Help please, Bailiff and council tax disaster

AGB863

Herbie21 wrote: »

It is VITAL that you write to the bailiff co. The letter from RAS is very good . Always remember that if there is no car outside and you REFUSE to allow the bailiff into the house he will have to send the debt back to the council. HOWEVER, before he does this he will NORMALLY tell you that he will be arranging for you to be sent back to court so that you could be sent to PRISON.

PLEASE take NO NOTICE of this. This is the ultimate scar tactic that many companies....in particlar this one use if they cant collect a debt.


Stick to sending the letter as mentioned by RAS.

Just to confirm what Herbie said - it is not the bailiffs who send the account back to court - that is up to the local authority who are owed the council tax money and that is a decision they can make once it is returned from the bailiffs.

The bailiffs will if they are unable to collect the outstanding monies will send the account back to the L/A us uncollectable, but they will try all types of ways with letters saying they will call with a van to remove items.

A bailiff collecting council tax has to gain peacefull entry to the property and even if you open the door to them you do not have to let them into the property.

dotstar24

debttornado wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for your replies. The two that arrived today, both with the same company, Rossendales, I knew we owed but we had not had any recent contact as it was for a few years ago (and 3 properties ago). The amounts are similar to the amount we owed the council - 2 different years of debt but not sure which. I don't think Rossendales have added extra onto the bill. Newlyns have reduced their fees to the statutory amount for 2 visits (but for both companies we only have a HO address and name as no one has ever called at the house).

I'm not disputing what we owe - I just don't know how to tackle it all. It is all too big and too scary so I don't know where to start to sort it out.

I've got a Rossendales bailiff coming round mine tomorrow. hang in there mate xxx

debttornado

Thanks so much. Our car is on HP - could they still try to take it?

Lara44

Hi debt tornado - have you done an SOA to work out if you can save anything from your monthly spends to put towards the council tax debts? Info is here - http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Can you get a second job / overtime to clear the council tax debt? If you could pick up something extra it could help get the bailiffs out of the picture. How about any bits to sell on ebay? You would be amazed at the things that sell there. Any books you could sell on Amazon, or CDs on Musicmagpie? Just remember that every little sum of money - even £1, £2, £10 is important, every little extra helps. Check out this guide from Martin - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/make-money

How about reclaiming bank charges, or credit card or loan PPIs if they were mis-sold? It is quite common so would be worth checking in the forum here - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-loan-insurance

Try your best to put the stress aside. You have made a brilliant start in your debt busting. Follow the wise advice on bailiffs here and throw every penny at the ctax debt.

Keep posting

Lara x