Bailiffs?

Lilycharlotte

I'm not 100% sure if this is the right place for this post.

This morning we had bailiffs come to our door. I didn't answer, as I could tell it wasn't good, and they went away asuming no one was in.

It's for debt which is just £158 (seems a small amount but we can't pay it). It outstnding council tax on the property we have just moved from.

We are due to go to court on September 9th because of this, and then we can set up a payment plan. (The lady at the council explained all this).

So I am unsure as to why we have had bailiffs come around for this debt as I thought it would be sorted out by us going to court and either hopefully being able to pay it off in full or at least start a payment plan.

Can anyone help on this?

I am unsure on whether to call the bailiffs as they can be extremely pushy and I'm not sure what to say to them.

Many thanks
xXx

saffronflowers

hi there

From what I understand the council for your previous property are yet to obtain a liabilty order for the outstanding council tax, and you are going on the 9th September to the Magistrates for the council to obtain one. If this is the case the bailiffs should not be persuing you until the liability order has been obtained and are acting ILLEGALLY.

I have to go out now but will be back in an hour, could you tell me which bailiff company (not hte actual bailiff) and what county concil this is.

DONT OPEN THE DOOR WINDOWS ETC.

Take care

SFx

immoral_angeluk

I'd be very surpised if it were bailiffs... could theyhave been debt collectors from the council?

Herbie21

I share saffronflowers view in that this is most unlikely to be a bailiff.

From what you have said, a hearing has not yet taken place for a Liability Order to be granted and if so, it would be ILLEGAL for a bailiff to visit.

I am a bit confused by the statement from the council concerning setting up a payment arrangement. Did she also tell you that although the debt is only approx: £150 that the council will request at the court that they can add an additional amount of approx: £85 to cover the cost of the Liability Order ?

MOST people do not bother to go to the hearing because unless the amount is wrong or you are not the person named on the order, then the court will grant the Liability Order. In addition, the hearing is not just for one person....these hearing are normally held weekly and as many as 150 to 200 names can be listed on the same date and time.

However I would strongly urge you to go as the court can agree to NOT charge the fees to you, in particular if you explain your financial circumstances.

As mentioned above , most people do NOT go to these hearings. However we heard yesterday of a report from a Magistrates Court in the North that so many people DID turn up at the Magistrates Court that the queue went OUTSIDE of the main doors to the court !!!

Clearly, council tax payers who are in arrears, are now wanting to have their say.....be one of them !!!!