Local goverment ombusman report 18/07/12

hallowitch

http://www.lgo.org.uk/news/2012/jul/blaby-council-criticised-bailiff-charges/ download full report top right

In her report, issued today, she says: “I am issuing this report in the public interest because the practice of bailiffs’ ‘double charging’ for visits is not uncommon. These bailiffs were acting on behalf of the Council and it was within the Council’s control to contractually curb excessive charges by the bailiffs. I would expect local authorities and their agents to consider the reasonableness of their practice in this area in future and I am pleased that this Council has now done so.”



well done to the lady who took the time and effort to take this to the ombudsman Thanks to Mrs Smith (not her real name) Bailiffs enforcing debt in Leicestershire cant charge multiple fees when enforcing more than one debt


Multiple fee-charging

46. I understand that the multiple fee-charging is legal. But I consider that charging

£340 for two visits by one bailiff is disproportionate and places a wholly

unreasonable burden on people already in debt. I am pleased that the Council

has entered into a new contract with its bailiffs preventing multiple fee-charging in

the future. I note this applied to all authorities across Leicestershire who have

entered into the same contract. But the injustice to Mrs Smith remains

unrecognised and I consider the Council should take some action to rectify this

which I shall set out below.


Anyone being charged multiple fees regardless of where you live should complain to the local authority including ref to this report