Bailiff Related Advice

DBell87

Perhaps the wrong forum to the bringing this up on, apologies if so.

June 2019 a friend of mine needed help moving house. He can't drive, I can, so we rented a van in my name. We go through Dartford Crossing, he forgets to pay the charge, logs in a few days later and pays the amount requested. He paid £6, as I understand this may have been a misunderstanding.

Anyway, fast forward to today. I get a phone call from some bailiffs demanding £426. They've already been to my old address to try and seize goods, it's very much in the serious stage. To resolve the matter, I make the payment over the phone there and then.

Here's my question. At no point did they try to phone or email me before today. They got my old address, where they were sending letters to, from a scan of my driving licence which the rental company had on file. The rental company also had my phone number and email on file. No question about it, the bailiffs could have contacted me through other avenues.

I want to appeal this, basing my argument on the fact that no serious attempt at contacting through readily available means was made. I was wondering if anyone had any legal advice which could be offered in recouping any/all of this amount? The bailiffs, Marston Holdings, should really know better.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

DBell87 said:

Perhaps the wrong forum to the bringing this up on, apologies if so.u

June 2019 a friend of mine needed help moving house. He can't drive, I can, so we rented a van in my name. We go through Dartford Crossing, he forgets to pay the charge, logs in a few days later and pays the amount requested. He paid £6, as I understand this may have been a misunderstanding.

Anyway, fast forward to today. I get a phone call from some bailiffs demanding £426. They've already been to my old address to try and seize goods, it's very much in the serious stage. To resolve the matter, I make the payment over the phone there and then.

Here's my question. At no point did they try to phone or email me before today. They got my old address, where they were sending letters to, from a scan of my driving licence which the rental company had on file. The rental company also had my phone number and email on file. No question about it, the bailiffs could have contacted me through other avenues.

I want to appeal this, basing my argument on the fact that no serious attempt at contacting through readily available means was made. I was wondering if anyone had any legal advice which could be offered in recouping any/all of this amount? The bailiffs, Marston Holdings, should really know better.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Question. Did you hire and drive the van?

If yes, then you should have paid the charge.

Not the answer you want, but your friend is not responsible. No is your friend your friend. 

DBell87

I recognise that, and am not questioning it.

My question more relates to the bailiffs having not attempted to call or email me, despite having my mobile and email. They waited until after having sent bailiffs round to my old address before phoning me. The van journey was 17 months ago but today was the first time they called me.