What is a fair charge for writing a letter

pat2lis

A debt I owed has been handed to a Debt Collection company. They have added £40 to the debt and the only thing they have done so far is write a letter informing me they will start proceedings if the amount is not paid in 14 days.
Can they do this ? Surely by law they can only add on their costs, and I dont see how writing one letter adds up to £40.
Any suggestions on how I should proceed.
Obviously I do not want to end up with CCJ's against me and the original debt is not a huge amount.
Thanks

Panda1rimshot

Hi, I too have problems with a company called British Credit Trust charging for letters at £25.00 per letter. I have tried and tried to find out on the internet if this is legal or not... No luck as yet to that information. So I ask...is there any law against us ordinary household people sending letters back (actually hand written) not automated, and charging the companies who we send the letter back to? After all it is polite to acknowledge there letters informing them you have recieved there letter and will sort things out..So why not charge for it? We have to buy the paper, spend time writing it...SO LETS CHARGE FOR IT!!!!!!!