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Equita Council Tax Mess Up
whatdowedonext
Posts: 109 Forumite
Dear All
Sorry to bother you but we're in a really difficult situation and don't feel like we're all to blame but have no option but to pay a lump sum of £500 for 6 weeks council tax.
We have moved out of our home July 08 into rented and had the house repossed Jan 09. We had an outstanding council tax bill from the old property and due to unemployment struggled to pay it. It was referred to Equita and unfortunately my husband let the baliff in and had to sign that if we didn't keep up payments he would remove the tv and computer. My husband found a job and we repayed the amount owing on a monthly basis. In January we had another notice from Equita saying we still owed more money to East Northants County Council. When my husband contacted the council they couldn't find anything o/s at first. Then after digging deep they found a 2nd account that we had no prior knowledge of, nothing had been sent to our new address although the council knew we had moved as we had correspondence from them. The lady said this account had not been updated with the new address . (their mistake).She investigated it but said it had already been passed to Equita and it was too late and we had to deal with them. My husband then rang Equita, they said they'd dig out our details and get back to us. The baliff rang back we gave him the name and contact no of the lady at the council and explained that we did not feel it was fair for us to pay late payment charges and baliff charges for a debt that had been sent to our old address and we were not aware of.
We waited then for the baliff to report back we heard nothing until a removal order came through the post. We rang them to explain that The Baliff had not got back to us. They have now said that if we do not pay £500 by Monday he will enter our house and remove our goods. This is so unfair £500 for 6 weeks council tax for which as confirmed by the council we were not aware of. Nor was the lady who we spoke to until she spent an hour searching. Hope someone can help as we're tearing our hair out with worry. We just don't have that kind of cash and are considering letting the tv and computer go.
Can they still enter the house for a seperate bill? When the original one was settled?
L & R
Sorry to bother you but we're in a really difficult situation and don't feel like we're all to blame but have no option but to pay a lump sum of £500 for 6 weeks council tax.
We have moved out of our home July 08 into rented and had the house repossed Jan 09. We had an outstanding council tax bill from the old property and due to unemployment struggled to pay it. It was referred to Equita and unfortunately my husband let the baliff in and had to sign that if we didn't keep up payments he would remove the tv and computer. My husband found a job and we repayed the amount owing on a monthly basis. In January we had another notice from Equita saying we still owed more money to East Northants County Council. When my husband contacted the council they couldn't find anything o/s at first. Then after digging deep they found a 2nd account that we had no prior knowledge of, nothing had been sent to our new address although the council knew we had moved as we had correspondence from them. The lady said this account had not been updated with the new address . (their mistake).She investigated it but said it had already been passed to Equita and it was too late and we had to deal with them. My husband then rang Equita, they said they'd dig out our details and get back to us. The baliff rang back we gave him the name and contact no of the lady at the council and explained that we did not feel it was fair for us to pay late payment charges and baliff charges for a debt that had been sent to our old address and we were not aware of.
We waited then for the baliff to report back we heard nothing until a removal order came through the post. We rang them to explain that The Baliff had not got back to us. They have now said that if we do not pay £500 by Monday he will enter our house and remove our goods. This is so unfair £500 for 6 weeks council tax for which as confirmed by the council we were not aware of. Nor was the lady who we spoke to until she spent an hour searching. Hope someone can help as we're tearing our hair out with worry. We just don't have that kind of cash and are considering letting the tv and computer go.
Can they still enter the house for a seperate bill? When the original one was settled?
L & R
0
Comments
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I agree you're in an unfair situation but is there any way you can pay the money to stop the bailiff then argue with the council later?
I don't think the bailiff can enter your house anyway unless you let them in.
I'm sure that the council can get the bailiff called off - if they can be bothered :mad:0 -
I'm not sure but I would have thought if it were a different account, with a different number, they would have to go to court to get a separate liability order and can't just lump it with the other account. Which would mean the bailiffs would be back to square one too.Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear0
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Hi Guys
Thanks for input always appreciated and hi Peachy long time no speak :j
Yes due to the lapse in time when we thought they were coming back with details, they got a liability order. The letter we have states that they have one.
Equita advised us to pay it now and argue later to get the money back but everything is so tight at present. If we don't get it back it will be a major struggle.
R & L0
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