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Thank you for that letter, will get it typed up tonight and off tomorrow record delivery, with a copy to the council. Many thanks for taking an interest everyone, I am really amazed as to how generous everyone is on this site with their time and advice, it is so much appreciated Mixhele

Hi It is Swindon Borough Council. I have gone from being upset and frightened to furious about this. I understand now that the £120 was a van fee but at no time did the bailiff mention this, he said it was "for defaulting, and we can charge what we like, there are no government guidelines" I have asked Chandlers for a breakdown of these costs, bet they put it down as Van fee, then it is just my word against his as to what he called it. Either way, I am determined to take this further as it is disgusting that these people can threaten and frighten you into such a state you will pay anything to get rid of them

Just firstly wanted to say thank you all so much for your help Got nowhere with the council, they were not interested at all, just kept saying that it has gone to the bailiffs so they cant do anything. Spoke to the bailiff again and basically begged him for another day or so to try and get this money together. No luck, he was rude and nasty, didnt listen to a word I said. Said that if it wasnt paid by noon today he would be back with his van and a locksmith. I told him I would be at work and that my teenage daughter would be home alone as she has no college today, again not interested. I asked him how he justified the £120 added fee, just kept saying that they can charge for a default and dont need to forewarn me as they have a walking agreement. he put the phone down me in the end. Have somehow managed to scrape the money together (after having to phone work and tell them I would be late in) by using the rest of this months food money, my sons birthday money which I feel terrible about, smashed open my £2 coin jar which I was saving for my car tax and borrowed £50 off my nan., while feeling like the lowest of the low. Paid the nasty man, still in tears, I asked him for a breakdown of their "fees" and he just laughed and told me to ring head office. I then had to go and do a days work, still very upset and after having no sleep from worrying about this. I appreciate that I was acouple of days late paying this, but have been paying it for months and never been late before, have almost cleared this account until today

Hi I hope someone can help me as I am at my wits end. I have a debt for council tax which I have been paying Chandlers Bailiffs £50 a month for a while, there is £137 left to pay, and I pay every month on 23rd. Tonight I have had a visit from a bailiff from Chandlers who turned up right in the middle of my son's birthday party. he said that I have defaulted on the Fabruary payment and they are now demanding full payment plus £120 immediately, £257!! I said I was unaware of a default, he said that the Feb payment was made on the 26th and not the 23rd. I explained that I get paid on the 23rd of every month, which in this case was a Saturday which means my money doesnt clear until the Monday, therefore the payment went through the following day. he was having none of it, said that even though it was paid, it was still a default and they will be back tomorrow morning to seize goods, with a locksmith if there is nobody in. I am supposed to be at work all day tomorrow. They have a walking agreement from before. I am in a hell of a state, no idea what to do, can they do this?? Is it right to add £120 to the final amount? For what? I queried this with him and they said they can add on what they want for a default. I told him that it isnt a defualt, I paid it, I told him I have had no correspondence from Chandlers about this, he said they dont need to warn me, they can just turn up. I am here alone with my children, in an absolute state, this has ruined my sons birthday and I am terrified they are going to be back banging on the door at 6 am. Then what do I do? I could probably scrape together the £127 but no way another £120 Please can someone help me? I am so frightened [email=abuse@moneysavingexpert.com?subject=Reporting post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=4591062][/email] [/url]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I will undoubtedly be claiming any charges back, trouble is that doesnt help me next week, with no money and 3 children to feed on fresh air! Grrr I HATE banks, and that guy who said to talk to the banks who will possibly help you with returning back the charges, obviously hasnt spoken to anyone at the Halifax!! I wont even waste time on the phone call to them, I know what they will say, they are within their rights to dip in to your account whenever they like, with no notice, and if it makes you go overdrawn then they will whack a few more pounds on to make you suffer abit more. Money to feed your children and live on? Pah, who needs it!!

Next installment! I have sent the letter as advised above off to Halifax re my current account saying the amount is in dispute due to the charges etc. BUT today, have checked my Cardcash account which should have been in credit , only to find the Halifax have helped themselves to £53.00 from this account to transfer to my other account. I understand they can do this (offsetting??) but in the meantime, I had a couple of payments already committed to going out of this account and by them taking 53 quid out, has now caused this account to go overdrawn (surely they could tell on their system before they helped themselves that there were some pending debits waiting to come out?) This account is now also overdrawn, thanks to them, and I am pretty sure they will now turn round and whack a load of charges on this account now too! Also, as it now overdrawn, when my Tax Credit goes in next Tuesday, this will almost all be swallowed up, leaving me no money for food and petrol next week. I phoned Tax Credits people just now to see if they can pay my money into a different account and they said they cant guarantee it will be processed in time for it to take effect. I am so annoyed with Halifax, I know there is very little point in phoning them as they will say they can do this, but has anyone got any suggestions? I am really worried. Thanks

Thank you so much

I have a current account with Halifax which is at present £337 o/d. Of this £235 is due to charges. I have received a default letter from them saying that if I do not pay the amount in full they will be taking further action etc etc. I am not sure what to do now, do I write with preliminary letter template asking for my £235 back and what do I say about their or default letter (I have successfully already claimed back my charges on my Cardcash account) or do I word it differently seeing as they have already written to me? Thanks!

Hi i am on Round 2 with the Halifax. They settled my first claim end of June, now have taken another £300 in charges. Sent prelimary letter and LBA to which no reply at all, not even a standard letter, have now sent them another letter telling them I am taking court action again,still nothing from them. Court papers sent off friday so watch this space!

HI Thanks for your reply. I did pluck up courage to phone them this morning, the lady in Accounts said that the original figure I was quoting from the Walking Possession Form didnt include Levy Fee and Walking Possession Fees which had been added on later. These fees were actually included in the breakdown on the form, and I told the lady as much, turns out they have charged me TWICE on both accounts for fees which had already been included. Naughty naughty. She also said that although I should be charged £1 per transaction, their system had charged me the rate for CREDIT CARDS, although I had paid by Debit Card and she refunded that to the account as well. I was very insistent that it was their error, they admitted that it was and that if I hadnt spotted it, then they probably wouldnt have! She was actually pleasant enough , and said she would amend it immediately on their system and put it in writing as well. I asked if I could pay directly to their bank, she said no that wasnt possible and said I could pay by cheque although they dont send out receipts for them, so I think I will continue to use my Debot Card, as least I know they have definately got it!

Just checked my online accounts with Chandlers before making this months payment, and the starting balance on both accounts differs from the Total Amount Outstanding on the Green Walking Possession Forms I signed ie On Account 1) the starting balance online is £671.36 and on my form it says £615.56 On Account 2) the starting balance online says £661.80 when on my form it says £612.71 Is there a reason for this? ie is there another fee they add on after you have signed the WP Form? I have also noticed that although on the WP form it says that they charge £1.00 per transaction for Debit cards, online they have charged differing amounts from £1.90 to £6.17 as transaction fees. The differences in my balances outstanding are therefore quite large, in account 1) their outstanding balance as showing online is £541.56 whereas it should be £487.56 and in account 2) they are showing it as £322.54 whereas I make it £294.71. A difference of £80 odd over the 2 accounts, that is nearly a month's payment! is there any obvious reason for this that I am missing? I want to get my facts straight before I call them tomorrow, they are not the easiest people to deal with and I will find it very daunting if they insist their figures are correct due to charges I should have been aware of being added on. can anyone advise? thanks michele

As well as wanting my latest Tax Credits Award letter, my court also wanted copies of my last few bank statements to see the Tax Credits going into my account every week. Good luck michele

Just about to fill in my N1 forms for the Halifax, is there a downloadable version of the Exemption from Fees form? (I filled this in last time as I receive Tax Credits and didnt have to pay a fee)

Hi gang Tomorrow I will be issuing my 2nd County Court claim against the Halifax. Not scared this time as I won before so I will do again! Has anyone else succeeded 2nd time around and did they make you close your account like they have threatened me with? (ooh I am so scared!!)