Council Tax Arrears vs Funding my BR

blueopal5577

My incomings dont meet my outgoings, even with excessive overtime and night shifts in between days. This month I've got 3 days off, today is one of them, although I'm working a waking night shift tonight and im off tomorrow (so i can sleep). I have fallen behind with council tax and because i still owed £260 from last year when i was off work ill, I got a bailiff letter this morning

I called their 0845 number and spoke to a chap who was actually very nice, helpful and HONEST which as I have terrible anxiety, I totally appreciated.

However, I've had to agree to a repayment plan I could just about afford at my current work rate / cutting back but that means ive got no ******** chance of saving for my BR

I'm getting nowhere and am typing this in tears. Bloody stupid, I got myself into this mess but its just catch 22... I dont pay in order to save the tiny surplus I occasionally get each month, then bailiffs will turn up and I have panic attacks leaving the house, which means I'll end up being too scared to work, and since I dont get sick pay, I'll have no income...

I have no credit cards and tried the credit union to no avail.

I just want to go BR and have a clean slate but it seems as soon as I make some headway (I've got a 1/4 BR fund) but its now going to have to be spent on my council tax arrears.

I'll be studying in october (i cant give up my place, ive fought for ages to get into this small college) and my income will be even lower

I dont know what to do. Loans pre-BR = BRO but ARGH

Feel sick. Just cant do this anymore. Debt is a bloody killer.

Anyway my question... pay council tax or save for BR? Any advice?



(Dont qualify for benefits)

gettingbetter

your council tax arrears would be included in your br anyway so its your call

shadowdragon

Hi

I dont think I could advise you either way as the decision is yours, but remember non payment of council tax could be an prisonable offence!!!

are you still paying your creditors??? The reason I ask is because you say you have no spare income, so are your general day to day living costs (rent, utilities ect) getting you deeper into debt? and if so you really need to look at how you can balance your Income and Expenditure.

fatou256

becarefull as non payment of council tax they wil lpass your file straight onto the bailiff so it is your call .
i have also included my council tax arrear onto my bankruptcy the two month previosuly my BR i stopped paying them but it was very stressfull cause of the bailiff ! i managed somehow to avoid them lol

tigerfeet2006

Blueopal how hmuch have you agreed to pay to the bailiffs? How much have you saved at the moment?

AnnesWitterings

Hi Blueopal

Tigerfeet are you sure that C/Tax arrears can be written off in Bankruptcy...I have filled in my bankruptcy petition with the CAB money advisor yesterday and he said to put my C/Tax arrears on and Council Rent arrears on which I have done.
The bailiff is trying to catch me to do a walking posession order (no bloody chance) and the council lady said that I had no hope in hell of having my rent arrears cleared by bankruptcy.(I am subject to a suspended posession order and pay £5.00 per week and full rent is paid by H Benefit). On the phone the "nice" Bailiff wants to meet to get me sign a payment agreement but says this has to be signed in my home..does he think Im nuts.

Blueopal I know finding the fees are nearly impossible, I have sold my cooker... fridge/freezer/..washing machine/and anything that isnt nailed down to get my full fees together for the 21st August date..I have nothing to sit on except 2 decent armchairs from Freecycle, I just hope I get some help with the court fees.
Are council tax arrears and council rent arrears wiped out on Bankruptcy day there seems to be many confusing answers on here.

Anne
I feel like its a competition between me avoiding the bailiff and my bankruptcy date...he said he would force entry,,,I said try it mister theres laws even for you lot...

blueopal5577

Council tax is definately written off in Bankruptcy. Im not paying creditors now because basically, at first it was become my income and expenditure didnt match, now I have a small surplus when i do enough overtime but cant sort out pro-rata payments and dont want to get into the habit of paying the token £1 to the creditor who shouts the loudest. ('preferential treatment') + I cant open my mail, physically cant from panic attacks (severe chronic anxiety disorder) and after 2 years of trying to write / call / beg the creditors I physically vomit at the thought of negotiating with them. Also cant rely on my income as im a 0 hours contract because of my illness, so that if I get unwell, my income drops (no sick pay) I'm trying to save this tiny surplus to pay for BR, but now ive got to pay £150 council tax a month, my £130 which was saved has to go on that, and ive got no chance of saving in future months.</P>
Blah maybe i need to think of selling my appliances. They were gifts and hand me downs from argos so i dont think id get much. Frightened of getting too depressed to work again. Catch 22.

Argh, sure i'll find a way out somewhere. What goes up, must come down

Purplekylie22

Housing arrears are definetly included aswell Anne, I rang my council as I got a notice of proceedings and they said it would clear all my arrears and after BR they cant evict mebecuase I wonthave the arrears, but that is council,private / HA's may be different.

AnnesWitterings

Blueopal hi hope your feeling better

Is it viable for you to stop paying all your creditors and just your rent and basics...and getting the first available bankruptcy date?? i just bit the bullet and by the time Id got my bankruptcy date me and the bailiffs have been playing hide and seek and building up visit debts for the last two weeks and I still have 2 weeks to go. Im hiding out at my friends house and the next two weeks are going to be a long haul....

My flat looks like its been burgled now, if the bailiffs ever get in maybe they might feel sorry for me and buy me a cushion sorry for being flippant I too have depression problems Ive been diagnosed with Bi Polar and every days a struggle I just hope going bankrupt is going to give me the peace of mind that I crave and be debt free and give me a fresh start, I know everything looks dark at the moment..do you have family near? or a friend thats got a good listening ear or if you feel down PM me and I shall send you my email addy and we can chat if nowt else , sometimes its easier to talk or mail someone in a simliar situation

keep posting

love and best wishes
Annexx

tigerfeet2006

Yes your arrears will be included in the BR. If I were you I would pay your council tax as normal each month to the council and not pay the baliffs what you have agreed to and save yout money for BR.

Give National Debt Line a ring in the morning and go through this with thm and ask their opinion. They will give you some good, clear advice.

debt_doctor

HI, you have received good advice on here re council tax but as for your rent arrears as you are already under a suspended possesion order you must comply with that even during your BR. Your OR will allow this.

DD