Backdoor 2016 Ridgewood Estates Ltd/MW Solicitors - Rent Arrears - N5 Claim for Possession + Money Judgement - now HCEO warrant

[Staara77]

Hello all,

 

Today I receive a letter from barbon insurance group asking me to pay them £5919 for an overdue balance for a place I stayed at for about 2 months.

This on behalf of Homelet

I rented for around 1-2 months and then had to leave, this was due to the flatmate I lived with harassed me.

 

I lived there I think around 3 years ago.

 

I contacted the agency that rented out the flat, and told them that I didn't feel safe living there.

I sent them copies of the text messages the flatmate sent me,

they were threatening,

and told me that he could harass me if he wanted to.

 

The agency seemed fine with this,

they also discovered themselves that the flatmate was not a nice person. 

 

According to them:

 

'Homelet provided rental protection to the landlord/agent (for the address I lived at) and subsequently paid out an insurance claim, due to your non payment of rent. Under the rights of subrogation we are able to pursue you to recover this outstanding amount'

 

'You must now make contact with us as a matter of urgency. Failure to do so may result in increased costs being applied to your debt'

Not once did the agency ever say, or send me letters telling me that I owed them £5919, the only thing they did was to deduct my deposit-which of course I was fine with.

 

I see it as a really threatening letter and am fuming about this

 

No warning, and then a nasty letter-forcing me to comply?

 

I can't help but feel that there is something very fishy going on here.

 

Has anybody heard of them? 

 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

[dx100uk]

moved to residential forum

swear words removed

title updated to better reflect issue.

 

not a lot they can do to you I bet unless you signed some stupid clause with the Landlord.

its just hot air.

[stu007]

Hi

 

1. What type of Tenancy Agreement did you have?

2. How long was the Agreement for?

3. Did you give them proper notice to quit as per your tenancy agreement?

4. Did the Estate Agency agree to you moving out and mention any costs? (do you have this in writing)

5. Was a Check Out done when you moved from the property? (do you have a copy of this in writing)

6. When you moved from the Property was the Estate Agency aware of your new address?

[Staara77]

Thanks for your replies folks,

 

dx100uk, I'm sorry for using swear words, I didn't intend to offend anybody.

 

stu007 the problem is that when I told them about the harrassing flatmate, they appeared to understand, they didn't say anything about it.

 

The problem is that I have no documents as stupidly I got rid of them-as I thought they were fine with what I had told them.

 

I've just got an e-mail from them, now it's gone up to £7058:

 

OUR CUSTOMER: Ridgewood Estates Limited

RE: Miss X

Ground Floor Flat, Lansdowne Place,

OUTSTANDING BALANCE: £7,058.66

 

We are writing in reference to your overdue balance but regret to note that the above amount remains outstanding. We will now take action to recover this debt through any means at our disposal.

 

HomeLet provided rental protection to the Landlord/Agent for the above mentioned address and subsequently paid out an insurance claim due to your non-payment of rent. Under the rights of subrogation we are able to pursue you to recover this outstanding amount.

 

You must now make contact with us as a matter of urgency. Failure to do so may result in increased costs being applied to your debt. Mutually acceptable instalment plans can be implemented to avoid further action against you.

 

Should you be experiencing financial difficulties, it is important that you contact us urgently or seek advice with your local Citizens Advice Bureau should you require assistance with any information contained within this letter.

 

If for any reason you dispute the claim being made against you please provide us with details so that we may investigate this matter further. Our trained handlers are available Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm to discuss your account.

 

Failure to address this issue may result in us instructing field agents to attend your property in an attempt to establish contact and/or further enforcement action. Making contact early in the stage of the recoveries process may reduce the amount you have to pay in the long term.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Zoe Wales

Recoveries Handler

Barbon Insurance Group Limited

Contact number: 0330 333 7063

 

1. What type of Tenancy Agreement did you have?

 

If I can remember it was a joint tenancy and I was not the lead tenant, I'm sure the flatmate was. 

 

2. How long was the Agreement for?

 

6 months for the both of us.

 

3. Did you give them proper notice to quit as per your tenancy agreement?. 

 

I told them of why I couldn't live there, they seemed fine, as I then heard back from them telling me that the flatmate had caused them a lot of problems, and that neighbours had complained about him playing loud music at night, being noisy and arguing etc. 

 

 

4. Did the Estate Agency agree to you moving out and mention any costs? (do you have this in writing)

 

No nothing was mentioned-as far as I can remember. But I would be looking out for this anyway-as I was expecting them to tell me something-but nothing.

 

5. Was a Check Out done when you moved from the property? (do you have a copy of this in writing)

 

I'm afraid I cannot remember

 

6. When you moved from the Property was the Estate Agency aware of your new address?

 

I really cannot remember, however, they've managed to track down where I am living now (I've lived in several different places, since I moved out of that flat)

 

You see this is why it's strange, as I was expecting them to tell me something about owing them money, but I got nothing, then suddenly Barbon decide to contact me out of the blue-demanding money out of me.

 

As I said before I got rid of any information from them, as when I told them I'll be moving out, they seemed to be fine with it.

 

 

[London1971]

I would SAR them, under GDPR rules.

 

They will have to disclose, everything they have on you, all documents, emails etc.  They have 40 days to comply with this, if not you can report them to the ICO.  

 

You can then understand exactly what they are (trying) to charge you for, and if you signed any agreements etc.  In my experience a GDPR request strikes fear into small businesses, because nobody has ever asked them to comply before. (source I had a letting agent try a similar thing on me)

 

Personally I don't think there is very much they can do to you, and are just trying it on.

 

 

[dx100uk]

30 days

but I wouldn't bother.

they are totally powerless

they cant 'enforce' anything. they are NOT BAILIFFS!!

 

block and bounce their email from now on

 

go enjoy your life.

 

they are trying to fleece you blind.

 

 

[London1971]

True, but if they ever did try it on with a CCJ, wouldn’t it be good  for the OP to have all of what they claim to be charging for though. He’s lost all the original documents , signatures etc

[Staara77]

 

Thanks folks,

 

I've written to Barbor or Barbon requesting a SAR, asking them for relevant details, and have told them that they have 1 month to get back to me.

So I'll wait and see what happens now.

 

Thanks again for helping me out here

[stu007]

Hi

 

You DO Not have to ask them for specific information in a SAR just ask them for 'ALL DATA' 

 

That little phrase covers everything no matter what format it may be held in by the respective company/business/charity/council/housing association etc. 

[unclebulgaria67]

With Insurers it is just a numbers game. Of course they will try to recover the amount of claim, that they paid out orginally. But if they don't, then it is mostly a case of increasing premiums. 

 

Insurance companies to my knowledge rarely go to court to obtain CCJ's in situations like this. See what data they send you and then just keep an eye of post sent to you. You will receive many letters with different wordings asking for payment, but unless they say they will issue a court claim, then safe to ignore

[Staara77]

Hello all,

 

I got a letter from Wilson & Roe and their Notice of Enforcement.

This is a high court enforcement.

 

It involves rent owed to former Agency and I have sent them e-mails about this-thanks to the lovely people on this forum and their advice on what to write to them, how to word it etc.

 

It's the same Ridgewood Estates as has been before. 

They have never replied back to any of my e-mails I've sent.

 

So now we've got this high court enforcement.

 

I owe them £9421.96.

 

I've got until 23rd March to either pay the entire amount, or set up a payment option.

 

Can I please have some advice on this.

 

Thank you.

 

[dx100uk]

i think you mean your old thread from 2019 regarding the homelets sage?

i've merged that above 

if its not correct nor related to do so let me know and ill unmerg it.

 

so someone got a a CCJ against you ...and you ignored it, or you knew nothing about the CCJ till recently?

 

dx

 

[Staara77]

Hello dx100uk,

 

It is about the previous information above.

I followed the advice given to me previously, regarding requesting a SAR, and gave them a month to get back, yet heard nothing at all from them.

 

But I did get similar letters from Barbon/Bardon-with no mention of a CCJ.

 

Then it's this month (Mar 2022) that I get sent a letter with Wilson & Roe, High Court Enforcement, and asked to sort out payment by 23rd March 2022.

 

I wasn't sent any CCJ before, then I got the letter sent by Wilson & Roe with their High Court Enforcement.

 

 

[dx100uk]

have you checked your credit file?

 

HCEO's don't get involved unless a CCJ has been attained and judgement passed.

unless they are simply acting as debt collector which i doubt as you say they have sent a notice of enforcement, which means one must exist.

 

dx

 

[Staara77]

I've just checked my credit file and my credit has gone up by 50 and the next update is in a month.

 

The only information on my credit check is info on my Credit card, which I am paying back monthly.

 

 

[dx100uk]

are all your old addresses showing. in linked addresses?

[Staara77]

Hello dx100uk,

 

I cannot find my addresses on the credit checker if that it what you mean, but I have been sent letters from Barbon before the other addresses I've lived at. 

 

I've thought about it and it just seems weird that it was two of us, me and a flatmate who moved into the flat. 

We both signed the contract, if I can remember it was a joint tenancy.

 

The contract was for 6 months and I have to pay it all?

 

I've been trying to find out how much the both of us owed-and I've been given no information, despite following the advice form these forums.

 

Is there anyway I can ask this High Court to break down all that is owed?

[dx100uk]

can you scan to PDF the HCEO notice of enforcement and any other letters please.

one mass PDF read our upload guide carefully. do any quote the CCJ number? it will be alpha-numeric code about 8 chars

 

there must be a CCJ judgement.

your old addresses should be linked to your credit file near the end of the report.

 

dx

 

 

[Staara77]

Okay so I think I've managed to convert the file to PDF. I don't often carry out this pdf thing, so please excuse me if I've done it wrong.

I'll try to correct it if I've done it the wrong. 

NOE.pdf

[dx100uk]

clearly says CCJ brighton county court. attained in 2016!

 

so they've let it run till almost 6 yrs to gain maximum interest out of you ....crafty.

 

why not ring brighton court ask for a copy of the judgement CCJ and the particulars of claim and the address it was filed too.

 

dx

 

[AndyOrch]

Quote

so they've let it run till almost 6 yrs to gain maximum interest out of you ....crafty.

 

Date of judgment 14th Nov 2016 ...there cant be any further interest added after 14th /11 2016...interest is applied at and up to the date of judgment pursuant to sec 69 County Courts Act 1984. (unless the particulars state otherwise)

 

Check the original judgment for the totals and that the interest stated in the NOE is correct ( £2777.40) it appears to be rather a lot if interest for 8% if applied to the debt amount.

 

Andy

[mantis shrimp]

Andrew: Interest on judgement debts:

 

The County Courts (Interest on Judgment Debts) Order 1991

WWW.LEGISLATION.GOV.UK

 

Edited March 18, 2022 by mantis shrimp

[Staara77]

Okay so I try to ring Brighton County Court on the number on the website, an automated voice gives me an alternative number to call.

As soon as I call the new number, it says SCAM on my phone.

I've typed in the number and a number of websites claim it is a SCAM number.

 

Anyhow I ring the number and I get a recorded message:

 

'Thank you for calling HMEEF/HMBEF'

 

I've called the number a number of times and still cannot tell if it's hmeef/hmbef. It's an southern English accent!

They give a web address with the hmeef/hmbef/hmdef and I've tried to look it up and it says 'there aren't many great matches for your search'.

hmcef is based in Devon and seems to be concerned with highway maintenance.

 

 

 

[AndyOrch]

4 hours ago, mantis shrimp said:

Andrew: Interest on judgement debts:

 

The County Courts (Interest on Judgment Debts) Order 1991

WWW.LEGISLATION.GOV.UK

 

Yes I have just noticed the judgment debt is not subject to regulation by the CCA1974.....

 

[dx100uk]

i will have a guess that this judgement was one by default

so might well of been done through northants bulk

but later transferred to brighton to get enforcement involved via HCEO's 

 

courts all close at 4pm anyway

 

so no harm in ringing northants bulk on monday

 

not alot you can do till then and you get the POC, address served too, and a copy of the CCJ.

though as its that old they might have anything RECORD the call. 

 

dx