your e-mail. There is a Mr G***** on our database but his certificate, granted at Bromley County Court, expired on 11thFebruary 2012. You may wish to contact Bromley County Court to see if another application has been granted.

[hallowitch]

txt Mr G and ask him when he was certificated and at what court ask him for his certificate ID no

 

 

 

e-mail head of revenues and ask him confirm the certificate details for their Bailiff Mr G

[beer guzzler]

txt Mr G and ask him when he was certificated and at what court ask him for his certificate ID no

 

 

 

e-mail head of revenues and ask him confirm the certificate details for their Bailiff Mr G

 

I have emailed the head of revenues and asked him to confirm but I am a bit aprehensive about making direct contact with Mr G*****

[hallowitch]

 

I have emailed the head of revenues and asked him to confirm but I am a bit aprehensive about making direct contact with Mr G*****

 

Why if he has nothing to hide he should be happy to provide you with his information

[hallowitch]

[email protected]

 

E-mail the court they may have missed him out when they sent the information you are asking if he has renewed or applied to renew his certificated ask them to provide details

 

If he has applied to renew his certificated what date did he do this ?

if he is certificated the date of certification name of employer if any ?

 

I was reading over your thread and I thought I had posted this (obviously not ) for future ref if needed

 

your post 17

 

Thank you for your email,

 

I can confirm that we are able to provide this information, however as your account is still out with Mr G*****.

I can see from the notes on your account that you are dealing with the council and refused Mr G***** access to your property.

 

As Mr G***** is still dealing with your account we are unable to intervene in the office and would not want to wrongly advise you of any recent information added to your account.

Please contact Mr G***** directly on 07********* to discuss your account and the charges applied.

 

Regards

 

Chandlers Limited

 

http://www.chandlers-bailiffs.co.uk/how_bailiffs_work.htm

 

click on how we do it and read how proud they are of real time response (I wonder why they couldn't give you real time information )

 

As a bailiff makes a call, any notes or information inputted on to their handheld computer is automatically downloaded by GPRS onto our database at our head office. This can be seen immediately by our office staff and can also be viewed by our clients via our Client Web which we provide free of charge. This provides the most up-to-date information to hand and also helps our clients in knowing if a customer is trying to contact them instead of the bailiff that has prompted the contact. Any fees and charges added to an account are also shown in Real Time, which brings the transparency

that we hope to gain by being open

and honest in our approach when dealing with clients and customers.

Our Real Time system gives our clients more than just access to view our database. They can change balances,

add notes, make amendments and put accounts on hold.

This is all done by logging on to our system via our Client Web with their own unique username and password. In addition, this feature will then send an update to the handheld computer of any bailiff who may be dealing with that particular account at the time. This system will help reduce unnecessary time and cost through faxing and phoning, helping in the constant need for change and contribute towards best value targets.

[beer guzzler]

[email protected]

 

E-mail the court they may have missed him out when they sent the information you are asking if he h

as renewed or applied to renew his certificated ask them to provide details

 

If he has applied to renew his certificated what date did he do this ?

if he is certificated the date of certification name of employer if any ?

 

I was reading over your thread and I thought I had posted this (obviously not ) for future ref if needed

 

your post 17

 

Thank you for your email,

 

I can confirm that we are able to provide this information, however as your account is still out with Mr G*****.

I can see from the notes on your account that you are dealing with the council and refused Mr G***** access to your property.

 

As Mr G***** is still dealing with your account we are unable to intervene in the office and would not want to wrongly advise you of any recent information added to your account.

Please contact Mr G***** directly on 07********* to discuss your account and the charges applied.

 

Regards

 

Chandlers Limited

 

http://www.chandlers-bailiffs.co.uk/how_bailiffs_work.htm

 

click on how we do it and read how proud they are of real time response (I wonder why they couldn't give you real time information )

 

As a bailiff makes a call, any notes or information inputted on to their handheld computer is automatically downloaded by GPRS onto our database at our head office. This can be seen immediately by our office staff and can also be viewed by our clients via our Client Web which we provide free of charge. This provides the most up-to-date information to hand and also helps our clients in knowing if a customer is trying to contact them instead of the bailiff that has prompted the contact. Any fees and charges added to an account are also shown in Real Time, which brings the transparency

that we hope to gain by being open

and honest in our approach when dealing with clients and customers.

Our Real Time system gives our clients more than just access to view our database. They can change balances,

add notes, make amendments and put accounts on hold.

This is all done by logging on to our system via our Client Web with their own unique username and password. In addition, this feature will then send an update to the handheld computer of any bailiff who may be dealing with that particular account at the time. This system will help reduce unnecessary time and cost through faxing and phoning, helping in the constant need for change and contribute towards best value targets.

 

Thanks, I'm sure this will be useful.

I have asked the council and Chandlers to confirm his certification and I will text him tomorrow if I don't get an answer.

[beer guzzler]

I have emailed bromley CC and asked for his details too.