COUNCIL TAX, Bailiff interview URGENT

dagnammit

Hi all,

I was told by Council Tax Recovery yesterday (Mon 23rd) morning that they would not accept an offer I'd made to pay off council tax for a previous property. I offered £5 per month, the debt is £650 total. I am self-employed, earning very little money (a few hundred a month). They said they had rejected my offer and that they only thing I could do was agree to pay back £108 per month, or have a bailiff interview tomorrow (Wednesday 25th).

I had no choice but to agree to the bailiff, but am now wondering about it all. Should I let them in? Will it be an 'interview' or an inventorising of all I own (very little, and nothing really unrelated to my work)? I phoned recovery back after agreeing to the interview, and they said it would simply be a case of sitting down and going through what I'm earning and what I'm able to pay.

But now I don't really believe them. On the one hand, I have very little stuff, and will hide my precious things elsewhere. On the other, I'm wary of letting them in just in case they return, legally forcing entry, and catch me off-guard.

So: should I let them in and get it over and done with?
Or should I refuse to answer the door, and let them return the problem to council tax (is this what happens?)?

If anyone can help in any way, please, please reply today to this thread. They are scheduled to arrive at 3pm Wednesday.

best
DG

lesley_mac

I have always been told on here not to let them in no matter what so personally I would not be letting them in I hops someone can come along soon and help you x

tasha-debt

Im bumping you back to the top of the board.

RAS

Hi

Under no circumsntaces do you ever let a bailiff into your house for an interview.

You need to ring Council tax recovery back and ask the name of the company and the name of the bailiff so you can check iof they are registered.

please also note that bailiffs charge for visits.

HalfPint

Put simply....DO NOT EVER let a bailiff into your home...EVER! DO NOT even open the door to them and make sure windows are closed. Once they get in...they obtain the legal right to enter your property again without your permission.

Get back in touch with the council....make sure you have a proper income and expendature form proving that you are only able to pay £5 per month..if you can pay more, do so. Council tax arrears is one debt that, if not dealt with, can land you in hot water.

Contact the CCCS or CAB...they are very helpful and experienced in these matters.

I hope you get it sorted....there is light at the end of it all.

RAS

Send the bailiffs nmae to Herbie21 and read this www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk

Herbie21

I am staggered that anyone could even consider letting a bailiff into their home. NEVER EVER agree to this. The reason for this is SIMPLE.

The bailiff can earn only £24.50 for making a visit.....BUT if you let him in he will then LEVY on goods and charge a levy fee, walking possession fee AND then he can charge the VAN FEE TO REMOVE YOUR GOODS.


Let me please WARN YOU. A bailiff will be wanting to get you to sign a Walking Possession. The SMALL PRINT on this document makes it CLEAR that unless FULL payment is made then bailiff can return in 5 DAYS TO REMOVE YOUR GOODS.

Instead WRITE a letter outlining payment terms but remember that the council will be looking to have repayment within a short period of no more than 6 months. I have sent you the password to download a template letter from our website.

dagnammit

Many thanks, Sheila. The letter looks like a good idea.

I did phone council tax recovery this morning to attempt one more time to enter into negotiations with them regarding a monthly payment amount, but was told that I'd have to pay off another, smaller arrears (£60) that have been accumulating for 3 months before they would consider entering into an agreement on the account under discussion at the moment. And this is the case even if I agree to pay £108 per month on a £650 debt.

I simply don't have the money to pay £60 today. They told me the only choice I have is to see the bailiff.

I don't want to let them in. But I've been told that if I don't, the matter will be returned to the council and they can either force me into bankruptcy or send me to prison. I think bankruptcy can only be forced on anything over £750, but what with the outstanding £60 and the bailiff and other hidden fees, it might well reach that amount.

Committal to prison is unlikely, no? It's not as if I'm refusing to pay. It's that I can't right now. So, I will print out a letter and hand it to the bailiff at the door. Can they call back at any other time, and try to get in? I live with 5 others. I have one room to myself, which I can keep locked. If they enter the house but not my room, do they have walking possession? (I assume so but am also crossing fingers.)

At this point, I'm anxious and curious as to how this will turn out.

DG

aligerdie

Having experienced council tax bailiffs at my door, I can tell you they will give you any old rtubbish just to frighten you.

You haven't refused to pay, so a custodial sentence isn't really an option.
whatever correspondance you send through to the bailiffs, send it recorded, and a copy to the council too.
I would speak to the council again and ask them to take the debt back, as adding bailiff charges on is going to get you into more trouble. The council CAN intervene and instruct the bailiffs to accept a particular amount (as is what happened in my case). Please don't let them fob you off.

I found National debtline helpful (aswell as Herbie) for some support on the phone.

Oh and to add to everyone else, don't open your door, don't let them in. I woudn't give them any correspondance at the door as you will have no proof its been received (it will go missing). Send it recorded, and do it today. (mark it urgent on the council copy)

Good luck

dagnammit

aligerdie wrote: »

I woudn't give them any correspondance at the door as you will have no proof its been received (it will go missing). Send it recorded, and do it today. (mark it urgent on the council copy)

Good luck

Thanks.

As for sending the letter to the bailiffs, the council will not give me an address for him as they claim he is employed by them, and is not a private bailiff. I've been given a last name only (Mills).

dagnammit

Herbie21, your inbox is full. I wanted to check with you: I've been told by Recovery that the bailiff is employed directly by the council and not by a private firm. They told me that any letter to the bailiff must come to him c/o their section. This sound right to you?