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Help! Bailiff woes
tarden
Posts: 41 Forumite
Hello
I'm now in a total panic! I have been off work for some time (over 2 years) and we haven't paid our council tax. It's now got to the stage where the bailiffs are involved.
I've now got a job but the debts from the council had already been sent to the bailiffs.
The situation is as follows:
We owe for last years council tax - (and now council tax for 2008 - 2009!)
As we were in debt denial we ignored the letters, we couldn't have paid anyway.
The debt went to the bailiffs.
They have delivered several letters. Our first response was to phone them and offer to pay via an arrangement - no figures were mentioned.. However, I stressed that we would not sign a walking possesion. I followed this up with a letter offering to make an arrangement.
They replied saying 'unfortunately they could not organise an arrangement in the office' and that a bailiff would call to sign it in our house.
I replied, by letter, telling them that 'we are willing to pay, and want to come to an arrangement, but, 'as we are legally enititled, no bailiff will be allowed into our home, and we will not sign a walking possession'.
They have now sent us - hand delivered - another letter saying they are going to come and 'may remove your goods which can be done as the law directs with regard to removal of assets to sell at public auction to clear the above debt under the liability order that we hold'.
Can someone tell me what the situation is here? I have only been back in work since this debt was incurred. We couldn't afford to pay it before. We can only pay it via an arrangement. We're not on high wages by the way and we live in London, if that's relevant.
Can they break in?
What can we do?
I would be really glad if anyone could help.
Please don't post if you want to say it's all your own fault anyway, that's not going to help anyone.
Thanks...
I'm now in a total panic! I have been off work for some time (over 2 years) and we haven't paid our council tax. It's now got to the stage where the bailiffs are involved.
I've now got a job but the debts from the council had already been sent to the bailiffs.
The situation is as follows:
We owe for last years council tax - (and now council tax for 2008 - 2009!)
As we were in debt denial we ignored the letters, we couldn't have paid anyway.
The debt went to the bailiffs.
They have delivered several letters. Our first response was to phone them and offer to pay via an arrangement - no figures were mentioned.. However, I stressed that we would not sign a walking possesion. I followed this up with a letter offering to make an arrangement.
They replied saying 'unfortunately they could not organise an arrangement in the office' and that a bailiff would call to sign it in our house.
I replied, by letter, telling them that 'we are willing to pay, and want to come to an arrangement, but, 'as we are legally enititled, no bailiff will be allowed into our home, and we will not sign a walking possession'.
They have now sent us - hand delivered - another letter saying they are going to come and 'may remove your goods which can be done as the law directs with regard to removal of assets to sell at public auction to clear the above debt under the liability order that we hold'.
Can someone tell me what the situation is here? I have only been back in work since this debt was incurred. We couldn't afford to pay it before. We can only pay it via an arrangement. We're not on high wages by the way and we live in London, if that's relevant.
Can they break in?
What can we do?
I would be really glad if anyone could help.
Please don't post if you want to say it's all your own fault anyway, that's not going to help anyone.
Thanks...
0
Comments
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I'm not 100% sure matey so wouldnt like to comment in case im wrong but have a search through the threads as im sure theres some info you can read until some one in the know replies x0
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Herbie 21 is the person you need to speak to, she is an expert on Bailiffs, I don't have email on this daft laptop as of yet, if I find her username, do you know how to PM her?
Merlot.x."Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does, except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place." — Abigail Van Buren0 -
This is Herbie21 pm address, she is an expert on Bailiffs, simply ask what her to look at this thread for you and await her outcome.
Merlot.x."Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does, except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place." — Abigail Van Buren0 -
Can anyone of you lovely peeps find a link to Herbie21 website, my laptop keeps crashing and I am unable to do it."Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does, except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place." — Abigail Van Buren0
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Thanks to both mommyme and merlot for taking the time to reply.
Much appreciated. You can now remove the PM addy for Herbie21 as I've sent a PM.
Anyone else, or should I wait for the expert?0 -
Herbie21 is the real expert on here, she has a website too, I'm still trying to find it and then I'll post it here for you, it has tons of info on there.
Merlot.x"Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does, except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place." — Abigail Van Buren0 -
"Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does, except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place." — Abigail Van Buren0
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Merlot, many thanks, I'm sure when Herbie21 finds time she'll reply to my pm. In the meantime good luck to you and yours!
Maybe there'll come a time when this is all over.
Here's hoping.
Tarden0 -
'They have now sent us - hand delivered - another letter saying they are going to come and 'may remove your goods which can be done as the law directs with regard to removal of assets to sell at public auction to clear the above debt under the liability order that we hold'.
See this is the bit I don't get. I don't see how they can say this if you haven't signed a walking posession order. I don't suppose they have gone back to court? Did you have any court papers about this debt?
Herbie will of course be able to help you better than me, but when you see this tomorrow, perhaps it will give you a head start in having a look again at the paperwork
chevI want a job that is less than an hour driving away from my house! Are you listening universe?
0 -
i would also contact the council regarding this years debt they will be able to come to an arrangement with you about it. which bailiff is it some are worse than others and we can then warn you what tactics they will use.
also did you check to see if you are eligable for council tax benefits while you were off work?? it may be worth checking it out as it could reduce the debt slightly for you.
you are right to only contact them via post. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO THE BAILIFFS IF POSSIBLE SPEAK TO THEM FROM AN UPSTAIRS WINDOW!!LBM apr 2008,£94,761 :eek: Mad Ebay challenge #71 £2000/£106.62DFD [STRIKE]DECEMBER 2024[/STRIKE] OCTOBER 20130
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