Jacobs letters regarding school dinners debt

[od1]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here although I have been a visitor to this site for a very long time and have made much use of the fantastic advise given.

 

I've tried giving a bit of background without boring you!

 

Last week I received a claim form through the court from the council for a debt of school dinner money from last year. This came totally out of the blue, it's the first I have ever heard of any money I owe on school dinners so I've been on to the school to get figures from them to begin with.

 

The first issue I have is that the claim form stated that 'despite repeated requests by the claimant via letter, invoice and letters before action, and similar requests by the claimants recovery agents, the balance remains unpaid. The defendant has not provided any reasons for non payment.'

 

I can honestly say that I have not seen anything about the debt from anyone! The school normally sends a reminder if we are 2 weeks in arrears and I think I've had one of those a long time ago, but I paid what i owed and didn't hear anything else about it.

 

Now, I've been onto Jacobs and asked to be provided with details of the letters they had sent. I was told that wasn't possible as the case had been closed. I was then told that a bailiff had also called round to my house and left a card when there was no answer. Then today, I have received copies of all the letters supposedly sent by Jacobs, all dated 19.10.12 with a note stating that copies of the originals could not be sent but provided a list of the dates the originals were sent. Also a copy of the letter supposedly left by the bailiff. I'll say it again, I have never seen these letters before.

 

Also, the date the bailiff supposedly called was Easter Saturday, we had visitors staying and there were at least 3 people in my house at any one time all that day and we didn't have anyone knocking the door or any letters/cards left. The woman at Jacobs said the bailiff would have had a GPS pen or something that would position him at my house at the time stated but to see that information I would have to pay £10.

 

I'm sure that mistakes have been made. The claim covers 2 periods of supposedly non payment of dinner money. The second time was for the term before summer. I must have known I owed the money because I made a payment online during the first week of september. The council said they sent a letter telling me I owed them that exact amount a few days later. I didn't see any such letter. I have my bank statement proving I made the payment yet they are trying to put it on this claim form!

 

Sorry for the in depth rant, what I really want to know is what to do about the letters supposedly sent by Jacobs. I really don't think they were ever sent but I don't know how I could prove it. Can anyone give advice please?

[MARTIN3030]

What is the value of the claim and the date of issue ?

[od1]

£108.38

15 Oct 2012

[ploddertom]

Did they definitely state Jacobs were attending as Bailiffs?

[unclebulgaria67]

In this situation, I would phone the school and ask for a meeting with the head master, so that I could address the issue. Take all the paperwork you have with you. Perhaps it may not be the responsibility of the head, but they can look into this.

 

I suspect for the amount involved, perhaps any bailiff company would not see it as worthwhile to pursue, but may have a contract with the school.

[od1]

Yes it was definately Jacobs.

 

I have an appointment with the school tomorrow. I'm trying to gather as much information as possible.

 

I know it's not a lot of money, I'm just extremely unhappy with the unfairness of it all! And the people on the end of the line calling me a liar!

[MARTIN3030]

How could they attend as Bailiffs without a Court order ?

[brassnecked]

How could they attend as Bailiffs without a Court order ?

They can't but may well intimate that they are, it is possible that Jacobs are the in house DCA as well as bailiff for the council, so would get the account.

[ploddertom]

Jacobs will have been opreating as Debt Collectors http://www.jacobsbailiffs.co.uk/services/sundry-debts-recovery/3 but I'd like to bet their paperwork is headed as Bailiffs, if so may be they should be reported to OFT.

[dx100uk]

yes we've seen this before

 

there is ofcourse the infamous marshall hoare bailiffs - a dca!

 

and phillips bailiffs whom sent out letters under their DCA wing on using thier bailiff letterheads.

 

dx

[brassnecked]

Complaint to OFT under Credit Fitness is in order if the letter is headed as Jacobs as bailiffs, in order for them to attend as bailiffs there would have to be a CCJ in place, and there would have been a summons issued etc before they could attend as bailiffs. In this case it looks like as hallow and DX say, misrepresentation by a DCA as to them attending as bailiffs.

[seanamarts]

Yes it was definately Jacobs.

 

I have an appointment with the school tomorrow. I'm trying to gather as much information as possible.

 

I know it's not a lot of money, I'm just extremely unhappy with the unfairness of it all! And the people on the end of the line calling me a liar!

 

Hi od1, any news with your visit today.

 

I have to agree with others that Jacobs are acting as debt collectors but misrepresenting themselves as bailiffs.

 

I would place a formal complaint with the council who involved them.

[od1]

Hi all, just found this old thread and wanted to put a little update.

 

the inability of the school and the council to communicate caused the problem.

 

It turned out I owed the grand sum of £1.80 (!!!!!!!!).

 

I couldn't get anywhere with Jacobs,

 

during a telephone conversation with a Jacobs representative I was told that there was no agent in my area

on the date they said one called,

 

I was told the conversation was being recorded but surprisingly,

 

the recording could not be found at a later date!

 

In my view Jacobs are outright liars and I worry about the people that fall for their tricks.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's help.