Jacobs Debt Collection

BrianWalsh

Hi all,
I was after some clarification on a situation. I moved out of an address last year, I told the local council (Sefton) that I had moved out and as far as I knew my council tax was up to date. However a few months ago I ignored a call from Jacobs debt collection agency and after some investigation I discovered that I still owed some council tax. I contacted the council and payed off the money I owed.

However the arrogant person I have been dealing with keeps pointing out I am still going to be pursued by Jacobs for the fees they incurred regarding a court summons I didn't attend and them trying to contact me.

My stance on it is !!!! Jacobs, I have never dealt with them in any way shape or form so how can I owe them anything as I made no agreement or contract with them. I couldn't have known about a court summons from an address I no longer lived at.

So I suppose the question is have they got any legal grounds to chase me on this still? If so how is this possible as they are basically a company saying "Hey we tried to contact you about money you owed to someone else and are charging you for the privilege" which is ridiculous.

Thanks,
Brian

[Deleted User]

Yes, they have legal grounds, as the costs of collection are generally stipulated in the contracts.

I would try to come to a settlement with them as they're unlikely to walk away.

BrianWalsh

Thanks for the reply.
Apart from sending letters to my old address they also had my phone number and email address on file but no attempt was made to contact my by these methods (I checked my phone history and email history) so does this put the council in a position that they didn't make a reasonable effort to contact me?

[Deleted User]

No, it doesn't.

CIS

BrianWalsh wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
Apart from sending letters to my old address they also had my phone number and email address on file but no attempt was made to contact my by these methods (I checked my phone history and email history) so does this put the council in a position that they didn't make a reasonable effort to contact me?

The council are not required to make any effort to contact other than to issue all paperwork to the last known address. They may go above that but it's at their own discretion.

So I suppose the question is have they got any legal grounds to chase me on this still? If so how is this possible as they are basically a company saying "Hey we tried to contact you about money you owed to someone else and are charging you for the privilege" which is ridiculous.

The fees that are charged are set in legislation and, under this legislation, they are payable by you on the basis that the council felt that instructing the enforcement agents was a power they wished to utilise.

BrianWalsh

Great, thanks for the clarification. I shall contact them to clear it up.

Brian