Baliff Help

Silvafox

KingElvis wrote: »

Council Tax is a dodgy debt to deal with, you're best to just get the damn thing paid off as quick as you possibly can.

Don't let anyone into your house and DO NOT leave doors and windows open. Also, park your car WELL away from your house or they will snag it.

All the best

Definitely the best advice... get it paid ASAP and get rid of this awkward debt.

SixNineSix

Phoned them up today to arrange a payment plan and get it paid off. The guy demanded £740 today or else they were sending the baliffs around again to collect items.

Going up the bank in a second to see if i can get a loan or overdraft.

If i cant, then i simply cannot get this £740 today for my partner.

Next step? just tell them to go away when they knock on the door? Move any valueable items to my parents house for a while?

I dunno why he had to be arsey on the phone, we was willing to pay it off in a monthly plan :S

SixNineSix

Can anyone help me please, ive just phoned this guy to pay £740 in cash and then to arrange a £50 monthly payment.

He says by LAW, he CANNOT accept ANY payment until he has an inventory of goods in my home.

Now, as soon as i invite them in, they can break in right?

What can i do?

I just want it paying off with no baliffs coming into my home.

looktothefuture

He's talking total trash! Ignore him and then private message Herbie who runs the baillifsadvice website!

You can only pay what you can afford!

When I was in the same situation with a whole years CT bill looming over my head and the baillifs at my door I offered them a first figure of £150 and thereafter £200 per month!

This advice comes directly from the website quoted above...
"

If this is the first contact that you have ever had with the Bailiff Company, then try not to worry. As a bailiff collecting Council Tax is unable by law, to charge a letter fee, most will arrange for a “bailiff” to hand deliver these letters. Almost all of these letters will instruct you to contact the bailiff on a mobile telephone number. If you call the bailiff, he will nearly always tell you that you must pay the entire amount due immediately, failing which, he will agree a payment arrangement but that he needs to visit you first in order to sign “some papers”. In other words, he wants to come into your home and persuade you to sign a Walking Possession.
The bailiff has no right to come into your home and can only do so by “peaceful means” and you have every right to refuse. There is plenty more information on Walking Possessions on the main part of our site.

If you do contact the bailiff, and a payment arrangement is agreed with him without him coming into your home be very careful and ensure the following:

Only agree to repay at an amount that you know that you can afford. The bailiff will try to insist that you pay at a far higher figure to ensure that the debt is settled quickly. Be firm, and do not fall for this. It is vitally important that you tell the bailiff that you will pay at the end of each month and that you are writing a letter to his office to confirm this agreement."

looktothefuture

ps... the baliff whom what in charge of my case actually met me on "neutral" ground away from my home to discuss a payment plan to pay off what was owed. I don't know if your baliff would be willing to do this with you?

SixNineSix

Well im wary of this, very wary.

He said he couldnt accept a payment of £740 by bank transfer and that he needed to meet my partner in person.

Then he said he couldnt accept ANY payment until he had an inventory of goods and that he had a court order.

yet, when the baliffs came to my home yesterday, they had no court order. They just asked to come in, we declined, they then said to phone the head office and they would be back tomorrow.

I phoned my solicitor and he also echos that i should not let them into my home, they have no right to come in unless invited.

If he asks to meet me somewhere to pay the £740. Whats saying he doesnt just say i never gave him the £740? Im just handing £740 to some random in the street? I have no receipt and no way to prove i gave him the money. maybe im just being too cautious?

I said id ring him back in an hour, but what do i say to him if he insists he needs an inventory of goods?

Just tell him im only willing to pay the £740 by bank and set up a monthly plan and no baliff is coming into my home unless accompanied by the police?

My solicitor said hes trying to gain entry, dont fall for it and that once you give them entry, they will just take items and will not bother with monthly payment

SusieT

SixNineSix wrote: »

He says by LAW, he CANNOT accept ANY payment until he has an inventory of goods in my home.

I would ask him for that in writing.

Echo the others in getting in touch with Herbie though, hope you can get it sorted out.

looktothefuture

Sixninesix - are you Dan12345's partner?

When the baliff I met with agreed to meet with me away from my home, I insisted that he give me a receipt for the amount I'd paid on a company letter head.

Go to baliffadviceonline and have a read throught their website!

CIS

Then he said he couldnt accept ANY payment until he had an inventory of goods and that he had a court order.

He may not have had in in his possesion at that time but he there will be a court order (the liability order) under which the council have appointed him.

My solicitor said hes trying to gain entry, dont fall for it and that once you give them entry, they will just take items and will not bother with monthly payment

In theory he could but many local authorities will not let bailiffs take goods without first trying payment arrangements, Its probably also worth ringing your local authority and asking them for their poliocy.

SixNineSix

Hey, yes sorry im Dans partner.

OK i phoned the council tax office and they said that its ok to let them into my house for them to take a list of inventory, nothing will be taken on the visit, but should i be unable to make a payment or refuse to make payment, items will be removed from the property.

If i insist on not letting them into my house whatsoever, i need to take it up with crown court infront of magistrates and get the order changed. Which will add even more to the debt.

Ive had a talk with the debt collection agency who have my outstanding debt and he has assured me nothing will be taken unless i fail to make a payment. ive negotiated a monthly cost and they are coming Monday to pick up the £740 and do the inventory list.

Just wanna thank everyone for their fast helpful advice and even though the baliffs have to come into my home, at least i can start paying off this debt.

Thanks again.