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Scott & Co Bank Arrestment
rg1990
Posts: 2 Newbie
Hi,
A few years ago, in about 2010, I got some parking tickets from the council. I had Scott & Co send me some letters about them, so I started paying them £10 per month and have been doing so for about 3 or 4 years.
Recently, the direct debit failed because of unfortunate timing of another payment, so they didn't get their money. Instead of contacting me to tell me that the DD had failed and asking me to pay the £10, I got a letter from the bank telling me that Scott & Co had initiated an arrestment on my bank account for the full amount due (about £490). Since this, I have been in contact with them to discuss the situation. Here is a summary:
I contacted them to tell them that the DD had failed and that I would pay the £10 and resume the DD, under the assumption that this would remove the bank arrestment.
They replied saying that the bank arrestment cannot be removed and it must be paid in full.
I wrote back saying that I question the legitimacy of their statement and that their actions are clearly a method used to try and force people into paying in full, given any excuse (e.g. missing one DD payment, once). I also re-iterated that I was not refusing to pay them and that I would pay them £10 per month, as before.
He then replied saying that he can send out a DD mandate etc. to resume the £10 per month payment, but that the bank arrestment would not be removed and the only way to deal with it is payment in full.
Where do I stand on this? I seriously doubt that the only way to remove the bank arrestment is payment in full. This sounds like a method they use to try and fast-track their payments and bully people into paying. It also doesn't make sense that he would offer to set up the DD again, and expect me to pay £10 per month, when the only outcome (apparently) is that I pay the full amount anyway!
The money has already been deducted from my bank balance, but I'm really not convinced that this is a legitimate practice. Any help would be greatly appreciated, since I no longer have a job and have had to move in with my parents, so £500 isn't an insignificant amount of money for me. Full email conversations are available on request, if they are useful. Thanks.
A few years ago, in about 2010, I got some parking tickets from the council. I had Scott & Co send me some letters about them, so I started paying them £10 per month and have been doing so for about 3 or 4 years.
Recently, the direct debit failed because of unfortunate timing of another payment, so they didn't get their money. Instead of contacting me to tell me that the DD had failed and asking me to pay the £10, I got a letter from the bank telling me that Scott & Co had initiated an arrestment on my bank account for the full amount due (about £490). Since this, I have been in contact with them to discuss the situation. Here is a summary:
I contacted them to tell them that the DD had failed and that I would pay the £10 and resume the DD, under the assumption that this would remove the bank arrestment.
They replied saying that the bank arrestment cannot be removed and it must be paid in full.
I wrote back saying that I question the legitimacy of their statement and that their actions are clearly a method used to try and force people into paying in full, given any excuse (e.g. missing one DD payment, once). I also re-iterated that I was not refusing to pay them and that I would pay them £10 per month, as before.
He then replied saying that he can send out a DD mandate etc. to resume the £10 per month payment, but that the bank arrestment would not be removed and the only way to deal with it is payment in full.
Where do I stand on this? I seriously doubt that the only way to remove the bank arrestment is payment in full. This sounds like a method they use to try and fast-track their payments and bully people into paying. It also doesn't make sense that he would offer to set up the DD again, and expect me to pay £10 per month, when the only outcome (apparently) is that I pay the full amount anyway!
The money has already been deducted from my bank balance, but I'm really not convinced that this is a legitimate practice. Any help would be greatly appreciated, since I no longer have a job and have had to move in with my parents, so £500 isn't an insignificant amount of money for me. Full email conversations are available on request, if they are useful. Thanks.
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Comments
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I forgot to mention, they sent me a breakdown of the total debt a while ago and it was full of erroneous costs which I can only assume are their fees. Surely I am not responsible for paying their fees, but only the original debt?0
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I forgot to mention, they sent me a breakdown of the total debt a while ago and it was full of erroneous costs which I can only assume are their fees. Surely I am not responsible for paying their fees, but only the original debt?
Not an expert on this, but here's what National Debtline say about it, (this covers council tax recovery, but it's a similar process) :
https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/factsheets/Pages/03%20SCOT%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Page-05.aspxI’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter0 -
When the revolution comes, these people are first against the wall...I do Contracts, all day every day.0
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