Council tax bayliff help.

Odette

UnderPressure wrote: »

Hello

If you can out it on your credit card then this is what I would do, but pay it to the council as said I am 99% sure they CANNOT refuse a payment could do with a bit of clarification on that I will do a bit of googling and see what I can come up with but I am sure that is right........

Thanks Underpressure. I guess with all the selling of debts nowerdays it could be possible right?

dancingfairy

You need to establish if the bill is correct first. Did he get his singler person discount? is it for the correct time period etc. The council will have added on liability costs before it got to the bailiff stage, the bailiffs will have then added more costs. As stated there are only set amounts they can charge. The council will want the debt to be clear by Jan as that is usally when the last payment is due. The council may take the debt back, they certainly aren't going to refuse any money you pay them but you may still have to pay the bailiffs charges (to avoid these he should have paid before now).
Baillifs have been known to refuse to set up payment plans unless they can levy your goods ie they can then charge more fees (clever eh?) and then they can come back to take them if the payment is not stuck to so it is vital he does not allow the bailiffs in even if they say they won't accept a payment plan unless they are allowed in (if they are really difficult just stay firm - as said there is only a set amount they can charge without enterance and when they see you know what's what they may get bored and hand it back to the council).
You do need to be aware that they may levy on a car though so if he has a car it needs to be a long way from the house as a car levy costs more fees I think. (Not 100% sure how the car levy thing works but you don't want to go there anyway).
df

Odette

NorthernLas wrote: »

This link is to a national debtline factsheet on bailiffs and council tax: http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=02_bailiffs_and_council_tax
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Just skimmed this, is really helpful. Thanks for the info.

I feel a little bad, my OH is quite shy, I hope this bayliff doesnt run him over the coals.

UnderPressure

Odette wrote: »

Thanks Underpressure. I guess with all the selling of debts nowerdays it could be possible right?

I cant find anything obvious on google but Im sure of it, I have read it on here a few times now, I would hang on for tonight until one of the more "knowledgable" come on and see this thread, I dont think the council sell councul tax debts they just gain the liability orders then use bailiff's if they are unsuccessful then it simply come back to the council.

Honestly I would hang on there are a few people one here that really know their stuff and if you can pay the council directly then all the better..........

PS: Cant see a problem using a credit card personally especially if you pay the council directly??

dancingfairy

They may threaten him with prison and all sorts of other nonsense - it is vital he doesn't listen to any rubbish if he gets a dodgy bailiff (he might get a reasonable one) , stays calm, doesn't let them in at all (not to ring their boss, use the loo or whatever), and knows how much he can pay off and sticks to that agreement.
df

Odette

dancingfairy wrote: »

You do need to be aware that they may levy on a car though so if he has a car it needs to be a long way from the house as a car levy costs more fees I think. (Not 100% sure how the car levy thing works but you don't want to go there anyway).
df

We share a car but he is named owner. I paid money towards it. Would bayliffs be able to take it?

Odette

Im not sure he got his singleperson discount...Would the council be forced to take the debt back if it was wrong?

Tixy

Odette wrote: »

We share a car but he is named owner. I paid money towards it. Would bayliffs be able to take it?

They could levy against it if they see it on the drive (or very nearby), then if you didn't keep up with payments they could remove it (and charge you a fortune for doing so).

dancingfairy

I'm not sure to be honest re either the car or the council taking the bill back if the debt is wrong. The trouble he has got is that it is going to be almost impossible for him to prove he was the sole occupier during this time so it depends on the councils good will really.
If they do accept he was the sole occupier then it will reduce his debt but I'm not sure it will make the council take the debt back.
Might be worth getting the councillor/mp ( I'm not sure which it is though sorry) on side - they have a lot of power within the council and they may be able to persuade the council to take the debt back.
df

Odette

Tixy wrote: »

They could levy against it if they see it on the drive (or very nearby), then if you didn't keep up with payments they could remove it (and charge you a fortune for doing so).

Hmm maybe an idea to transfer it to me then...I know he will repay but I know he has other debts...