Bailiff Question(s)

Faye449

Still doing battle with the bailiffs re my council tax debt (oh the joys) and I just have a couple of quick questions................

1. I've seen on other posts people being advised to hide their cars- how will they know which one is mine? Can they ask the DVLA or something?

2. Their latest letter states they have a magistrates order from November- is this the thing that they need to be able to break into my house and help themselves??

DarkConvict

They don't know, they will levy any car on a driveway or nearby. So park yours on a different road to be sure its not levied.

They will have a liability order. its required for them to collect council tax. No they can't break in with it. In order to break in you must have let the bailiffs gain peaceful entry, so whatever you do don't let them in. Once they are in and levied goods (which costs you) they can break in to seize the goods as they are then legally theirs.
The most they can charge if you do not let them in is £42.50

RobertoMoir

Faye449 wrote: »

Still doing battle with the bailiffs re my council tax debt (oh the joys) and I just have a couple of quick questions................

1. I've seen on other posts people being advised to hide their cars- how will they know which one is mine? Can they ask the DVLA or something?

2. Their latest letter states they have a magistrates order from November- is this the thing that they need to be able to break into my house and help themselves??

"What Dark Convict said", basically. I'll add that the bailiffs almost certainly know a good deal more about collecting council tax than you do about owing it. They will make all kinds of claims and they are quite sly at figuring out which car is yours if you park it near your house.

They can't break into your house if they don't have a walking possession agreement previously signed by you. They can (and no doubt will) attempt to make what is known as peaceful entry. They can levy on items in your garden, and they may make assumptions about a car parked right outside your house.

You may find this article I wrote a while ago about bailiffs and their powers when visiting your home useful.

katsu

RobertoMoir wrote: »

You may find this article I wrote a while ago about bailiffs and their powers when visiting your home useful.

Roberto - great article but in it you have a line "ensure that there is no breach of the police and that your rights are respected.". I assume you mean breach of the peace not police?

Faye449

Thanks guys, that's what I thought, my street is usually rammed with cars parked bumper to bumper so any one of them could be mine/neighbours and I have no drive-way. I'm not even driving it atm as I have a company vehicle so that should be fine. Phew!

iolanthe07

Council tax is the one debt above almost all others that you really need to pay. The council's powers are awsome and their methods can be draconian. Can you not come to some sort of affordable arrangement?

Faye449

iolanthe07 wrote: »

Council tax is the one debt above almost all others that you really need to pay. The council's powers are awsome and their methods can be draconian. Can you not come to some sort of affordable arrangement?

Thanks for your reply, I am aware of this. It's long boring story involving job loss, benefits not being applied, debt management plans............all the really pleasant stuff lol but yes I am working out an arrangement with the council, I just need to keep the bailiff under control while I'm doing it!