BAILIFFS

[hifi]

WE HAD A VISIT FROM BAILIFFS YESTERDAY, DH HADNT PAID A PARKING TICKET FOR £155.
they said they had sent a letter in feb, we didnt get it, so the whole bill came to £644, thats £489 for bailiff services. i tried to look up on the net while they were outside and lots of sites mentioned reasonable charges but didnt really specify.
is this what they can really charge?

would like any info on what anyone else has done, challenged them on costs and won. this isnt the first time its happened and dh is usually organised in paying them.

Bailiffs do not have free rein to charge whatever they like. They will have entered into a contract with whichever organisation they are collecing for, whether it's the local authority or the courts. You can ask to see their schedule of fees and evidence that they have done what they are charging for. You can also ask for evidence that the original debt is outstanding.