Making a bailiff’s complaint need to be carefully thought through before taking action. If your business is visited by a bailiff or a High Court Enforcement Officer to remove goods for the settlement of your debts, make sure you have a good look at The Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014. This will enable you to ascertain whether the charges that have been applied are within the legal limits. If you find the fees you have been charged are unlawful, this template letter can be used to address the inflated fees and communicate your intention to lodge a formal complaint.
[Name and address of the organisation you’re writing to]
[Your business’s address]
[Date]
Dear Sir/Madam,
Account No: [Enter account number]
I am writing to you about the [Enter the type of debt] with the above account number and the breakdown of the fees you have sent us in respect to the [Detail the actions the bailiffs or High Court Enforcement Officers have taken so far and the fees they have added to your existing debt]. Under the terms of The Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014, the amount you should have charged is £[Enter amount].
In fact, you have charged £[Enter amount], which is £[Enter amount] more than you are legally entitled to charge. If you think this calculation is incorrect, please explain why. Otherwise, please [Explain what you want the bailiff to do to put the matter right] by [Give them a 14 days from today’s date to resolve the situation].
I will make a formal complaint about the overcharges unless you can explain why the fees and charges were applicable, or you remove or refund the £[Enter amount] that has been added incorrectly. I will take this complaint to [Enter name of ombudsman or trade association] and have sent a copy of this letter to [Enter name of creditor the debt applied to].
I look forward to receiving your response.
Yours faithfully,
[Your signature]
[Your full name]
[Your trading name]
