Need Help and Advice Please!!!!

benparry23

Through my own foolishness I managed to build up a big backlog of Council Tax and had been paying it off monthly at a rate of £150 per month, with no problems until I got made redundant in December.

I contacted the collection agency straight away and advised them that i may not be able to make the same level of payment as I was out of work and not sure where the money would be coming from. They told me to pay what I could and that someone would call me to formalise the agreement.

No one called!

I called them back and offered them £30 a month while I was unemployed (out of my £60 per week), and they said that wasnt enough and to offer more. I really cant afford any more then that due to other bills and living expenses. I went backwards and forwards with them, as well as the council who said it had nothing to do with them as they had passed the bill over.

The collection company kept calling and I kep explaining the situation, but they told me point blank they werent interested in my situation, they just wanted the money!

Today a bailiff came round and dropped off some letters while I was in the bath advising that I have until Thursday to pay the entire amount (£4k) or else they will remove goods. Now they can take what they want, cos all i have is a tv, dvd player (which broke on Friday!!!) and a PS2, and they wont get there money on those......

But I dont know what to do. I cant borrow the money of anyone (which they suggested, like I hadnt thought of that) but I really dont fancy the idea of prison.

Is there anyone else I can speak to? The bailiff wont even take my calls and he hung up on me last time I spoke to him, when I was trying to cliarify my options. I called the head office and they said whatever the bailiff decides is final as far as they are concerned.

Is it worth me trying to speak to a local councillor? I found out he lives 3 doors away from me.

Would be really grateful for any advice

RAS

You need to pm the details to Herbie21, including the bailiffs names and all the details. Her inbox gets full so keep trying, or call her helpline on http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/

And once you have clarified the situation talk to the local councillor. if you have let this much build up, they are not going to be pleased but s/he might get the council to accept that you cannot pay at the moment.

Herbie21

Please do not take this the wrong way but because of the amount outstanding you need to be very careful indeed that you put something in WRITING right NOW.

That is because with a debt this size it would appear that you have now paid council tax for quite some time and unless you were in claiming benefits, then the council would take this as an indication that you have "wilfully refused" to pay.

Do NOT let the bailiff into your home under ANY circumstances. Instead you must WRITE a letter to offer repayments. I have sent you a message with the password to download template letters from our website.

benparry23

I have spoken with the councill or who was very helpful, and also used the letter from Herbie21.

The councillor managed to get things on hold so I can try and sort things out with the council rather then the bailiffs, and managed to get the head of council tax to give me a call.

The woman at the council I spoke to told me that if the bailiffs come around and see that I dont have enough goods to remove equal to the value of the debt, they cannot take some of it as partial payment, is this correct?

She told me that the only way the debt can come back to the council is if the bailiff sends it back, and that the bailiff cannot do this unless there is insufficient value in my goods when they come around, I just wanted to check this with someone as I wasnt sure if this was correct.

I have left a message for the bailiff to contact me, but want to make sure I am doing the right thing. Does anybody know the rule in and outs of what the bailiffs can take and what they cant?

RAS

Can you PM Herbie21 again.

And please sell everything that might be saleable, befoere the bailiff comes. You will get more for it than they do.

benparry23

Tried to PM Herbie21 but her inbox is full at the moment....

earplugs

Hi Ben

Don't let the bailiffs in to your house. They have no right to come into your property. Make sure you lock the doors and windows. they are not allowed to break their way in to the house (unless you have let them in previously).

I would definately take the advice of the post above and put in writing to the council what your income and expenditure are and what your offer to pay the council tax off at is.

There would have to be a hearing at a Magistrates Court before they could ask for a cusotdial sentence for non payment of CT and you would have your chance at that hearing to put across your income and expenditure form and your offer to the council. You can get an income and expenditure form from national debt line (google national debt line), which you can photocopy and send with your letter to the council.

I would advise you not to let the bailiffs in as if they come in once they can break in the next time. They have no legal authority to break into your home.