Ground rent arrears / Debt collection

Comms69

It's abit confusing but it seems to be charges agreed in your lease. Can you check what it says?

straas

I don't think I've seen a lease for the house, I can check through everything we got when we bought the house though.

CommitedToChange

Did you pay the ground rent when it was requested? If not pay that now at least.

straas

Rather foolishly, no.

I have today paid the £16 - should I also pay their administration charge?

I will pay the full amount if required - but it feels like extortion at the moment.

G_M

straas wrote: »

The demand letter was received 5th December.

I was in the process of querying the administration charge, they have been slow to reply which I put down to the christmas period.

That's very ambiguous! "in the process....." means what? You'd started typing it but not finished?

You received the demand letter on 5th december. Did you or did you not reply to it, and if yes, when & saying what? And did you pay the uncontested £16 you knew you owed?

That was over 5 weeks ago. OK I know Christmas got in the way, but for £16........

And what are the answers to the other Qs?

straas

Hi,

By in the process I mean I had queried it via 3 emails to the ground rent company and was awaiting a reply to the third email.

In terms of the other questions.

I live in the house

I haven't previously seen a demand, the house was being refurbished for the first year we owned it and we didn't live here so it's possible it was delivered and misplaced by a workman.

G_M

I would pay the £16 immediately, and then write (letter - OK send an email version as well) reviewing the history eg

* initial and only demand sent 4/12/17
* 1st email query sent x/12/17
* reply from them, x/12/17
* 2nd email query sent x/12/17
* reply from them, x/12/17
* 3rd email query sent x/12/17
* no reply received

Then query why

a) an admin charge was added to the initial demand. Until that demand was received no ground rent was due, so no admin charge can be imposed
b) they did not reply to your query
c) they referred the matter to debt collectors while negotiations were ongoing

Finally state that you now enclose (or have sent) the ground rent owed of £16, and that you consider the matter closed since they have failed to justify the additional charges.

Their only option if you stick to this will be to take you to court where you argue the points above.

Meanwhile, if you decide to follow this advice, ignore the debt collectors (or refer them back to their client) and do NOT invite them into your home!

Note: all the above assumes these are private debt collectors. If there has already been a court hearing that you missed, and these are court bailiffs, then ignore the above!

dimbo61

Just Google Property Debt Collection ltd and read a few reviews.
Tips on letters to write back and stop rip off charges

straas

I've paid the £16 and send emails to both the ground rent company and debt collectors.

I get the impression they will drag their heels so they can add on additional administration fees?

G_M

straas wrote: »

I've paid the £16 and send emails to both the ground rent company and debt collectors.

I would pay the £16 immediately, and then write (letter - OK send an email version as well) reviewing the history eg

Why ask for advice but then ignore it?