Rossendales and the mess im in, please help im scared

[Deleted User]

i must aplogise in advence for a lenghty post
Im 24 living with my partner also 24 and two kids, i have spent alot of of my past on incapacity benefit due to severe panic attacks and depression, after sometime i moved onto job seekers to no avail and eventually my partner found work, my JSA claim had to be stopped and we moved onto working/family tax credits. i have since been bring up my children and out off work

My partner has struggled with bills for last few yeas, last year we had dealing with PHILPS Ballifs for Council tax and where paying around £45 for that years bill and money owed for the year before, during november-december my partner missed a few payments here and there. (Xmas cost of moving etc)

We moved to a new house in Jan and contacted the Council to inform them, i asked what the remaing bill was the old property was and told it was clear!?.

A few weeks later we receive a letter for around £1000 from Rossendales initially we called and they wanted it all now or a van was coming, and no chances becasue of my partners bad history. without a doubt the most nasty people i have ever dealt with, took hours to get through to after many disconnects etc
we called them and they said its best to speak with the ballif as hes coming if your not paying it all today. he said was busy and would be just be here in a few days, our family warned us to check our rights etc and we asked the CAB for help they said point blank dont let him in..he turned up around 5 days later then stated on the phone, we stood at the door and said sorry you can come in. "relax its not at vanning stage just take these forms" he said and left
We went back to the local CAB as they help us manage several (12) other debts which we currently only pay £1 to each per month, as litterally dont have any more to give and have been doing so for around 14 months, They wrote us an expendita? form and faxed it to Rossendales with and offer of £25 a week which is what we were payng the council before it was passed over, We had a replied saying thanks for the offer and we want £40 a week we called an they said. "we have split you bill into two halves you'll pay for 40 a week till the first 500 is done then you start paying the other 500, so if even we could scrape they first 500 today we would automatiicaly start paying the next 500 would still we cant do!. they said well expect a ballif soon. what the hell can i do everone else in past has agreeded to my offers i have put to them, can they refuse it?

i can post more figures etc if need be, my partner has a drink problem, most our family managing our finanaces but even our local CAB say we have no choice, they say cut back and stop paying everything that isnt priority? but wont that just makesthigns worse in the long run with more ballifs chasing me in months to come for not paying my other bills now?

I have had several panic attacks and im heading down hill fast where scared please help me we are both in mess and have run out of options

Georgie4

Hi

First things first don't panic. In your situation bailiffs etc will say whatever they need to to try and get you to prioritise them above everything else. As CAB have allready told you - DO NOT LET THEM IN. Once inside your property they can list your items and then you can no longer do anything with them.
I'm sure everyone will ask you to post a Statement of Account(SOA) to list your income and outgoings to see if anything further can be done - there is a link at the top of the forum.

For the time being keep calm and take a deep breath - think clearly is there anything you can sell on AMazon or E Bay ?

And don't worry - peopleon here are experts and will help you every step of the way

Blackruby

Things look like they are hard and I know not paying stuff that isn't a priority debt seems like a bad idea, but they are right. The non-priority debtors (i.e your unsecured debt) have limited power to do anything other than slap on charges or sell on your debt. The CAB should be able to address your concerns about this.

But please, keep posting here, hopefully that will help you manage your stress and prevent yourself from becoming more ill.

I'm sure people with more legal know how will be here soon, but I wanted to post and offer some support.

bank_of_slate

Hi Glent, as others have said don't panic!
visit this site and familiarise yourself with the codes and rules that bailiffs must adhere to!
http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/

...Linda xx

[Deleted User]

thanks for the prompt reply! i cant see that link but i'll keep looking :S
im sitting her in tears typing to people i dont know i feel pathetic and stupid for thisgettign so bad

RAS

As luck would have it out resident bailiff expert posted this for another OP this morning.

Given what you say about panic attacks and IB, i think you might well qualify as vulnerable and this letter would apply.

Please do pm Herbie21 and look at the website at the bottom of her message. HEr Pm is sometime full but she comes on here regularly.

Herbie said


A bailiff derives his powers and rights to collect a debt by way a certain LEGAL documents which vary from debt to debt.

For an outstanding Magisrates Court FINE ( ie: criminal cases such as driving without insurance, or tax or using a TV without a Licence) the bailiff's authority will be a WARRANT OF DISTRESS.

For an outstanding PCN ( parking charge notice) it will be a WARRANT OF EXECUTION).

For Council Tax it will be a LIABILITY ORDER.

With ALL of the above you will NOT be sent a copy.

In the case there is unpaid council tax and a Liability Order has been passed to the bailiff to enforce.

In the first place it is VITAL that you immediately send a letter to the bailiff co to advise them of your circumstances as it would appear that your health problems point to you being "vulnerable" and in this case the bailiff should return the debt back to the council. PLEASE send a letter right away. I have sent you a private message with a password to access template letters from our website and will post the relevant letter on here later on today.


Here it is...please adapt to suit.

To: Bailiff Company
Date:


Dear Sirs,

Re: Account reference.

I refer to your letter dated (enter date) informing me that your company have been instructed by (enter local authority) to enforce a liability order etc against me, in respect of outstanding council tax.

In your letter you state that you will be visiting/returning to my home to seize my goods unless full payment of (enter amount) is made by return.

The purpose of this letter is to advise your company that I believe that (my/our) circumstances fall within the category as contained within the National Standards for Enforcement Agents of “vulnerable situations”. The reason for this is that (explain your circumstances, and provide some evidence, if possible) see note below).

Accordingly, I would like to request that you do not visit my property as this would cause undue stress and anxiety. Instead, I would like to request that you (return this case back to the local authority/or accept payment terms as outlined etc)

I would be grateful if you could confirm safe receipt of this letter, and confirmation that (payment terms have been agreed/or case returned to the council)

I am copying this letter to my Local Authority. (ensure that you keep a copy)


Yours faithfully.


Bailiffadviceonline.co.uk

[Deleted User]

thanks to you all for replying so quickly, ill be back on soon its getting to much sorry

bank_of_slate

Deleted_User wrote: »

thanks for the prompt reply! i cant see that link but i'll keep looking :S
im sitting her in tears typing to people i dont know i feel pathetic and stupid for this getting so bad

What's done is done Glent, you've just got to deal with the situation now.
Once you know your rights and what bailiffs can & can't get away with you will be in a much stronger position to deal with them.

Follow RAS's advice as above and PLEASE contact Herbie21 who is the bailiff expert.

Keep posting on this site, you will get loads of help and support here from lots of people, this is a wonderful site that has helped so many people when they felt at rock bottom with no way out.

Look for ways to boost your incomings, do paid surveys, look for mystery shopping etc.

It might also help you to complete a statement of accounts so you can see exactly what's coming in and going out!
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

...Linda xx

bank_of_slate

Deleted_User wrote: »

thanks to you all for replying so quickly, ill be back on soon its getting to much sorry

:grouphug:
Go have a cup of tea, a good cry to get it out of your system then come back.
We're all here to help and support you through this, there's no judgement here.

...Linda xx

RAS

Deleted_User wrote: »

im sitting her in tears typing to people i dont know i feel pathetic and stupid for thisgettign so bad

Hi love, this si where most people on DFw start. have a good cry, make a cuppa and then come back and we can take you through step by step.

It will be OK.

dotstar24

Hi sweets, just wanted to say welcome and try not to worry, it will all be okay. I am also dealing with Rossendales for CTX debt. listen to RAS, Roberto and Herbie21...they really know their stuff and have helped me loads!! xx