HMRC Distraint Action & Bailiff Advice

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I wonder is any one can help me, I don't know if I have posted this in correct section of forum but please move if I have. My husband about 5 years ago was made redundent and could not find any job so He started working self employed as a relief chef. We were so broke after him not working for a few months and we were struggling to pay other debts off. Any way during the time my husband worked self employed he did not have the money to pay his tax bill he did not earn much money and every penny we had to spend just to pay bills and live on. My husband stopped working self employed about 1 year 9 months ago. and is now working full time employed and paying his tax & national insurance each month. But he still has a Tax Bill of £12,000. From when he was self employed. We do not have that kind of money to pay it straight up. We recieved a letter last year threatening distraint action if my husband did not pay up. My husband managed to agree a payment plan with the HMRC which was ment to be being renewed in september this year. We have been paying £200 a month. There have been a couple of months when money has been tight and we have not been able to send £200 but have sent at leats £100 minimum. Each time we have tried to contact them to explain the situation. We had not heard any thing until yesterday since last september and assumed every thing was fine. But Yesterday my husband recieved a letter from HMRC again threatening Distraint action. In the letter it states that my husband did not stick to payment plan and has not made any payments and that there for they take this as my husband refusing to pay tax bill. My husband has been paying some thing every month we have not missed a months payment and have proof of this and my husband has at no point refussed to pay tax bill. The letter says my husband needs to contact them with in 48 hours of recieving letter or they will start distraint action. My husband tried all day yesterday phoning them and could not get hold of any one. He has been phoning today but still no one is answering the phone. We are getting really worried what should we do if we cant get hold of any one on the phone. I have written out a letter for my husband and we have attached copies of bank statements to prove we have made payments and I have also attached a list of all income and out goings. We have submitted a list of out goings and income before but are circumstance have changed rent has gone up and are 2 sons aged 4 & 6 1/2 who both have special needs ( autism & dispraxia) have been thrown out of school due to the LEA refusing to pay for the extra help they need to be able to attend normal school. There for I am having to teach them at home which costs money for resources etc. Its not cheap. I feel that we are jinxed with bad luck we only ever have bad luck never good luck. Any way what lese can we do apart from send a letter. I wanted to fax a copy of letter so I know they have it now but there is no fax number on letter just a address & telephone number. I don't suppose any one knows a fax number the letter I recieved was from the Medvale house office in maidstone Kent.

Also if they do take distraint action what happens. IF they come to my house can they take my stuff or just my husbands stuff. The tax bill debt is just in my husbands name. We don't own are house we rent and most of the stuff in the house I own not my husband. I have reciepts for alot of the more valuable stuff proving that I bought and I own so can they take my stuff. I would hate to think they could take my stuff. When it isn't even my debt. Even the car is mine my husband does not have a car. I am most worried about them taking my car as I rely on my car to get around and to take my sons to regular hospital appointments. Also I am worried about them taking my computer & laptop as My sons use then every day for there learning when I teach them at home. If they take the computers I will struggle greatly to teach my boys. Also I am worried they may take new kitchen equiptment that I have just bought that I reky on as my youngest son is lactose & Gluton intollerant as so I have to make alot of what he eats my self, such as bread, biscuits, cakes etc. I am sorry if I am sounding selfish and like I don't care about my husband but are marriage is practically over we just still live togetehr for the sake of our children. Nothering more.

Any advice would be much appreciated

thanks in advance

[Deleted User]

I forgot to say only my husband is working at the moment but I am not as I have to stay at home to look after our children, as said above thanks to lea they are not even in school. with there special needs they need round the clock care. I get child, benifits, child tax credits & disability living allowance. BUt this isn't that much.