URGENT Advice needed re Council Tax

alison999

Hello everyone.

My court date for CT was yesterday. As advised by CT themselves since I couldnt make repayments, they said let it go to court and that the debt department team can spread hte repayments over a longer period.

I owe £1154.00.

I rang them today and made a payment of £30. The man I spoke to was extremerly rude to the point were I was in tears on the phone. He said that I need to pay £250 per month for these arears which I just CANNOT afford esp since Ill have next years that begin in April.

I asked if there was anyone else that I could speak to. I was expecting to pay around £100 p/month for the arears.

Im still waiting for a supervisor to call me back but Im really scared over this now. He said until a payment agreement is made my accout is open and baliffs could come to my door.

He wasnt interested in anything that I had to say and just kept saying you need to pay. I know this but its not as simple as that.

PLEASE HELP ME

Tixy

Hi

Council tax is a priority debt, have you cut all your payments down to £1 for any unsecured debts such as vanquis in your signature.

Where had the £250 figure come from. Did you give any evidence/statement o show how much you can afford to repay each month? Had you offered installments before it went to court? usually it is much better to come to a payment arrangement before it gets to court, so I'm suprised they advised to let it go to court. Did you seek advice from anyone else? CAB or similar?

Are you earning or on benefits? they could apply to deduct the arrears from your salary.

If baliffs do come round (and they might in your case) don't answer the door to them, and don't let them in to your house.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/DebtsAndArrears/DG_10013198

alison999

Thanks Tixy! I actually rang htem back, used the normal CT number and got through to a manager. I explained what had happened in the morning and she apologied for the way I was spoken to and I can now pay £100 p/month for my arears which means it'll be cleared by March 2011!

Im so happy that its all sorted now. Thank you so much and to everyone else on the forum that has helped me!

DarkConvict

Debt teams are rather ruthless and it is something that isn't allowed, glad you got the manager to sort it.

alison999

He was awful no one has EVER spoken to me like that. He didnt want to hear anything that I had to say. i had agreed to payments with the Council but found it hard to stick to them. I have been v. ill and stressed over the last year and just couldnt deal with so stuck my head in the sand. I couldnt pay their final offer of installments (£418 p/month) so the girl said let it go to court, but pay what you can so it shows youre trying. (I paid £100) then they'll be able to set up a more managable payment for you.

He didnt want to hear any of this, just kept telling me that I needed to pay. I paid £30 this morning since he wouldnt even talk to me until I paid something.

Just glad its all over now, his manager was amazingly nice and was more concerned that I wouldnt get behind again which was the main reason why I wanted a lower repayment amount.

I cant thank people ont his site enough for all their help the past few weeks