A BUSINESSMAN has launched a campaign to highlight what he claims are the “bullying” tactics used by bailiffs collecting debts on behalf of local authorities.

Peter Troy is taking action after bailiffs, instructed by Durham County Council, tried to charge him £361.84 to cover an unpaid £80 parking fine.

The businessman, of Feversham Terrace, Ferryhill Station, claims that as well as attempting to overcharge him, bailiffs wrongly threatened to attend in the middle of the night to impound his property.

Mr Troy believes his experience, and those of others he has talked to, reveal that bailiffs are bending the rules to recover money.

One issue he believes should be investigated are “phantom” visits, when bailiffs charge for calls to a debtor’s home that were never made.

He also claims that local authorities are failing to ensure debt collection companies are abiding by the rules.

He said: “Bailiffs are clearly using bullying tactics and are demanding money with menaces.

“Councils are failing in their civil obligations to stop them.”

Mr Troy has printed hundreds of leaflets which are being delivered to homes in the region calling on residents with bad experiences of bailiffs to come forward.

He is also hoping to have the issue raised in Parliament.

Mr Troy, who runs a PR business, was issued with a fine after he overstayed in a Durham City car park.

He failed to pay the fine or respond to reminders from the council, claiming he was ill at the time.

The authority then passed the debt to debt collection company, Equita.

After receiving a bill for £361.84, plus a warning of further costs, he took the debt collection agency to court.

When the company failed to show up, the judge at Middlesbrough Crown Court found in favour of the businessman, meaning he just had to pay the original £80 fine minus costs of £24.32.

Mr Troy has made a complaint to Durham Police and has contacted Durham County Council demanding compensation.

In response, Adrian White, head of transport at the county council, said: “We can confirm the bailiffs used were properly certified and any issue Mr Troy has with the bailiffs as to the level of charges is something he must take up with them.

“This is a debt against the taxpayer and it’s only fair for all the other taxpayers that we pursue collection.”

Paul Sharpe, sales and marketing director for Equita, said he could not comment on individual cases. However, he said the company’s bailiffs followed the regulations “to the letter”.

He said charges were dependant on the type of debt being recovered and were inline with the regulations which governed the industry.

􀁧 To contact Mr Troy about bailiffs, email peter.troy@the-publicist.co.uk