has the bailiff got the right to charge me £170 for just turning up in his van?

Question

i owed a debt collection agy £180 for a council tax bill,they sent one of there bailiffs round the house in his van,so i thought i best pay the debt.which i did.now he says he wants another £170 cause he had to come out to colloct the debt.
ok before you say i should have paid it before,i no that .but has he got any right just to randomly charge me that much just for driving 15 miles to collect the original debt? if so im in the wrong job.
oh and can you be a bit quick with your answers?cos he,ll be here at 9 in the morning to get his fee. thanks all and pleeeeeeze serious answers only ta.

Answer 1

My God! Can't you phone the Citizens Advice Bureau, or to be honest -the police, to find out where you stand...these people are scum, how do they sleep at night. It doesn't seem right to me, I think they must be paid by the council to recover the debt, not you, but then that's too sensible isn't it? Please call someone tonight and get some help---and let us know what happens please?

Answer 2

I used to work for the Inland Revenue, and we used to go out, sometimes on our own, and sometimes with bailiffs. The bailiff is useful as he has more knowledge of what goods are worth, and can also leave someone in "walking possession" if distraint is levied. The Inland Revenue did not have to have a Court order to distrain, and I am not sure whether councils do or not. I would guess there is also probably a Magistrates or County Court order against you. If you don't pay on a Court Order, the Court can send out the bailiffs. Whatever, set charges are fixed legally, the bailiff doesn't just make up a sum off the top of his head. Also there are charges on a Court order, and I would guess that the bailiff's fee includes this.

Answer 3

Ok you have a big problem if you let them in, as they are now allowed to return, even if you are not home, to remove goods.

Of they made a list of items in your home that is known as a Walking possession, and they can charge anywhere between 21 and 50, they are allowed to charge you only the first 2 times they get a van out to you, but the amount you have specified sounds a bit high, generally they are only allowed to charge the going rate of what it costs to hire a van for the day.

However, I'm going to try to make you feel a little better now, if you did let them in and they have taken a list of items they should have given you a copy of that, and what they expect the items to fetch at auction, if the list of items does not make the amount they want off you, including any fees on top of the original bill, they are not allowed to remove your goods. As it would mean them still having to chase you for whatever the remainder was, and if they have taken your goods, you simply wouldn't have it

And if they have threatened you with a prison sentence, you can report them as they are not allowed to. Trust me I work at the local CAB and get in people with problems like this on a daily basis.

Top and bottom line, find out from a local hire company how much it is to hire a van(the same as the bailiff came in) for the day and add on worse case scenario price of 50, if you let them in of course, add that to the cost of the van hire and that is what they are allowed to charge you, if its less than 170, go to your local CAB and they will help,

Answer 4

Yes they have the right to charge you whatever to collect the debt.

BUT

Go direct to the council and offer to pay THEIR debt in full. I did it and the council called off the Debt Collectors and i only paid what i owed the council, with no extra charges.

May not work for everyone, but where i live they've ****'d up their council accounts so bad they are almost grateful for any money at all!

Answer 5

Yes he does have the right. Though he is there to collect what you owe for the council you are also liable for all bailiffs costs - and they are not cheap.

You are entitled to a break down in costs relating to any charge he/she has imposed - if you have any queries regarding them then make them known to him/her so that they can be explained to you.

Answer 6

proberly not but these people get alot of money doing this job you are not the only person this happens to and wont be the last.if you,ve already payed council tax bill these are hes fees make sure can have them sign somthing or get a receipt ensure you will not be charged again for him collecting this payment if you do pay him make sure its the last time u will

Answer 7

Unfortunately the magistrates court baliffs (which is where yours came from) charges are not regulated.

However...that does not mean that you cannot complain to the council who employ them

Or the court that uses them

So....if i were you i would do a lot of complaining before you pay it and see what happens

Answer 8

I think it's a disgrace that they can be allowed to charge that much. It's daylight robbery. People struggling financially should be helped and not have the p*ss taken out of them.

Answer 9

I hate this crap, even though i live in the united states it sounds as though you guys go through just as much crap as we do with our government,,,,,that's all there about is the money,,there like the legal mafia: they've screwed us all one way or another,,,that's why we all need to vote and write to the right people it's true there is power in the pen, petitions etc,,,good luck and I'm sorry for your troubles

Answer 10

Probably not. Did you get a receipt? Did you sign anything? If you did, you REALLY need to read them. You may have inadvertently agreed to pay such a service fee (which is common!).