Good News Equita Bailiff Fees

cookie586

Well after about 2 letters and countless emails querying the £150 Attendance fee Equita have accepted my payment for the PCN and cancelled bailiff action and "associated fees".

I did also write to my local MP and Birmingham City Council and forwarded the emails to Equita and to be honest this I think it was the MP letter that put the wind up them.

I accept full responsibility for the fine and paying reasonable costs such as court fees but I don't appreciate being ripped off especially for over £150!!

So thank you all for your advice. My only other question is what are the rules on VAT charges on bailiff fees?

Thanks again for all your help.

One last word could there be a sticky on bailiff fees, rights and responsibilities?

nazi786

hi congrats ..i am going through the same situation my debt is 339 i asked the equita for breakdown charges
debt=110
attendance fees=150
visit fees=34
letter fees=11.20
+ vat
total=339
i am thinking to send them cheque of 150 today and disputing the fees please advise me as u hae won the case that wheather i am doing the right thing....
thanks in advance

nazi786

hi could you plz send me template letters i will be highly grate ful as i send equita cheaque of 150 pounds but they said the action will continue after the 150 really upset plz help....

RAS

nazi786 wrote: »

hi congrats ..i am going through the same situation my debt is 339 i asked the equita for breakdown charges
debt=110
attendance fees=150
visit fees=34
letter fees=11.20
+ vat
total=339
i am thinking to send them cheque of 150 today and disputing the fees please advise me as u hae won the case that wheather i am doing the right thing....
thanks in advance

Please start your own thread. Will respond there.

nazi786

How can i make this thread

cookie586

Hiya

I am still a newbie so can't post links but here are the letters I sent. I would also advise you write to your local MP and the Council who originally issued the fine and copy the bailiff company into this as to be honest I don't think they moved until I copied them into my email to my MP.

Also google "Bailiff advice online" and "criminal bailiffs" (unless someone can post the links) for further advice on fees. "Criminal bailiffs" has some template letters as well.

Hope this helps

Dear Sir/Madam
Client ref:
I refer to the above account in relation to an £80 unpaid parking fine due to Birmingham City Council.

As you will be aware from your files this account has been passed to your bailiff (name of bailiff) to enforce.

The query that I have is concerning the amount that your bailiff is now stating is due. You will be aware that your bailiff visited my premises on (date). Upon receiving the letter I rang (bailiff) as I was happy to pay the outstanding £80 however, he advised me that I had to pay an additional £262.26 in bailiff fees. I have sought advice from National Debtline, Citizens Advice Bureau and other organisations. All organisations have advised me that the bailiff may only charge a fee of £24.50 for "attending to levy where no levy was made".
I was also further advised that it would appear that (bailiff name) is attempting to charge me an "enforcement fee" which is NOT provided for in the statutory regulations unless a valid levy was first undertaken. In addition, the bailiff left a Notice of Seizure and Inventory of Goods with details of my car. I read the back of the sheet and found that there was no justification for the additional charge listed in Table of fees, charges and expenses on the back of this form.
I also wish to point out that I received the Warrant of Execution on (date) the day after the bailiffs visit. Had I received this sooner then this matter would not have progressed to this point.
Could you please send to me a full and detailed breakdown of the charges made by your bailiff which I am entitled to receive under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998, and which by law the bailiff company must comply with.
If there has been a mistake with the charges please contact me with details of the correct fees so that payment can be arranged.
Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully

Letter 2

Dear Sir/Madam
Client ref:
Thank you for the statement as requested on the 10th June 2010 however I have a further query with a couple of the items on the account and a complaint about the procedure to obtain the outstanding amount.

I have three points regarding the 'Attendance/removal' item on the statement. Firstly, I received the initial letter from you the day after the bailiff attended my address. If this letter had been received beforehand, , then I would have taken action and the bailiff visit and attendance would have not taken place therefore negating the need for the visit fee and attendance/removal charges.

Secondly, the initial letter from yourselves did not detail what was due to be paid leaving free reign for your bailiff to charge whatever seemed fit.

Thirdly, according to the Enforcement of Road Traffic Debts (certified Bailiffs) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 the fee for levy distress must not exceed the sum due and demanded which is less than £100, therefore it seems that the £150 charge is not permitted .

I happy to pay what is legally due so I look forward to you speedy reply so that this issue can be peaceably resolved.

Yours sincerely

nazi786

thanks alot

nazi786

and what should i write to my local mp?