Council Tax debt + Baliffs = Stress

understrain

Ok where do i start, Just looking for some advice really please people as I owe £234.04 pence in council tax from a previous address. I have been pretty silly to be honest and ignored letters from The baliffs company Equita for some time, but now i have removed my head from the sand and realized i have to pay. I recieved a letter this morning hand delivered stating removal notice and i also recieved a green form 7 titled Notice of seizure and inventory of goods with both of my cars listed in this section. I noticed on the green form that the baliff had added on £150 for the pleasure of posting this letter through my door, Can they do that? I called him up on his mobile offering to pay the full outstanding amount if he removed the £150 charge, he would not accept this, things got a little heated and it ended with him basically saying my cars will be towed away to pay the bill. I would be gratefull if anbody could please advise the best course of action as the last thing i need is my cars being inpounded. Many thanx in advance

understrain

anybody???

cyclura

Hey there,

I do not know if this will be any help but when I was in major arrears with my council tax, and it was a similar scenario to yours I rang up my council and talked to them, they can still take the debt back and I arranged with them to pay it off over the phone, the bailiff was then not needed and the counil informed them of that. I am in North Devon District Council, and I know all councils work slightly different but it might be worth giving your council a call and seeing if they will do the same, be honest though we were, I told them I just had my head in the sand and I am not happy with the (for me) £120 excess charge the bailiff are asking for posting the letter and due to the large amount it will take me longer to pay it off," I can pay the original outstanding balance with you now", I did only get charged the original outstanding balance and the debt was cleared.

I hope that waffle might help a bit if not I am sure someone with some professional experience will be able to help.

Good luck

dancingfairy

Um to be honest they can charge fees but there is a set amount they can charge - although I am not sure how much it is per visit -sorry.
I believe they can also take your cars - and stuff from your house to sell to repay the debts.
How long have you got to pay it?
Can you borrow this money from a family member or anyone to get them off your back?
Draw up an accurate SOA - how much can you realistically afford to pay them back a month? you need to get hold of the council and make a realistic proposal and they may take the debt back from the bailiff.
You could also try phoning National Debtline for advice as well.
Good Luck
df

understrain

thank you very much. i will give that a go, do you know what the maximum amount baliffs can charge , as there must be some sort of limit on this

understrain

The point is i can pay the original debt off in full but no way am i going to pay the £150 charge which is extortionate in my opinion

dancingfairy

check out bailiffadviceonline
(I think that's it) - see if it gives the amount bailiffs can charge there.
df

Jesthar

understrain wrote: »

The point is i can pay the original debt off in full but no way am i going to pay the £150 charge which is extortionate in my opinion

It's possibly illegal, too.

Have a look at this website:

http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/

That site is run by the lovely poster here Herbie21, and should answer a few questions, and I think Herbie also responds to PMs sent to her here.

The other thing you must to ASAP is move your cars somewhere else well away from your house, just in case the baliff does decide to try and take them, or clamp them until you pay up. If he can't find them, he can't take them...

Sorry I can't be more help...

~Jes

roughyed

www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk and herbie21 offer great advice.

I had similar trouble with Equita in that they wouldn't tell me what the charges were for unless I paid them.

I contacted my local counciller and got the debt returned to the council. Most of the charges 'disapeared' when it was returned to the council funnily enough! (they can charge set amounts for the first and second visit only, and then more charges when they take stuff away.)

I would say park your cars elsewhere if possible.

RAS

Please pm Herbie21 as you need her help urgently.

Unfortunately, with the cars parked outsidem he had done a walking possession order. I am not sure if this is fully legal as you did not sign it, so you need to read Herbie's site or pm her for advice.

he is probaly charging you £24.50 for the first visit (legal) and then a fee for the WPO (also legal i Think) Herbie can quote capure and verse onthis.