Council tax - bill for arrears

Claw_back_money

Hi all
My DD is having a tough time, having dropped out of uni, got into arrears with her rent (which we paid off) and currently living between her BF (also a student) and home with us.
We knew that she had not paid any council tax last year when she was living in a house with students as the sole person working. Too proud to claim benefits even during the weeks she had nil income, she ended the year with debts including credit card, overdraft and us. Yesterday she received a letter from the City Council with a bill for council tax for last year, the term of her lease - 1st July 07 to 31 June 08, which equates to about £700 after discount for being the only person paying. For some of those weeks she was here. 'Here' is a different local authority area.
We know that she will have to pay it and have made that completely clear to her in our phone conversations. Also that we are not going to pay it for her. Please could someone explain the process of what will happen next, obviously the council want her to pay it all by 25th Nov, but she can't.
What sort of sums will councils accept? Is asking to pay £5/week (for example) for the time being too little for them to contemplate? Am I right in thinking that council tax is one of the few debts for which you are looking at bailiffs and prisons? As the letter came to our address (not sure how that happened), how will it affect us?

Thanks in advance
Cbm

paybacktime2008

I'm not sure but i think you can backdate council tax benefit for a couple of months. She can't afford to be proud. She needs to have all payslips etc to hand and see if she can get it reduced at all.

Herbie21

I am sorry to say but you could have a problem. This will lead to bailiff action, I am quite certain of this.

I take it from your post that you are the mother/father. Sadly, the bailiff will like it that post has gone to your address. I say this becuase from a lot of experience we find that the bailiff will try to put pressure on YOU to pay this debt for your daughter. They will know that she can't pay so instead will be looking for a "voluntary" payment from you. The bailiff could not care who pays as long as somebody does.

You must ENSURE thst you write to the bailiff co to advise that this address was for you daughter who no longer lives with you and that you do not have a forwarding address. You need to ensure that you let them know that there is no way possible that you will ever allow a bailiff into your home.

As for the suggestion of £5 per week. This is most unlikely. The bailiff co are under instructions from the council to get payment within this tax year ie: end of March 2008 so they will be looking at spreading this debt over 5 payments.

You daughter MUST apply to the council to get her council tax benefit backdated. This will also hopefully ensure that a hold is put on the account.

Claw_back_money

Thanks guys for your answers. DD has phoned the council, and sent in the following:

Last week I received a bill for council tax for the address xxx for the year beginning 4th July 2007 to 30th June 2008.
Since 1st July 2008 I have lived with my parents at the address xxx
I spoke to two people today (17/11/08) at xx Council on the phone regarding the bill with two queries:

Firstly, to ask if it would be possible to pay in installments as it will not be possible for me to pay the full amount (£687) within seven days. I was told that as I no longer live at this address, it is not possible for me to do this, and that i need to wait for 14 days for a court letter to set up a payment plan, and to pay an extra £54.
Please could you let me know if it would be possible to set up a payment plan sooner, as obviously I want to resolve this as soon as possible and avoid any extra charges.

Secondly, I rang to confirm that I paid half rent in July and August 2007 as I was not living there, but was living and working at the above address in xx with my parents, until the end of September 2007, and moved into the address in xx on 2nd October 2007. I was told that I need to send in my tenancy agreement to prove this.
I then spoke to my landlord who confirmed that he had already sent the agreement to you.
A second person at the Council advised me that you have received the agreement, but that I should email to confirm when I left the property.

I hope this is sufficient to confirm the dates that I moved into and left the property, in order to accurately reduce the amount owed.
Please confirm via email, letter or phone whether this is sufficient, or if I need to send in any more details.

Re bit in red above - is this correct practice?
Cheers
Cbm