How do Jacobs Bailiffs get away with it?

Sillywhenyoung

Had an arrangement. Was paying it for just under a year. Missed a payment because despite me proving and pleading I couldn't afford their demands they insisted on more than I could afford.

24 hour removal notice comes through the door. £235 fee added onto my debt.
£235 added for a hand delivered letter. This is what I want to know how they get away with it.
They have my address, email and number. No letter, no email, no phonecall or text. And now I'm charged £235 for a hand delivered letter.

National debtline can't help, no-one can help, Jacobs seem untouchable.

How do they get away with demanding more than people can afford, and charge £235 for just a hand delivered letter? How is their practice not looked into? Why can no-one do anything about it?
You can find this fee on their website in the FAQ, enforcement fee. All it is, is a hand delivered letter.

I was happy to pay and was doing so, it was my fault, but these guys....

It is no wonder people end their lives over debt with companies like this, I wish I had that option to be honest.

fatbelly

Because it's set by statute. £235 is the 'enforcement fee' and you gave Jacobs the opportunity to apply it when you breached the payment arrangement at 'compliance' stage.

Just keep paying. You did quite well to get a deal from them over more than 6 months.

Socajam

fatbelly - well said
Let this be a lesson for you when you have debt free.
I had Jacobs on my back regarding my council tax bill, I got that money off my back so fast and never want to see any Jacobs bill or person ever again.
But you made an arrangement to pay, and they expected their money

Sillywhenyoung

I was forced into an arrangement which I couldn't afford, but forced into it none the less.

Because it is in a contract they can issue £235 for just a hand delivered letter? What's stopping them from making it £400.

Can you not see the ill practice here, are you on their side??

sourcrates

Sillywhenyoung wrote: »

I was forced into an arrangement which I couldn't afford, but forced into it none the less.

Because it is in a contract they can issue £235 for just a hand delivered letter? What's stopping them from making it £400.

Can you not see the ill practice here, are you on their side??

It’s not in a contract, it’s enshrined in law by parliament.
Bailiff charges are listed in stages, see here :

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/bailiffs/how-bailiffs-should-treat-you/check-bailiffs-fees/


We are just explaining the reasons why you have been charged, we are certainly not on their side, but you should never agree to something you cannot keep too.

You can always say no to a bailiff, if you felt you were being forced, you should not have agreed to it.

They cannot do anything further should you disagree with what they are asking, bailiffs always want full payment straight away, you should plow your own furrow, pay what you can afford, and nothing more, ignore their bleating.

CIS

Sillywhenyoung wrote: »

Had an arrangement. Was paying it for just under a year. Missed a payment because despite me proving and pleading I couldn't afford their demands they insisted on more than I could afford.

24 hour removal notice comes through the door. £235 fee added onto my debt.
£235 added for a hand delivered letter. This is what I want to know how they get away with it.
They have my address, email and number. No letter, no email, no phonecall or text. And now I'm charged £235 for a hand delivered letter.

National debtline can't help, no-one can help, Jacobs seem untouchable.

How do they get away with demanding more than people can afford, and charge £235 for just a hand delivered letter? How is their practice not looked into? Why can no-one do anything about it?
You can find this fee on their website in the FAQ, enforcement fee. All it is, is a hand delivered letter.

I was happy to pay and was doing so, it was my fault, but these guys....

It is no wonder people end their lives over debt with companies like this, I wish I had that option to be honest.

The Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (and the linked regulations) changed the entire landscape of how enforcement agents work. It was also responsible for increasing the statutory fees for the first two stages from £42.50 to £310.



Nothing in what you have posted seems to indicate that the fees were not charged correctly.