claiming back bailiff fee over wrongly accused business rates

train050

hi all, 
I lease a very small unit for storage (no business). I recently had a bailiff knock on my door saying I owed a very considerably amount to the local council in business rates (over 10k). 

evidently it had been taken to court, judgement made against the unit, to then me. I had to pay the bailiff at least his fees (over 1k) to make him go away and give me a month to sort with the creditor (council) which I did. 

I then contacted the local council who told me I shouldn't have been billed, even if I had a business there its far too small of a unit to pay business rates. they have wiped the business rate debt and said no further action will be taken. 

my question is can I claim back the money I paid to the bailiff for his bailiff fees given I shouldn't have been billed in the first place by the council? if so what would be the best way to go about this?

TheAble

Maybe contact the court?

sourcrates

Written complaint to the bailiffs head office, explain what has happened.

If they refuse to comply, then your only recourse is through the legal system, like everyone else.

Jude57

TheAble said:

Maybe contact the court?

The court don't instruct bailiffs for business rates, it's the Council who do it. I agree with @sourcrates that a written complaint to the bailiff first, then to the Council. If neither of those get your money back, contact your local Councillor, they'll take it up for you. If all that fails, small claims. It's unconscionable that you should pay enforcement costs for a non-existent debt and I don't see that a court would disagree.