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    • Not sure what to make of that or what it means for me, I was just about to head to my kip and it's a bit too late for legalise. When is the "expenditure occured"?  When they start spending money to write to me?  Or is this a bad thing (as "harsh" would imply)? When all is said and done, I do not have two beans to rub together, we rent our home and EVERYTHING of value has been purchased by and is in my wife's name and we are not financially linked in any way.  So at least if I can't escape my fate I can at least know that they will get sweet FA from me anyway   edit:  ah.. Sophia Harrison: Time bar decision tough on claimants WWW.SCOTTISHLEGAL.COM Time bar is a very complex area of law in Scotland relating to the period in which a claim for breach of duty can be pursued. The Scottish government...   This explains it like I am 5.  So, a good thing then because creditors clearly know they have suffered a loss the minute I stop paying them, this is why it is "harsh" (for them, not me)? Am I understanding this correctly?  
    • urm......exactly what you filed .....read it carefully... it puts them to strict proof to prove the debt is enforceable, so thus 'holds' their claim till they coughup or not and discontinue. you need to get readingthose threads i posted so you understand. then you'll know whats maybe next how to react or not and whats after that. 5-10 threads a day INHO. dont ever do anything without checking here 1st.
    • I've done a new version including LFI's suggestions.  I've also change the order to put your strongest arguments first.  Where possible the changes are in red.  The numbering is obviously knackered.  Methinks stuff about the consideration period could be added but I'm too tired now.  See what you think. Background  1.1  The Defendant received the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) on the 06th of November 2020 following the vehicle being parked at Arla Old Dairy, South Ruislip on the 05th of December 2019.  Unfair PCN  4.1  On XXXXX the Defendant sent the Claimant's solicitors a CPR request.  As shown in Exhibit 1 (pages 7-13) sent by the solicitors the signage displayed in their evidence clearly shows a £60.00 parking charge notice (which will  be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days of issue). 4.2  Yet the PCN sent by the Claimant is for a £100.00 parking charge notice (reduced to £60 if paid within 30 days of issue).  4.3        The Claimant relies on signage to create a contract.  It is unlawful for the Claimant to write that the charge is £60 on their signs and then send demands for £100.   4.4        The unlawful £100 charge is also the basis for the Claimant's Particulars of Claim. No Locus Standi 2.1  I do not believe a contract exists with the landowner that gives MET Parking Services a right to bring claims in their own name. Definition of “Relevant contract” from the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4,  2 [1] means a contract Including a contract arising only when the vehicle was parked on the relevant land between the driver and a person who is-  (a) the owner or occupier of the land; or  (b) Authorised, under or by virtue of arrangements made by the owner or occupier of the land, to enter into a contract with the driver requiring the payment of parking charges in respect of the parking of the vehicle on the land. According to https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/44  For a contract to be valid, it requires a director from each company to sign and then two independent witnesses must confirm those signatures.  2.2  The Defendant requested to see such a contract in the CPR request.  The fact that no contract has been produced with the witness signatures present means the contract has not been validly executed. Therefore, there can be no contract established between MET Parking Services and the motorist. Even if “Parking in Electric Bay” could form a contract (which it cannot), it is immaterial. There is no valid contract. Illegal Conduct – No Contract Formed  3.1 At the time of writing, the Claimant has failed to provide the following, in response to the CPR request from myself.  3.2        The legal contract between the Claimant and the landowner (which in this case is Standard Life Investments UK) to provide evidence that there is an agreement in place with landowner with the necessary authority to issue parking charge notices and to pursue payment by means of litigation.  3.3 Proof of planning permission granted for signage etc under the Town and country Planning Act 1990. Lack of planning permission is a criminal offence under this Act and no contract can be formed where criminality is involved.  3.4        I also do not believe the claimant possesses these documents.  No Keeper Liability  5.1        The defendant was not the driver at the time and date mentioned in the PCN and the claimant has not established keeper liability under schedule 4 of the PoFA 2012. In this matter, the defendant puts it to the claimant to produce strict proof as to who was driving at the time.  5.2 The claimant in their Notice To Keeper also failed to comply with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4 section 9[2][f] while mentioning “the right to recover from the keeper so much of that parking charge as remains unpaid” where they did not include statement “(if all the applicable conditions under this Schedule are met)”.    5.3        The claimant did not mention the parking period instead only mentioned time 20:25 which is not sufficient to qualify as a parking period.   Protection of Freedoms Act 2012  The notice must -  (a) specify the vehicle, the relevant land on which it was parked and the period of parking to which the notice relates; 22. In the persuasive judgement K4GF167G - Premier Park Ltd v Mr Mathur - Horsham County Court – 5 January 2024 it was on this very point that the judge dismissed this claim. 5.4  A the PCN does not comply with the Act the Defendant as keeper is not liable. No Breach of Contract  6.1      No breach of contract occurred because the PCN and contract provided as part of the defendant’s CPR request shows a different post code, the PCN shows HA4 0EY while the contract shows HA4 0FY.  6.2        The wording “Electric Bay Abuse” is not listed on their signs nor there is any mention on the contract of any electric charging points at all let alone who can park there or use them.  Interest 6.2  It is unreasonable for the Claimant to delay litigation for Double Recovery  7.1  The claim is littered with made-up charges. 7.2  As noted above, the Claimant's signs state a £60 charge yet their PCN is for £100. 7.3  As well as the £100 parking charge, the Claimant seeks recovery of an additional £70.  This is simply a poor attempt to circumvent the legal costs cap at small claims. 29. Since 2019, many County Courts have considered claims in excess of £100 to be an abuse of process leading to them being struck out ab initio. An example, in the Caernarfon Court in VCS v Davies, case No. FTQZ4W28 on 4th September 2019, District Judge Jones-Evans stated “Upon it being recorded that District Judge Jones- Evans has over a very significant period of time warned advocates (...) in many cases of this nature before this court that their claim for £60 is unenforceable in law and is an abuse of process and is nothing more than a poor attempt to go behind the decision of the Supreme Court v Beavis which inter alia decided that a figure of £160 as a global sum claimed in this case would be a penalty and not a genuine pre-estimate of loss and therefore unenforceable in law and if the practise continued, he would treat all cases as a claim for £160 and therefore a penalty and unenforceable in law it is hereby declared (…) the claim is struck out and declared to be wholly without merit and an abuse of process.” 30. In Claim Nos. F0DP806M and F0DP201T, District Judge Taylor echoed earlier General Judgment or Orders of District Judge Grand, stating ''It is ordered that the claim is struck out as an abuse of process. The claim contains a substantial charge additional to the parking charge which it is alleged the Defendant contracted to pay. This additional charge is not recoverable under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 nor with reference to the judgment in Parking Eye v Beavis. It is an abuse of process from the Claimant to issue a knowingly inflated claim for an additional sum which it is not entitled to recover. This order has been made by the court of its own initiative without a hearing pursuant to CPR Rule 3.3(4)) of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998...'' 31. In the persuasive case of G4QZ465V - Excel Parking Services Ltd v Wilkinson – Bradford County Court -2 July 2020 (Exhibit 4) the judge had decided that Excel had won. However, due to Excel adding on the £60 the Judge dismissed the case. 7.7        The addition of costs not previously specified on signage are also in breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Schedule 2, specifically paras 6, 10 and 14.  7.8        It is the Defendant’s position that the Claimant in this case has knowingly submitted inflated costs and thus the entire claim should be similarly struck out in accordance with Civil Procedure Rule 3.3(4).  In Conclusion  8.1        I invite the court to dismiss the claim. Statement of Truth I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth. 
    • Scottish time bar: Scottish appeal court re-affirms the “harsh” rule (cms-lawnow.com)  
    • I suppose I felt my defence would be that it was an honest mistake and even the initial £60 charges seemed unjust, let alone the now two £170's he is now demanding. There is no Justpark code for 'Sea View' on the signs in the car park and the first/nearest car park that comes up when you're in the Sea View car park is the 'Polzeath beach car park'. If I have to accept that I need to pay £340 to avoid the stress of him maybe taking me to court, then so be it. If people here advise me I don't have a case then I will just have to pay.
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Council Tax and Bailiffs ref only - NO POSTS ALLOWED


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echowitch

 

I tired to do what you said and phoned Haringey council, in my case. I got thru to customer services and they would not put me thru to anyone in Council Tax dept. I wrote them a letter with the info you put on this site and my current situation.

Today I received a letter from the council that they are

"unable to make an arrangement with me, as the liability order has been passed to Newlyn bailiffs for collection.

Please note that once accounts have been passed to the bailiffs, the Council will not intervene in the enforcement process and you will have to negotiate with the bailiff company regarding payment."

 

What do I answer them now?

 

 

 

I just checked the name of the bailiff that came to my door (didn't let him in) today and he's not listed on the site, not as working for Newlyn nor on his own name.

cant find any posts about this could you please start a new thread and give us some info whats happened so far what you have done and your situation

 

text the bailiff and ask when and at what court he was certificated

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echowitch

 

I tired to do what you said and phoned Haringey council, in my case. I got thru to customer services and they would not put me thru to anyone in Council Tax dept. I wrote them a letter with the info you put on this site and my current situation.

Today I received a letter from the council that they are

"unable to make an arrangement with me, as the liability order has been passed to Newlyn bailiffs for collection.

Please note that once accounts have been passed to the bailiffs, the Council will not intervene in the enforcement process and you will have to negotiate with the bailiff company regarding payment."

 

What do I answer them now?

 

I just checked the name of the bailiff that came to my door (didn't let him in) today and he's not listed on the site, not as working for Newlyn nor on his own name.

 

Write to the head of the Finance department at Haringey Council and tell them that you wish to make a formal complaint about the following.

 

1. Customer Service staff refusing to put you through to the Council Tax Department to discuss your account.

 

2. The Council Tax department refusing to accept or discuss payments direct to the Council, which is in direct contravention of Government rules regarding Council Tax payments and collection, which require them to discuss and accept ALL offers of payment.

 

3. Inform them that the Bailiffs attending your home/contacting you is not a certified Bailiff and thus is breaking the law and that you refuse to deal with the Bailiffs as they are breaching UK law by utilising un-certified Bailiffs.

 

That should sort them out. You could also CC your local MP on it as well !!

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Honeysuckle, if this is for Council Tax talk to the Council and make an offer of payment that you can afford to stick to.

 

Now this part is important......they MUST accept any offer you make so long as its reasonable. If you say you can only afford £1 a week and can prove thats all you can afford they are required by law to accept it. Problem is most Councils don't realise this so you may have to argue it with them. Im not saying offer £1 of course, offer what you can stretch to reasonably.

 

When you speak to the Council ask them to take back the debt. They may say "its been passed to the Bailiffs you have to talk to them". Rubbish. The Council can and MUST take it back if you make an offer of payment. Try to talk to the Court Officer at the Council Tax department and lodge a complaint against the Bailiff for their aggressive and worrying manner. This will prompt them to take the account back from the Bailiff's and stop them coming out.

 

Once thats done, contact the Bailiff's and tell them that the whole account has been taken back by the Council and if they attempt to attend your home you will refuse entry, and if necessary, contact the Police regards harrassment and trespassing. That should stop them coming out.

 

Then......make sure you pay the Council the amount you've agreed on the dates you've agreed.

 

:)

 

hi echowitch

I went along to the council offices today, and spoke to the officer there, i asked him to take back this amount from the baliffs and offered to pay so much per week,he refused i offered £5 pw he said this is not enough and wont take it back, i told him i had legal advice and im offering to pay the council but he would not accept it. i said i had taken legal advice,and they should accept,but he fobbed me off, saying i might be able to get housing benefit etc.

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Ah yet another Council employee who doesn't know the law. He is required to accept it. If all you can afford is £5 per week then he has to accept it. However he may be right about claiming for Housing and Council Tax benefit, best thing is if you talk to the Job Centre about applying for it.

 

Im currently trying to find the exact piece of law (I think its in the laws that govern Local Government but Im checking on that) that states that Council's are required to accept any offer. We'll arm you with that for your next try. However if they still refuse then demand to speak to their boss or the head of the Finance Department at the council as you are making a reasonable offer of payment and they are refusing to accept it.

 

However it might be better if you wrote it all down in a letter.

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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The collection and enforcement of Council Tax is carried out in line with the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992. A demand notice is issued to a taxpayer informing them of the amount of Council Tax they are required to pay and an instalment plan for payments to be made. If payments are not made in accordance with the instalment plan, at least one reminder notice and a summons will be issued before a liability order could be obtained in the Magistrates Court against a taxpayer. The Council, as a billing authority, is statutorily obliged to issue such notices.

 

Once a liability order is held the Council can then exercise various options in respect of further recovery action. A decision on which of the following options would be taken will be made on the basis of which option is deemed to be the most effective method of recovering the debt, in line with the Audit Commission’s recommendations.

 

 

 

 

These options are:-

 

· To agree a payment arrangement with the taxpayer

 

· To implement an Attachment of Earnings Order

 

 

· To pass the Council Tax account to a firm of bailiffs for collection

 

· To implement an Attachment of Benefits Order

 

· To apply for a charging order against the taxpayer’s property

 

· To initiate bankruptcy proceedings against the taxpayer

 

Note that they must attempt to recover it in the most effective method available, and this is regardless of the current state of play. Getting you to make an arrangement with them is the most effective all round. Them sending in Bailiffs who slap on extra charges is not the easiest method as it places you in a worse situation.

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Honeysuckle if you create your own thread and drop me a pm with the link, and post up all the details of what you can realistically afford, any mitigating circumstances (unemployment, illness, etc) including details of the Bailiffs I will write you up a letter to send to your council which you can fill in the blanks (account number and address)

 

If your local council has an online payment system (and they should all have one) start making the payments immediately to show good intent to pay.

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Im still looking for the exact sections in the Act and Regulations. Just so as people can shove it down daft Councils throats :D But its quite a bit of reading lol

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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I think.......

 

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1992/ukpga_19920014_en_13#sch4

Local Government Finance Act 1992

Schedule 14 - Enforcement England and Wales

 

Paragraph 17

 

Termination of proceedings

 

17 (1) Regulations under paragraph 1(1) above may provide that in a case where—

(a) proceedings under the regulations have been taken as regards the recovery of any sum mentioned in paragraph 1(1) above; and

(b) the outstanding amount is paid or tendered to the authority to which it is payable;

the authority shall accept the amount, no further steps shall be taken as regards its recovery, and any person committed to prison in pursuance of the proceedings shall be released.

(2) The outstanding amount is an amount equal to the sum concerned or to so much of it as remains outstanding (as the case may be).

(3) In a case where costs and charges are relevant the outstanding amount shall be treated as augmented by a sum (of a prescribed amount or an amount determined in accordance with prescribed rules) in respect of costs and charges incurred in the proceedings up to the time of payment or tender.

Although Im currently trying to translate it from legalese to English, but it certainly looks promising !!

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Hi just wondering if someone can help me.

 

I had council tax arrears and was contacted in June by letter by a bailiffs named Rundle & Co. They told me to contact them to set up a payment arrangement which I did (£166.00 every 31 days).

 

Unfortunately without advising me of it they set up the debt under two different references so they wrote to me and told me that the balance under the ref no I had been using was 0.00 and I though great thats it all done and dusted.

 

However I received a ltter on Monday this week saying attendance notce the clerance of goods.

 

I immediately phoned them and got put through to the bailiff who advised that i had to pay him £720.00 or he was coming to remove goods.

 

The amount did not sound right. I aske the council what the balance was and they said £548.00 but that the bailiffs would have added charges.

 

I have worked out from the arrangement made previoulsy that the balance due to Rundle should be £590.50.

 

I would like to point out that at no time has anyone been to my premises to make a levy or gained access to my premises. I know this because I live above where I work and someone is there all day!! I fail to see how I could have incurred these costs.

 

I have written a fax to rundle and company, and copied the council in and advised that I want an actual bill for the anount beacuse nowhere on any of the papers I have recieved in the post do they give me a balance with a breakdown of any costs which they are charging.

 

I have advised the council that I am willing to pay the amount I actually owe in full and have advised the bailiffs that until this is resolved I will expect no further action (also advised the council of this).

 

In addition I also advised the council that I could find no record that the bailiff named on my letter was certificated which is cause for concern.

 

The council have been extreemely unco-operative about it and have told me that I have to speak to the bailiffs and there is nothing they can do. I am sorry but after that first conversation with the bailiff I will not be speaking to him again and you cannot get through to anyone in the office, they are equally un-coperative.

 

I am actually scared to leave my falt/office in case the bailiff is lying in wait to accost me or force entry. He has actually scared me that much. When I asked him how he thought he would gain access to my premises he said ' when you knock most people will open the door'. My response was 'good luck with that!'.

 

He would'nt be able to gain access to my premises anyway because it is above an office and the door is the office door to which there is a buzzer system. ALthough I am scared to leave. My flat is on the seciond floor so I doubt he would use a ladder to gain access.

 

This whole mess is making me feel really ill. Although it is worth noting that he hasn't turned up yet and the only thing I have recieved is a letter.

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echowitch

 

I tired to do what you said and phoned Haringey council, in my case. I got thru to customer services and they would not put me thru to anyone in Council Tax dept. I wrote them a letter with the info you put on this site and my current situation.

Today I received a letter from the council that they are

"unable to make an arrangement with me, as the liability order has been passed to Newlyn bailiffs for collection.

Please note that once accounts have been passed to the bailiffs, the Council will not intervene in the enforcement process and you will have to negotiate with the bailiff company regarding payment."

 

What do I answer them now?

 

I just checked the name of the bailiff that came to my door (didn't let him in) today and he's not listed on the site, not as working for Newlyn nor on his own name.

same response as i got. i think all council tax workers go to the same training school!!!

 

I have now written to my council and told them that i wished to confirm in writing that i had made an offer that i could afford and i wished to connfirm that they had refused this offer of payment. i also stated that i was giving them notice that

 

1. i would not be giving any baliff entry to my premises or goods

2. that as i was giving them notice of refusal of entry or negotiation wih the baliff company i would not be held liable for any of their costs and would not accpet any money sent to the council to pay my council tax bieeng used by the council to pay any baliff fees.

3. Until such time the debt was passed back to the council i would put money aside for payment as i am ot refusing to pay i am just not prepared to pay the baliff company but wished to pay my creditor direct.

4. also told them that in this current climate i would be asking myMP should not councils be expected to give the same support in debt management as mortgage and other credit companies by helping people to clear their debt not adding to it both finanacially or emotionally.

 

Happy to give attidue back!!

 

I will now not do any more letters or phone calls i am on a budget and trying to act responsibly and cut costs back not waste money !!!! I am now so determined to win this keep your chin up and stand up for yourself, as long as you accept the bill needs to be paid stick to your guns, make it clear you want to pay but only to the coucil direct confirm it in writing (recorded delivery) and do not let the baliffs in under any circumstances make sure your home is locked and secure if you go out, but do not let it rule your life dont hide behind closed curtains bide your time and you will win in the end.

 

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Rule number one if they have definitley not been into your home they cannot force entry whether you are there or not

 

I think this one for Hallowitch to help you with as you will get excellent advice

 

i wold just like to say i felt like you and was scared ot of my wits, didnt want to go out in case they came while i was out, kept the curtains closed and basically lived in fear, well.. do not let them do this to you, do not give them the satisfaction, head up, live your life stick to your guns and follow Hallowitches advice when it comes, its a bit like dealing with bullies at school once you stand up to them they run off crying to mummy!!!

 

you have your rights and you can beat them just dont let them in.

 

wont wish you luck cos you dont need it decency and basic rights are on your side and thats all you need to fight the devil he he!!!

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same response as i got. i think all council tax workers go to the same training school!!!

 

I have now written to my council and told them that i wished to confirm in writing that i had made an offer that i could afford and i wished to connfirm that they had refused this offer of payment. i also stated that i was giving them notice that

 

1. i would not be giving any baliff entry to my premises or goods

2. that as i was giving them notice of refusal of entry or negotiation wih the baliff company i would not be held liable for any of their costs and would not accpet any money sent to the council to pay my council tax bieeng used by the council to pay any baliff fees.

3. Until such time the debt was passed back to the council i would put money aside for payment as i am ot refusing to pay i am just not prepared to pay the baliff company but wished to pay my creditor direct.

4. also told them that in this current climate i would be asking myMP should not councils be expected to give the same support in debt management as mortgage and other credit companies by helping people to clear their debt not adding to it both finanacially or emotionally.

 

Happy to give attidue back!!

 

I will now not do any more letters or phone calls i am on a budget and trying to act responsibly and cut costs back not waste money !!!! I am now so determined to win this keep your chin up and stand up for yourself, as long as you accept the bill needs to be paid stick to your guns, make it clear you want to pay but only to the coucil direct confirm it in writing (recorded delivery) and do not let the baliffs in under any circumstances make sure your home is locked and secure if you go out, but do not let it rule your life dont hide behind closed curtains bide your time and you will win in the end.

 

 

 

 

Make payments to the Council online

You may receive different advice to your query as people have different experiences and opinions. Please use your own judgement in deciding whose advice to take.

 

If in doubt seek advice from a qualified insured professional. Any advice I have offered you is done so on an informal basis, without prejudice or liability.

 

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court bundles for dummies

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For Honeysuckle, but would probably serve as a good basis for anyone to use.

 

Add a photocopy of the letter showing their made up figures, and also include the name of the guy claiming to be a Bailiff. (I've assumed he showed no identification or certification)

 

Start making payments now. If you are going to pay weekly rather than monthly, edit the letter accordingly.

 

My Witchy colleague can probably smooth out any holes in the below letter I've missed :D

 

Your Name

123 Fake Street

Springfield

AA1 1XX

 

19th August 2009

 

 

Court Officer

Haringey Council

Council Tax Department

Their full address

 

Dear Sir,

 

Account number: XXXXXXXXXXX

 

I am writing to formally offer a payment plan of £20 a month to repay the remaining Council Tax for account XXXXXXXXX. I would like to offer more but I can not do so at present. I am willing to provide a detailed Income and Expenditure breakdown if required to prove that this is all that I can pay. I am also looking at claiming for Housing and Council Tax benefits as per your advice when I came to the Council offices, to assist me in paying this, but this will take time to apply for and be processed.

 

I have been advised that it is a requirement of yours to accept any reasonable offer of payment for Council Tax under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 (Amended), and the Local Government Finance Act 1992. And that if you refuse my reasonable offer of payment I will escalate my complaint to the Head of Finance for the Council, and my local MP.

 

Please note that I am aware that you passed my Council Tax bill to Newlyn Bailiffs but I am exercising my legal right to pay the outstanding Council Tax directly to Haringey Council. I also wish to make a formal complaint about Newlyns Bailiffs practices.

 

The person that came to my home claiming to be a Bailiff did not show me any identification or certification proving that they are a Bailiff. As I’m sure you are aware it is a criminal offence to operate as a Bailiff without a licence or certification. Their Bailiffs were also highly intimidating and aggressive and left me concerned for my own physical safety as a woman alone and unable to defend myself. This has left me very shaken and has affected my health for which I am seeking medical advice on. In addition the fees charged do not comply with Regulation 45 (2) (Section 5) Charges Connected With distress) of the above regulations.

 

I await your response. However in the mean time I will continue to make regular payments to you via the Council’s online payment system.

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

Your Name

Edited by echowitch
Added Hallowitchs suggestions.

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992(Amended)

 

 

In addition the figures that they are claiming for do not tally with the amounts that they are legally allowed to charge for

In addition the fees charged do not comply with Regulation 45 (2)

(Section 5) Charges Connected With distress) of the above regulations

;);););) hope you dont mind

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Told you she's pick up on the stuff I miss, cheers Hallowitch :)

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Hi, I received notification from the council informing me that I will be visited in the next few days from the Bailiffs. I'm not worried too much over them visiting. I'm worried more because I have 4 staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs who are free to run around my home and secured garden. If the baillif decides he would like to let himself in either through an open window or door and my dogs see him as an intruder , is there any law that protects my dogs and/or myself from prosecution? I know its probably a unlikely scenario and although my dogs are not trained to attack, there is a possibility they may feel the need to protect. I can not be a 100 % certain what their reaction would be if they saw a stranger comming into my home without me. The bailiff would be a little stupid to take the risk in the first place.

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Thank you for your advice echowitch. I did what you told me. I also fired off a letter to Haringey similar to the 1 you wrote and emailed it to them. I got an out of office reply and it had the council tax dept phone number on it, so I was a bit wiser, at least I had a number (not from customer services). I phoned 2 days later and got a nice guy on the phone. It was a completely different attitude.

I had made a payment online keeping to the offer in the letter and that made a difference too. It shows that you are serious with your offer.

I am now awaiting the outcome and will keep you posted.

Thanks again

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For Honeysuckle, but would probably serve as a good basis for anyone to use.

 

Add a photocopy of the letter showing their made up figures, and also include the name of the guy claiming to be a Bailiff. (I've assumed he showed no identification or certification)

 

Start making payments now. If you are going to pay weekly rather than monthly, edit the letter accordingly.

 

My Witchy colleague can probably smooth out any holes in the below letter I've missed :D

 

many thanks echo and hallow

i will let you know the outcome...

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Can anyone help?

hi i have a unpaid council tax which has been passed on to Jacobs Bailiff

> my

> original debt was £950.00 because off there charges due to me not letting

> them in now my debt is £1210.00 they have visited several times.i was

> wondering are there charges valid? I have wrote to them explaining my

> position and offered £40.00pw which i have paid few lump sums now my

> balance

> with them is £900.00. But they still insisting to send bailiff around my

> house to levy and further charges but i clearly stated im refusing to let

> him in under any circumstances.they saying if refuse they need a payment

> in

> full which im not in position to do so.

>

> please help.

>

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If you make an offer of payment i.e. a payment plan they are obliged to accept it. However you should make the offer of payment to your local Council who you actually owe the money to. The Bailiff's are only allowed to charge for a 1st and 2nd visit. (£24 and £18 respectively) So them adding £260 worth of charges on top is utter rubbish. You can either complain to the Council about the charges or challenge the Bailiffs to lay out what the charges are.

 

Use a modified (to your particular case) version of the letter in post number 844 :)

__________________

Capital One - Took them to court and they settled for the full £998

Aqua - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £424

Barclaycard - Threatened legal action, they refunded the whole £636

RBS/Universa - 1st letter sent, settled for £132

Virgin Media - 1st Judge great....second Judge couldn't even be bothered to read the case details

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Excellent letter. Also worth putting in the letter that under Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act it is an offence to harrass debtors. You can only be put in prison for wilful refusal (i.e. could pay if you wanted to but just don't feel like it).

 

Council's are also very fond of telling you that you have lost your right to pay by instalments if you miss one or two. This is not so. Under the law of England & Wales nobody ever loses their right to pay by instalments.

Even if the Council take you to court, you will only be ordered to pay by instalments as long as you are not "wilfully refusing" and your non-payment is simply due to financial hardship.

 

Obviously if you enter into an arrangement it is not ideal to fall into arrears with it but in these hard times it sometimes cannot be helped.

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Ok, I have an unpaid council tax bill from last year, referred to chandlers bailiffs, they attended and took walking possession of some goods. I have been unable to pay the repayments, and the bailiff is attending in an hour according to his letter.

 

Problem, the goods listed are owned by my landlord, having been told by the original bailiff that if I could prove they weren't mine he couldn't take them.

 

I signed the walking possession form and on closer inspection it says I confirm they are mine. I'm not letting him in this time. But what can I do? Can he take the goods?

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you must get a statuary declaration done immediately to stop the bailiff removing the landlords property

STATUTORY DECLARATION

 

 

 

To: (the bailiffs) (their address)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I (your name)

of (your address)

Do solemnly and sincerely declare that:

the items listed (list them) are not the property of (your friends name) and (reason why they were there) and have always been my sole property

And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 and Section 5 of The Perjury Act 1911.

 

Signature:

 

Declared at

 

On the day of two thousand and

 

Before me

 

A Commissioner for Oaths, or Notary Public/Justice of the Peace/Solicitor having the powers conferred on a Commissioner for OathsBefore me

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