Manchester City Council sending baliffs for non existant debt.

RobertoMoir

manchesteradam wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying this - I know that you can end up in prison for this hence my considerable worry over the matter.

Fair enough. I just wanted to be sure this was clear, you did mention prison in your original post, then you talked about the debt being sold to the bailiffs which isn't how it works, so I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page..

With something like that I'm sure you agree its better to be told twice than not at all!

manchesteradam wrote: »

Okay, this is where things get a little more complicated. I've managed to get the council to put a 28 day stop on the collector (and also written to the bailiff to inform them of this). However, I thought that the "proof" would be for council tax paid on the property I lived in (also in Manchester) for the period they are trying to claim unpaid tax for. The Council have told me they have no record of Council Tax from so long ago - which is problematic. My old landlord has said that he sent a letter 2 weeks ago informing the Council we did not live there during that period and the Council are saying that they have not recieved this.

It feels very unfair all the onus is on us to prove we do not own this debt when the Council have no evidence at all to the contrary.

It absolutely is unfair, totally agree but you have to accept the system for what it is at times. I'd ask if the LL could send the letter again, by recorded delivery.

As for evidence, any old utility bills, bank statements, things like that you could dredge up or print from an online account that might show when you moved? Entries on the electoral roll? Sure you've thought of that stuff already but just in case I thought I'd throw it out there!

manchesteradam wrote: »

Thanks for the advice about local councillor I will take this up. I've also lodged complaints on the online system for Manchester City Council (found on DirectGov) and written a letter to the Chief Executive I will be writing letters to the opposition MP and the Manchester Evening News about this later tonight.

Thanks for all your help so far.

Good luck. I hope you get a response soon, pmduk's reply does seem to show they are somewhat incompetent. I'm amazed they don't have council tax records from that far back - how on earth can they generate a bill for that time if they don't have records of who paid what to where? I'd mention that point to the various people you're complaining too. Got to be worth a go.

DVardysShadow

pmduk wrote: »

local authorities can be a nightmare. Years ago my housing benefit was stopped because I hadn't returned a form. The person investigating my complaint opened my file and found the form immediately.

Probably because the person responsible didn't want it found on their desk and knew they couldn't get away with binning it

biscit

I think the lesson we need to take away here is that when you move out you should contact all relevant authorities and utilities to tell them you are moving. Don't rely on those moving in to change the names.

Last time I rented, the landlords agent made me sign a letter to the utility companies telling them I was the new occupier, and they stressed that I should get a final bill at the end. I've sometimes lived in properties where the utilities have been in the name of someone who moved out a year or two before I moved in. Which was not a problem for them as the people who moved in paid the bills on time. It could have been!

I'm sorry that this doesn't help the OP but I hope this advice will prevent at least one person having the same problem in future.