Rossendales & Council Tax: "Recommendation for Commital to Prison". Nonsense?

Frank_Martin_2

I've spent a bit of time on Google looking for information about this but can't find anything about Rossendales themselves. I'm behind on some Council Tax and Rossendales have on course been on the case for a while. I've never entered into an agreement with them. Got a letter in the post today saying because I haven't cleared this debt they're going to 'go back to the Local Authority with a recommendation that they submit an application for you to be committed to prison'.

Debt collectors try all sorts of nonsense but obviously I'm not going to ignore this until I know it's just their usual B.S.

Can anyone clear this up for me? Thanks.

fermi

Unless you are able to pay the bill in full and are simply (or "wilfully") refusing to do so, it is never ever going to happen.

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

RAS

Once this debt gets back to the council, you need to arrange to pay it off as fast as you can. Otherwise, commital is an option, not likely but an option.

However, you may find the council easier to negoitiate with.

Frank_Martin_2

This part of your link appears to be key:

We have received many reports that bailiffs collecting council tax have either stated at the door or by letter that unless the entire debt is paid in full or that you allow the bailiff into your home to remove goods, that he is going to the court to apply for you to be taken to prison. This is nonsense and the bailiff has no such power. He is using this threat as a means of either making you pay straight away or making you borrow the money instead.

I'm going to be made bankrupt in about five weeks or so. Am I right in saying that because this debt with the council tax is in both of our names, it will transfer fully over to my wife (who is not going BR)?

Thanks for your help.

Frank_Martin_2

RAS wrote: »

Once this debt gets back to the council, you need to arrange to pay it off as fast as you can. Otherwise, commital is an option, not likely but an option.

However, you may find the council easier to negoitiate with.

I would agree. But I've tried the council before and they always tell me I have to speak to Rossendales.

Does anyone have any experience how quickly Rossendales act upon this threat? i.e., the letter is dated February 18 (but only received today, February 24th). Do they write to the council in a week, month etc?

RAS

Frank_Martin wrote: »

Am I right in saying that because this debt with the council tax is in both of our names, it will transfer fully over to my wife (who is not going BR)?

Yes. So she you will need to make arrangements to pay.

webitha

frank whatever you do DONT ignore this


for my sins i used to work for RCB and they are not debt collectors, but certificated bailiffs that work on warrant for councils i am going back 15 years now, and they were not nice then either, but in my time their once the concil passes it over to them, its very hard to pass back coz they used to refuse (not their problem anymore)


and yes as your wife is not going bankrupt they will go after her for the money

Frank_Martin_2

webitha wrote: »

frank whatever you do DONT ignore this

for my sins i used to work for RCB and they are not debt collectors, but certificated bailiffs that work on warrant for councils i am going back 15 years now, and they were not nice then either, but in my time their once the concil passes it over to them, its very hard to pass back coz they used to refuse (not their problem anymore)

I won't ignore it as I/we need to clear this debt, as it's one that isn't going to go away. The amount outstanding is from a few years ago, when I was unemployed for almost a year. It's about £1140. Will they take 5%/month payment, i.e., £57? They've had nothing up until now.

Cheers for your help.

RAS

Frank_Martin wrote: »

The amount outstanding is from a few years ago, when I was unemployed for almost a year. It's about £1140. Will they take 5%/month payment, i.e., £57? They've had nothing up until now.

Cheers for your help.

Were you not entitled to council tax benefit for this period?

Frank_Martin_2

RAS wrote: »

Were you not entitled to council tax benefit for this period?

No. I was made redundant and thought I'd take a month's break after a lot of stress. That month turned into several when I couldn't find a job, but didn't qualify for benefit because I'd been self-employed previously and hadn't made enough N/I contributions (to my chagrin). My wife was also working and we wouldn't have qualified for council tax benefit anyway, but things quickly got on top of us.

The amount is outstanding. It's just a question now of finding the best way to clear it in a way that is most comfortable to us, especially with my current situation.

RAS

frank

CT is a priority debt, which means that you pay it rather then other debts in your portfolio. So if you are going bk, stop paying everything else and start saving towards the CT.