I was, until the Tax year ending March 2015, part time self employed.
I sent my paperwork to DS£ Accounting Ltd (DS£ Acc) every year so they could compile my Tax Return for me.
They did this very well and I was always able to claim a Tax Rebate from HMRC.
Every year, many of their customers sent their paperwork in December or January.
This made it difficult for DS£ Acc to process these accounts in time for the HMRC deadline of 31st Jan.
Therefore, DS£ Acc introduced a surcharge of £50 if the paperwork was not received by them before 31st Oct.
This encouraged their customers to submit their paperwork early to avoid the last minute rush.
I was charged £50 in Jan 2014 for submitting my paperwork late.
I have cleared the fees for their service except for the £50.
Now they have asked for the surcharge of £50.
I have refused to pay it.
Now they have passed the case to P & J Debt Collection Services who have contacted me asking for the money.
Can I use the same legal argument that many of us used to reclaim Bank charges?
I feel that the sum of £50 is excessive as it would not cost DS£ ACC this amount to process my paperwork late.
Any advice including links to the relevant legal clauses which I should use to defend myself
should this case go to court as P & J DCS have threatened.
As you can see from my footnote I have successfully reclaimed a large amount from Barclays which was settled out of court.
I hope that I have used the correct Section for this query if not please advise which Section I should have posted in.