Blackburn bar owner's bailiff 'nightmare' (From Blackburn Citizen)

Blackburn bar owner's bailiff 'nightmare'

5:20pm Tuesday 3rd February 2009

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A BAR boss has slammed “aggresive” bailiffs who have pursued him for three parking tickets — adding more than £1,000 in extra charges.

Ronnie Brown, 57, the owner of North Bar in Blackburn, said he and his wife Josephine, 56, had been treated “horrendously” by bailiffs from the Equita group.

In one letter he was warned that bailiffs will “remove property” from his home to “discharge” his debt.

The letter adds: “I will re-attend your address and may remove goods even in your absence.”

Mr Brown, of Kings Road, Blackburn, said: “I have been in the music business for years and had to deal with some unsavoury characters in my time but my experience with these bailiffs has been horrendous.

“We have been bullied and they have demanded exorbitant amounts of cash.”

Just last month the Lancashire Telegraph reported that pensioner Andy Miller suffered a fatal heart attack after being approached by a bailiff wanting to recover a speeding fine.

After receiving three parking tickets last year due to parking problems near the North Bar in Town Hall Street he attempted to appeal the fines.

But after the appeals were dismissed the council passed the fines, which had risen to £143 each, to the Equita agency.

When he was confronted by bailiffs each had risen to more than £366.

Mr Brown said: “I have paid the bills because the bailiffs were so forceful.

"I just wanted to get rid of them and get them away from my house.

"They sent letter after letter and confronted us face to face demanding the cash immediatly.

"I had no choice but to hand over a cheque.

“I was told that they would force entry to my house and take my property to the value of my debt.

“It was scary and has made my wife quite ill.”

He said he is now considering taking the bailiff firm to court to recover the “disproportionate” fine.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said that parking tickets that are not paid after repeated requests are passed to outside agencies for collection.

Bosses at Equita, the largest national private bailiff company in the UK, said they could not comment on Mr Brown’s case.

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HarwoodBiker, Great Harwood says...
5:27pm Tue 3 Feb 09

The funny thing is that (having had a few dealings with these tosspots myself) they ALWAYS say "We can remove your property, even in your absence" - even though, legally, they can't (unless you leave a window open or they have previously gained entry to your house).

They will also try and push past you once you open the door, as once they've set foot inside your house that's it.

They use intimidation tactics to try and get people to pay up. I realise that they have a job to do, but most of them seem to act barely within the law.

Best thing to do with parking tickets is just pay up straight away. They will get you in the end.