Exclusive: Marston Holdings apologises to consumers for ‘enforcement fees’ error
Britain’s biggest bailiff company overcharged people it was pursuing for unpaid debts and has been forced to launch a refunds programme, the Guardian can reveal.
Marston Holdings, which is used by companies and state-funded bodies including Transport for London to recover debts and fines, has apologised to consumers after overcharging “enforcement fees” related to unpaid road traffic penalties it was chasing.
The body that oversees the bailiff sector in England and Wales said the company’s behaviour was “unacceptable” and had breached regulations designed to protect the public from overcharging.
In England and Wales, when a bailiff – or “enforcement agent” – visits someone’s home, a fixed fee of £235 is added to the debt.
