Bailiff Letter

RobertoMoir

I'll be interested to hear what the council make of it all. I suspect they might be so used to people complaining who don't know what they're complaining about that they might not listen to your first complaint and you'll have to go back and go higher up the ladder, but remember you're in the right here.

As for the rest of it, my start in computing was boring but I love what I'm doing now, same as any job the lower down the ladder the duller the work, I'm sure it'll get better.

Insomniac666

RobertoMoir wrote: »

I'll be interested to hear what the council make of it all. I suspect they might be so used to people complaining who don't know what they're complaining about that they might not listen to your first complaint and you'll have to go back and go higher up the ladder, but remember you're in the right here.

As for the rest of it, my start in computing was boring but I love what I'm doing now, same as any job the lower down the ladder the duller the work, I'm sure it'll get better.

don't mind if it gets better just be happy if it becomes clearer!!

I know some of the staff in the c.tax section but none high enough to warrant a sneaky call too.. and I dont' really want my debt bandied about with people I may know.

If I dont' hear anything by end of the day, I've had a receipt of email... I'll be sending another chasing email, followed by a call as I'm working from home tomorrow.

dancingfairy

It's completely ridiculous - if you weren't in the property and it was unfurnished then yes you would be liable but there is no fee to pay (as long as it was like that for less than 6 months and it had been your residence previously). The council appear to have missed this vital point.
The bailiffs then - well what can I say - they sound like they are dodgy to say the least.
I think you need an apology and all the charges cancelling - if the council did get a liability order and you had told them the house was vacant an given that their agents have been acting in such a way they should write the liability fee off for you anyway. If you told them after the liability order was granted then you may reasonably be expected to pay the fee but given how it's all gone you should definitely appeal to them to not have to pay it.
df

Insomniac666

After we lost the house in question, we moved to rented accomodation, whilst the reposession was happening. When we were informed of the charges we queried the amounts then... because it was vacant, but because the reposession took so look to complete prob creditors dragging heels etc.. it was empty for nearly 12 months.... I think it may still be? So at one point we were paying C.Tax for rented property and for the vacated property whilst the repo was happening.... I don't mind paying whats owed.. that's never been the case.

we're now in a second rented accomodation, since we left the house, and I know we were paying extra c/tax for some sort of arrears previously (wife paid it) I assumed it was part of the money owed? Can't get sense from these places!

dancingfairy

If you'd been living in the house previously for more than 6 weeks (I think) and if the house was unfurnished then the first 6 months you would not have to pay. After that sadly you would have to pay but they should be able to give you some sort of breakdown on what you owe for each property and why.
df

Insomniac666

dancingfairy wrote: »

If you'd been living in the house previously for more than 6 weeks (I think) and if the house was unfurnished then the first 6 months you would not have to pay. After that sadly you would have to pay but they should be able to give you some sort of breakdown on what you owe for each property and why.
df

I believe these arrears are from the 6months free end date to completion.. so I'm happy to pay them (if that's the right word!! We made sure we got the 6 months taken into account) once I get a reply I will ask for a new breakdown of cost though... what do you all reckon will be a nice repayment amount? £5 a month?

dancingfairy

Not sure to be honest- but make sure you take into account this years/next years council tax before agreeing to any repayment as you don't want to get into arrears with this year/next year as well as then you will end up with more charges as well.
I'm not sure if they can choose to take a different recovery action if it is returned to the council - that may be worth checking as you don't want to cut off you nose to spite your face so to speak - you don't want to push them into seeking an attachement of earnings on you or a charge on your hosue or anything. Hopefully they will agree a repayment plan with you but might be worth checking where you stand in case they try and come up with some other method.
df

Insomniac666

I had offered to pay £100 a month to the Bailiff before all this started.. but I think I'll knock this to £50 if the council take it back.. the hundred would have cleared it in 3 months but like you said don't want to over stretch my commitments.

RobertoMoir

dancingfairy wrote: »

I'm not sure if they can choose to take a different recovery action if it is returned to the council - that may be worth checking as you don't want to cut off you nose to spite your face so to speak - you don't want to push them into seeking an attachement of earnings on you or a charge on your hosue or anything. Hopefully they will agree a repayment plan with you but might be worth checking where you stand in case they try and come up with some other method.
df

Options at this point include earnings attachment, arrest warrant, quite a few ways to enforce the debt at this point. However, they're normally only used when the person concerned is un-cooperative.

With regards to your earlier post: If the debt is owed, the council are legally obliged to make every effort to recover it before they can even begin to think about writing the debt off. As shameful as the behaviour of their bailiffs has been, this is not grounds to have the debt cancelled.

Insomniac666

As I said earlier.. i don't mind paying whats owed. well I'll be checking my emails tomorrow followed by a call to the c.tax office.