Court Fines & Bailiff Fees
Discussion
Hi All,
My partner stupidly got done for no TV Licence (it transpires she even invited the Agent in and made him a cup of tea...) a few years back. It's been ticking away and she owed about £150, until recently when a Bailiff was sent to recover this. I think that she's been ignoring it myself, but that's neither here nor there.
Anyway, this £150 has now more than doubled to £385.55 thanks to the bailiffs fee of £235. Is there any liability to the bailiffs for those fees, i.e. if she paid the £150 to the court directly can she tell the bailiffs to do one?
Any help would be appreciated!
My partner stupidly got done for no TV Licence (it transpires she even invited the Agent in and made him a cup of tea...) a few years back. It's been ticking away and she owed about £150, until recently when a Bailiff was sent to recover this. I think that she's been ignoring it myself, but that's neither here nor there.
Anyway, this £150 has now more than doubled to £385.55 thanks to the bailiffs fee of £235. Is there any liability to the bailiffs for those fees, i.e. if she paid the £150 to the court directly can she tell the bailiffs to do one?
Any help would be appreciated!
Edited by Cyberprog on Sunday 25th October 12:39
To answer the question, no! And pay it quick or it will go up more when they come back to collect the goods!
Just be grateful she didn't owe them more as once the debt is above a certain figure they charge £235 plus 7.5% of what is owed. A bailiff I know recently collected a debt of £1 million! The fees were nice!
Just be grateful she didn't owe them more as once the debt is above a certain figure they charge £235 plus 7.5% of what is owed. A bailiff I know recently collected a debt of £1 million! The fees were nice!
No, she now has to pay the enforcement fee. The link below explains that now it's been passed out for enforcement the fees are legally due. There are exceptions, eg if she is classed as a vulnerable person then they have to allow her to get legal advice. Usually delay tactics just rack up higher fees, per visit, even by the hour. Get it paid.
http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/latest-news/can-i...
http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/latest-news/can-i...
Cyberprog said:
Hrm, that's annoying - she's just given me some more paperwork which showed that what she actually owed was £75.55. They then added £70 for basically writing a letter, and now a visit added £235!
There's a very simple way to avoid those fees - and the ones which may yet be to come...She's failed to pay. She's ignored demands to pay. As a result, bailiffs - as the law allows - have been contracted to recover the debt. It sounds as if their involvement has worked, and she's now prepared to pay up. Why should they NOT be paid for their work?
FiF said:
Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
Thanks, I'll have a read.TooMany2cvs said:
There's a very simple way to avoid those fees - and the ones which may yet be to come...
She's failed to pay. She's ignored demands to pay. As a result, bailiffs - as the law allows - have been contracted to recover the debt. It sounds as if their involvement has worked, and she's now prepared to pay up. Why should they NOT be paid for their work?
Their work? If they were reasonable costs I wouldn't be upset, but £75 for writing a letter and £235 for a visit are excessive when the original debt was £75.55. Frankly I'm livid with her for not dealing with it, and she's still paying off a council tax debt at £25 a fortnight as that's what she can afford. Having 4 times the original debt now to pay off is ridiculous, and they want £75 a month to pay it off!She's failed to pay. She's ignored demands to pay. As a result, bailiffs - as the law allows - have been contracted to recover the debt. It sounds as if their involvement has worked, and she's now prepared to pay up. Why should they NOT be paid for their work?
And as she doesn't earn bugger all (she does a bit of cleaning work which is slowly picking up) I'm ending up having to support this financially.
Cyberprog said:
Their work? If they were reasonable costs I wouldn't be upset, but £75 for writing a letter and £235 for a visit are excessive when the original debt was £75.55. Frankly I'm livid with her for not dealing with it, and she's still paying off a council tax debt at £25 a fortnight as that's what she can afford. Having 4 times the original debt now to pay off is ridiculous, and they want £75 a month to pay it off!
And as she doesn't earn bugger all (she does a bit of cleaning work which is slowly picking up) I'm ending up having to support this financially.
Sounds like she's the sort of person who puts bills to one side hoping they'll go away, as a result of which she now has to pay 4 times the original amount. She's nobody to blame but herself. And as she doesn't earn bugger all (she does a bit of cleaning work which is slowly picking up) I'm ending up having to support this financially.
Cyberprog said:
Their work? If they were reasonable costs I wouldn't be upset, but £75 for writing a letter and £235 for a visit are excessive when the original debt was £75.55. Frankly I'm livid with her for not dealing with it, and she's still paying off a council tax debt at £25 a fortnight as that's what she can afford. Having 4 times the original debt now to pay off is ridiculous, and they want £75 a month to pay it off!
And as she doesn't earn bugger all (she does a bit of cleaning work which is slowly picking up) I'm ending up having to support this financially.
If she is earning very little I assume that you/she have checked her rights to welfare payments, discounted council tax etc?And as she doesn't earn bugger all (she does a bit of cleaning work which is slowly picking up) I'm ending up having to support this financially.
I agree the fees might seem excessive but they are set by Government and the reality is there is quite a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes when they issue the Notice of Enforcement (£70) as they have to check if the person is vulnerable etc.
Chrisgr31 said:
If she is earning very little I assume that you/she have checked her rights to welfare payments, discounted council tax etc?
I agree the fees might seem excessive but they are set by Government and the reality is there is quite a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes when they issue the Notice of Enforcement (£70) as they have to check if the person is vulnerable etc.
Indeed, she shouldn't have had to pay any council tax, but didn't apply for the exemption as she was unemployed. She's not entitled to anything currently as she now lives with me and I earn too much sadly.I agree the fees might seem excessive but they are set by Government and the reality is there is quite a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes when they issue the Notice of Enforcement (£70) as they have to check if the person is vulnerable etc.
Cyberprog said:
Hrm, that's annoying - she's just given me some more paperwork which showed that what she actually owed was £75.55. They then added £70 for basically writing a letter, and now a visit added £235!
What legislation gives the bailiffs the right to add the fees?
The new rules mean the fees start off lower than bailiffs were charging and give you chance to pay up. Then if you don't the fees can add up very quickly.What legislation gives the bailiffs the right to add the fees?
The notice of enforcement come with a compliance fee £75
if you don't pay the its £235 plus 7.5% for enforcement visit
Its better than the old days I remember my first parking ticket that I ignored @ £60 then some months later and few more ignored letters I got bailiff visit and paid £280. Last time I did that!
At least she hasn't complied with a met police officer and stopped at the road side only to be handed to bolshie cow in a pink high viz who has the police holding you without arrest or on suspicion committing an offence. Then tells you owe her a gazillion dollars or she will take your car cause you didn't pay £80 parking fine and her fees go every 30 seconds.
jbsportstech said:
The new rules mean the fees start off lower than bailiffs were charging and give you chance to pay up. Then if you don't the fees can add up very quickly.
The notice of enforcement come with a compliance fee £75
if you don't pay the its £235 plus 7.5% for enforcement visit
Its better than the old days I remember my first parking ticket that I ignored @ £60 then some months later and few more ignored letters I got bailiff visit and paid £280. Last time I did that!
At least she hasn't complied with a met police officer and stopped at the road side only to be handed to bolshie cow in a pink high viz who has the police holding you without arrest or on suspicion committing an offence. Then tells you owe her a gazillion dollars or she will take your car cause you didn't pay £80 parking fine and her fees go every 30 seconds.
Still boils my piss though! But looks like it's legit and there's nowt we can do about it. No wonder some people end up drowning in debt...The notice of enforcement come with a compliance fee £75
if you don't pay the its £235 plus 7.5% for enforcement visit
Its better than the old days I remember my first parking ticket that I ignored @ £60 then some months later and few more ignored letters I got bailiff visit and paid £280. Last time I did that!
At least she hasn't complied with a met police officer and stopped at the road side only to be handed to bolshie cow in a pink high viz who has the police holding you without arrest or on suspicion committing an offence. Then tells you owe her a gazillion dollars or she will take your car cause you didn't pay £80 parking fine and her fees go every 30 seconds.
Cyberprog said:
jbsportstech said:
The new rules mean the fees start off lower than bailiffs were charging and give you chance to pay up. Then if you don't the fees can add up very quickly.
The notice of enforcement come with a compliance fee £75
if you don't pay the its £235 plus 7.5% for enforcement visit
Its better than the old days I remember my first parking ticket that I ignored @ £60 then some months later and few more ignored letters I got bailiff visit and paid £280. Last time I did that!
At least she hasn't complied with a met police officer and stopped at the road side only to be handed to bolshie cow in a pink high viz who has the police holding you without arrest or on suspicion committing an offence. Then tells you owe her a gazillion dollars or she will take your car cause you didn't pay £80 parking fine and her fees go every 30 seconds.
No wonder some people end up drowning in debt...The notice of enforcement come with a compliance fee £75
if you don't pay the its £235 plus 7.5% for enforcement visit
Its better than the old days I remember my first parking ticket that I ignored @ £60 then some months later and few more ignored letters I got bailiff visit and paid £280. Last time I did that!
At least she hasn't complied with a met police officer and stopped at the road side only to be handed to bolshie cow in a pink high viz who has the police holding you without arrest or on suspicion committing an offence. Then tells you owe her a gazillion dollars or she will take your car cause you didn't pay £80 parking fine and her fees go every 30 seconds.
shakotan said:
By not paying their bills, yeah, it's no wonder...
Some people genuinely get into debt but tv licence probably not worth the hassle of not paying. Despite the fact it's been decriminalised and I see stuff on the net saying don't bother with it for £13 a month doesn't seem worth the bother.jbsportstech said:
Some people genuinely get into debt but tv licence probably not worth the hassle of not paying. Despite the fact it's been decriminalised and I see stuff on the net saying don't bother with it for £13 a month doesn't seem worth the bother.
Twas my thought also. She thought her mum was paying it for her (as she was unemployed) but hey ho.jbsportstech said:
Some people genuinely get into debt but tv licence probably not worth the hassle of not paying. Despite the fact it's been decriminalised and I see stuff on the net saying don't bother with it for £13 a month doesn't seem worth the bother.
It's not that much hassle really, everything is available on-demand these days.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff