Review of bailiff charges

The request was partially successful.

Dear Cheshire West and Chester Council,

Can you tell me when the last review of bailiff charges allowed in respect of collection of council taxes took place?

And following that review (if any) what changes took place as regarding charges?

Yours faithfully,

geoff kelly

Cheshire West and Chester Council

RE: Your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Case Reference: 101001747346

Dear Mr Kelly

Thank you for your email of 7 January 2014 and timed at 21:08.

It will be treated as a request within the meaning of the Act: this means that we will send you a full response within 20 working days, either supplying you with the information which you want, or explaining to you why we cannot supply it.

If we need any further clarification or there is any problem we will be in touch.

In the meantime if you wish to discuss this further please contact me. It would be helpful if you could quote the above log number.

Yours sincerely

Ruth Winson
Solutions Team

Cheshire West and Chester Council

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Ray McHale left an annotation ()

I am not sure that the Council would set the charges - or have any say in them, or when they are reviewed - other perhaps than being aware of them when they commission the service from the bailiffs . This might allow them to choose between different bailiffs with different charges - although they may use more than one company. It would be interesting to know if the bailiffs are paid a flat rate or a commission (proportion of money collected), or a combination of the two. Often they take the first share of any money collected. I don't know if bailiffs charge the customer a set rate - or per visit, etc.. They may well charge the council a set amount if they don't manage to collect anything. Otherwise the charges are usually just added to the customer's bill, and paid first from any money collected.

FOI West, Cheshire West and Chester Council

Dear Mr Kelly

 

Thank you for your request for information of 7 January 2014 which has
been logged as 1747346 and has been dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.  I confirm that Cheshire West and Chester Council
hold information relating to your request and am able to provide you with
the following response.

 

For the purpose of clarity,  I have reproduced your request and append the
answers beneath each question:

 

Can you tell me when the last review of bailiff charges allowed in respect
of collection of council taxes took place?

3 years ago

 

And following that review (if any) what changes took place as regarding
charges?

Relevant bailiff charges are continually being reviewed to ensure that
they are reasonable.  Since Cheshire West and Chester Council was formed
in 2009 there have been no increases in bailiff charges.

 

I trust this answers your enquiry.

 

The Council considers that your request has been answered in full by
either confirming that information is not held, providing you with the
information requested, or explaining why any information has been withheld
and the reasons for any redaction.    Where applicable, the Council has
also told you the reasons for the delay in responding to your request.

 

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled you can request a review by writing to the Solutions Team within

40 working days from the date of the Council’s response.  You are entitled
to a review by the Council if:

·         You are dissatisfied with the Council’s explanation of why the
application was not dealt with within the 20 working day time limit.

·         All the information requested is not being disclosed and you
have not received an explanation why some information is not being
disclosed.

·         A reason for the disclosures under the request being refused is
not received.

·         You consider that exemptions have been wrongly applied, and/or

·         You consider that a fee has been wrongly applied.

Please set out your grounds for seeking a review together with what
specific part of your request those grounds apply to and the outcome you
are seeking.  The Council reserves the right to ask you for clarification
of the grounds for your review request if the grounds are not clear, and
to delay commencing the review if such grounds are not provided.

 

The Solutions Team can be contacted by email via: 
[1][Cheshire West and Chester Council request email] or at the following address:

 

Solutions Team

Cheshire West and Chester Council

HQ

58 Nicholas Street

Chester

CH1 2NP

 

The Solutions Team will acknowledge a request for an internal review
within 5 working days and complete the review as soon as possible and no
later than 40 working days from receipt of the request.

 

More information about the Council’s internal review process can be found
via:
[2]http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk...

 

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your review, you have
a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

 

Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45

Website: [3]www.ico.gov.uk

 

There is no charge for making an appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ruth Winson

Solutions Team

Cheshire West and Chester Council

 

 

 

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geoff kelly left an annotation ()

Ray see my other requests...
There is a huge difference between company's charges and it should not be a lottery for people as to what charges they get..

I also think over charging by the attendees is rife in the industry and needs urgent review..

Ray McHale left an annotation ()

Thanks

Ray