help needed urgently

prenton01

hi my debts with my council tax has took a turn for the worse

debts are £1000

rossendales bailiffs phoned me to tell me he was coming round i told him i would not let him in so he posted the offer of repayment through the door which i filled in offering £100 per month in payments of £25 per week i have had a letter on friday saying the offer was refused and they will accept a minumum of £105 per week and i must pay 4 weeks in advance and if a payment isnt recieved within 7 days of the letter they will proceed with the execution of the warrant, the letter is dated 18th july and i am due to see the cab on the 27th which is past the 7 days.
they have been quite horrible on the phone and flatly refuse to hold the account for even 1 week until i see the CAB


tony

james32_uk

Outstanding Council tax can be a right b@stard!. I dont know much about how best to deal with them but I have some thoughts.

1) The bayliffs sound like right gits, but have you tried going back to the council tax people direct again? An offer of £100 per month doesnt seem that bad seeing as you're obviously finding it difficult to pay.
2) Have you any way of raising cash? Its amazing how much you can get together by clearing through your old crap at a car boot sale or something.
3) Do you have any payments to make to other credit cards etc? Council tax should always come first so is there anything else you could miss a payment of to raise cash that way?
4) Could you go to your CAB again and ask them for an emergency appointment?

The best of luck!

OberonSH

Hi, I'm with rossendales for my council tax - they keep jumping the payment date around, first payment they demanded it a week ealry, didn't reply to a letter asking what the date would be every month and then this month I got a letter saying 'pay the full amount or we'll come round with the truck'. Luckily it's only £40 over the normal amount so I found it. Still awaiting a payment date for every month.

They also did that with me once - refusing the offer and asking for £5 more. Seems to be a standard thing. They're being a bit unreasonable. Don;t know what to advise except to get an emergency appointment with CAB to check your rights. Also let the council know whats happening, as Rossendales have a nasty habit of not keeping them in the loop and vice versa.

Fitzy29

Don't Open You're Dorr When They Come Round, They Are Not Allowed To Break In!

I Recommend Paying Up Sometime Though, As If Bailiffs Don't Work Perhaps Prison Might, And I Think The Ploice Would Break In To Get 'you'!!!!

lizzie12_2

Hi

Just a thought, have you tried the National Debtline? Their telephone number is 0808 808 4000.
There is a 24 hour answer machine.
If you phone and leave your details, name and adress and if you are a tennant or homeowner. A booklet is sent to you in a plain envelope so nobody knows where it is from.

It has some good info in, and a step by step guide on what to do and how to go about it. Even a rough plan on how to complete a letter.

National Deptline also have a fact sheet on

Bailiffs and the Council Tax.... and lots more.
Give them a ring and hopefully you may get the info before your appointment.

The very best of luck.

x

lizzie12_2

Also forgot to mention. Any letter you send.. ALLWAYS keep a copy for yourself . If you speak to anybody on the phone, take their name and contact telephone number or extension. Dont forget the date and time of your call. Keep all papers together.

davesgirl_2

would definatley try ringing the council directly, would imagine its alot more hassle for them to take it all to court/sell your stuff to get the money. good luck and chin up xxx

lizzie12_2

Hi

Did you manage to get everything sorted out the other day?

southernscouser

Fitzy29 wrote:

Don't Open You're Dorr When They Come Round, They Are Not Allowed To Break In!

I Recommend Paying Up Sometime Though, As If Bailiffs Don't Work Perhaps Prison Might, And I Think The Ploice Would Break In To Get 'you'!!!!

However be warned that they are legally allowed entry into your property for example through an open window!

I don't mean to scare you mate but failing to pay your council tax could ultimately end up with you being imprisoned! :eek:

Even if you can't afford their demands you should still make contact with them and try and come to arrange some sort of repayment plan!

My advice to you would be to send a PM to **purple_princess**. She is ver knowledgable and might be able to help you! Just say SS sent you!

MissMotivation

Couple of tips I have picked up about Council Tax debts and bailiffs.

1) They have no right to break into your property UNLESS they have been let into your property before, therefore do NOT open the door under any circumstances. The can get in through an open window or door so be careful to secure the property fully.

2) If they will not accept your offer of payment then just keep ignoring their letters/calls/visits. The account will get passed back to the council after the bailiffs have unsuccessfully tried to collect the debt after 6 weeks (from memory although I would check with your council first)

3) When the debt gets passed back to the council they are usually easier to deal with and will accept a lower offer of payment.

4) Make sure that once you have agreed a payment plan with the council that you stick to it as they can take you to court for a commital order to send you to prison.

Good Luck

EllieB_2

Hi I agree with everything MissMotivation has said except that there is no set time that the bailiff will hold onto the debt before returning it to the council as uncollected. You have an appointment with CAB on 27th, as long as you don't give them entry in the meantime there is nothing they can do. If you have a car though you need to park it well away from your house until this is sorted out. Incidentally if the account is returned to the council any costs the bailiff has added will come off your account, you will only have to pay the original bill plus the council's own costs (usually just the cost of getting the Liability Order which varies according to the local authority). Also you only go to prison for "wilful refusal or culpable neglect" - in other words if you can afford to pay but don't.