Money forcefully taken

acece

Over a year ago I rented a car from Zipcar and committed a traffic violation. They sent me a notice to pay but I was not in the country. By the time I returned to the country it had doubled.
So I contacted numerous times (calls / emails) and then they told me that if I went to the court and filed Mitigating Circumstances I could have it reduced to the original £65. I did and sent it to them and they said is been reduced, but never sent me any invoice.
I rang them up a few more times and every time they would tell me that the invoice is coming. Last time I spoke to a man that he said is been placed on hold permanently. So I did not call again and never received any invoices from them.
Shortly after I left the country and did not come back. A few weeks ago my old land lady contacted me telling me that I have a letter from them asking for money. Since I was not in the country I asked her to write to them and tell them that I left long ago and they should have sent the invoice months ago and not now. She was too busy and she forgot to do that.

Today, she contacted me via email and asked me to call her back. When I called, her voice was shaking and she said the bailiff was there and wanted to collect £565.34 (instead of the original £65) or they wanted to remove her property. She insisted that I don't live there but they said that she needs to PROVE that I don't live there! She also called the police but the police said that she had to pay up, because I was registered on her address (over a year ago)

She paid the money, and of course now I have to pay her back.
How can I fight this back? I can prove the exact times and dates that I contacted them by phone, plus the emails they never replied. What can I do now?

acece

Further to this, my landlady just informed me that " there should have been a warning letter from the bailiffs to say they were coming. It apparently has large red lettering and a warning on the envelope itself saying not to discard the letter. No such letter ever arrived. "

InsideInsurance

The fact you chose to leave the country is of no concern. You say that they did ultimately send you the invoice and you effectively asked your landlady to tell them "too late".

Legally they had 6 years to enforce the debt and so are well within the time limits.

On the basis your former landlady has already paid it is now a little late to contest it. Its just down to you if you wish to settle it with her or tell her she should have contested it more and its her own fault for allowing the bailiff to convince her to pay someone elses debt

acece

Firstly, they did not send the invoice while I was in the UK. They actually never sent the reduced invoice that I was supposed to pay.
Second, the bailiff was supposed to send a letter before coming. They did not.
And also my landlady called the police, the police came but did not help and said that the bailiff have the right to take the money now.

Are you suggesting that they were within their rights and that I can not fight this back?

InsideInsurance

acece wrote: »

Firstly, they did not send the invoice while I was in the UK.

<snip>

Are you suggesting that they were within their rights and that I can not fight this back?

The first bit is irrelevant, you are responsible for your own movements and we all know the risks of going away for extended periods of time with unfinished business.

I am not suggesting they were within their rights but once the Landlady voluntarily decided to pay then the matter is almost certainly too late to rectify.

acece

The question is, what can I do now?

They never sent the reduce invoice of £65 that they had to send.
The next invoice they sent was 3 weeks ago and it was £202.
And today they took over £500

Sure I can prove that they never issued the reduced invoice they promised they will.
Can I appeal to the court? How should I do that? Or can I hire a lawyer to do it for me?

Exile_geordie

Ill be brutally honest and will probably get shot down here BUT are you ever coming back to this country? If so I wouldnt bother paying your old Landlady or anyone else and just let the matter drop.

If you are ever going to come back then get a brief.

jacques_chirac

The first thing you need to do is make sure your ex landlady is not out of pocket. Please do this today, along with a big bouquet of flowers as an apology for the upset you have caused her.

dibuzz

Exile_geordie wrote: »

Ill be brutally honest and will probably get shot down here BUT are you ever coming back to this country? If so I wouldnt bother paying your old Landlady or anyone else and just let the matter drop.

So the poor innocent landlady has to bear the cost? Unbelievable :mad:

spacey2012

If your ex-landlady decided to pay some "baliffs" at her door demanding money for someone else, then that is not your concern.
More fool her.

Harsh ?
Yes but this is a money saving forum.

acece

I have already asked my friend to pay my ex land lady. We know each other from years before and there was no way I would let her suffer for this.

Please, how can I take back the money they took? Any advise, other than the flower bouquet?