Council tax arrears (scotland) update - still need help and advice!

Superly_Vince

Mum-2-Be wrote: »

I know its hard not to but dont get so stressed as they will not take you to court overnight.
Apparently they have been sending letters to my sisters address for both of us which she never told me of (I believe this) with options to repay and then go to court to explain the situation from May 2010.

Yes they seized funds from my account and there is still a balance owing which I am going to have to pay (cow of a sister wont :mad:) but I now have the option of a payment plan now Im aware of the issue and have contacted the Sherrif Officer

The thing is, I don't know if we have been threatened with court action! This has been going on for so long, she's managed to hide it all from me for all this time, while I trusted her to maintain her side of the responsibility.

Lets just say, if my bank account was arrested right now it wouldn't even begin to chip away at the amount of debt she's gotten us in, THAT'S how bad it is!! It would be pretty pointless and in fact possibly detrimental! if it was a few hundred pounds due to missed payments obviously I'd be angry about this but seeing as it's THOUSANDS i'm at my wits end about what to do. I'm panicing about what will happen next and how this will affect me!

beanielou wrote: »

Nothing you can do to stop arrestment AFAIK Im afraid.
Having looked at the other thread Im amazed the council havent done anything before now.
If the council request your bank account details you are legally bound to give them.

AFAIK????

I'm amazed at how long this has been going on... and how someone can continue to look me in the face and talk to me on a daily basis despite being so devious! I'm astounded tbh... how could this have gone on for so long and how could I be so trusting. It's not my fault she's in a financial mess but to drag me in to it as well?? WTH?!?!

How could I not have know or been so trusting?

She's ruined my life!

beanielou

As far as I know- AFAIK.

Jinx

Hi There

Sorry to hear things are such a mess.... Can I ask why you are still flatsharing with someone who has really dropped you both in it? I think I would move out...

As far as I know the Councils in Scotland don't hand over a debt until its been to court so re your visitor, sounds like a Sheriffs Officer from Scott and Co; so I think its already been to court (it would be worth asking if this is the case so you know for sure). For your information, a County Court Judgement for Council Tax does not show on your credit record. As someone has already posted your stuff cannot be taken and sold, however you MUST keep to your payment plan as if you don't keep up the payments then Scott and Co will go back to court and an arrestment of earnings order can be actioned quickly. I think you really need to highlight this to your flatmate. (I work in an HR department in Scotland and we get a lot of these).

Link to Scott & Co http://www.scottandco.uk.com/website/wip/scottweb.nsf/debtrecovery?ReadForm

Im sorry its not better news, but this is not an unsecured debt - its a Government tax and will be pursued.

Found this re council tax arrears, it may give some further info x

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/getadvice/advice_topics/paying_for_a_home/paying_council_tax/council_tax_arrears#5

dreamdreamer

Hiya,

Glad to hear you're getting it sorted now but I'm with Jinx, I'd be looking for a new place to live. You'll never be able to trust her again! Is your flatmate also contributing to the repayment plan? I sincerely hope so. I think eventually when your finances are better (ie. you're in permanent work) you're going to have to think about upping the repayments - it'd take 25 years at £15 a month. I know it's not *technically* your debt (even if legally it is), but just to stop the worry you're experiencing I'd get it paid back - and make sure she's contributing at LEAST half!

I know this sounds really harsh, and I don't know how old you guys are, but if you're old friends/uni friends etc and know her parents - is it worth dropping her royally in it? You never know - when they find out their little angel has left an innocent party with a £4.5k bill they MIGHT just bail her out - I think my parents would! That'll be no good for her in long run, but frankly her welfare is not your concern, she certainly wasn't concerned about yours.

I don't think they'll take any further action now you're on a repayment plan - the advisor sounds good so if he's free I'd stick with him.

I really hope it all works out for, horrible situation to be dumped in by a so-called friend.

Dreamer x

Superly_Vince

Jinx wrote: »

Hi There

Sorry to hear things are such a mess.... Can I ask why you are still flatsharing with someone who has really dropped you both in it? I think I would move out...

As far as I know the Councils in Scotland don't hand over a debt until its been to court so re your visitor, sounds like a Sheriffs Officer from Scott and Co; so I think its already been to court (it would be worth asking if this is the case so you know for sure). For your information, a County Court Judgement for Council Tax does not show on your credit record. As someone has already posted your stuff cannot be taken and sold, however you MUST keep to your payment plan as if you don't keep up the payments then Scott and Co will go back to court and an arrestment of earnings order can be actioned quickly. I think you really need to highlight this to your flatmate. (I work in an HR department in Scotland and we get a lot of these).

Link to Scott & Co http://www.scottandco.uk.com/website/wip/scottweb.nsf/debtrecovery?ReadForm

Im sorry its not better news, but this is not an unsecured debt - its a Government tax and will be pursued.

Found this re council tax arrears, it may give some further info x

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/getadvice/advice_topics/paying_for_a_home/paying_council_tax/council_tax_arrears#5

We're still flatsharing because we re-signed our lease for another year and we have another 7 months together

I've been thinking about movign, but clearly cant, I might be able to secure a deposit but that's all dependant on whether I can get the money together when the lease runs out. If anything she should be the one who moves out and I thought about asking her to repay the £15.00 I pay per month. Whilst I'm happy to co-operate with Scott and Co for the time being to get them of MY case I should ask her to pay me back the £15.00 each time I pay it at the moment, I don't care what she thinks about that because eventually she's going to have to pay me back! I think it's the furthest thing from unreasonable. I certaintly will be looking in to taking her through a small claims court too. I don't have any more sympathy for her. We're defintely done, I hate being at home now, I just feel sick knowing she's in the other room next door!

The last thing I want is to go to court and for a CCJ, like I said it will jepordise my career aspirations, I'm hoping to join the police full time for goodness sakes! and as well as that, I'm a special constable at the moment, I dont want this opportunity to be taken away from me,I've worked too hard over the 3-4 years for this opportunity to be taken away from me!

dreamdreamer wrote: »

Hiya,

Glad to hear you're getting it sorted now but I'm with Jinx, I'd be looking for a new place to live. You'll never be able to trust her again! Is your flatmate also contributing to the repayment plan? I sincerely hope so. I think eventually when your finances are better (ie. you're in permanent work) you're going to have to think about upping the repayments - it'd take 25 years at £15 a month. I know it's not *technically* your debt (even if legally it is), but just to stop the worry you're experiencing I'd get it paid back - and make sure she's contributing at LEAST half!

I know this sounds really harsh, and I don't know how old you guys are, but if you're old friends/uni friends etc and know her parents - is it worth dropping her royally in it? You never know - when they find out their little angel has left an innocent party with a £4.5k bill they MIGHT just bail her out - I think my parents would! That'll be no good for her in long run, but frankly her welfare is not your concern, she certainly wasn't concerned about yours.

I don't think they'll take any further action now you're on a repayment plan - the advisor sounds good so if he's free I'd stick with him.

I really hope it all works out for, horrible situation to be dumped in by a so-called friend.

Dreamer x

I know, I would look for another place to live but we've both signed a lease for another year and have another 7 months to go I doubt there;s anything the agent can do because the terms of our lease states we're responsible for council tax and all utilities during our tenancy.

Apparently, one of the things we could do is get a loan to pay it off. Apparently, my flat mate has already tried to do this and was declined (she's in a real financial mess!) I made enquires with my bank, I currently have a loan (which comes to an end in 3 months!) which has been paid on time since I got it and seeing as my credit file is good I should have any problems getting another loan but that's obviously dependant on me getting a full time permanent job... at the moment I'm contracted via a recruitment agency which could come to an end at any point and the bank understandably won't look at giving me another loan. But I don't see why I should get a loan for her... how can I trust she'll pay me back??? also, I don't want to take out another loan... what if it comes to a time where I genuinely need one for my personal needs.

I don't think I've ever felt so many emotions all at once, I'm FURIOUS that this has happend as well has petrified at how this will affect my future!

dreamdreamer

I should ask her to pay me back the £15.00 each time I pay it at the moment, I don't care what she thinks about that because eventually she's going to have to pay me back! I think it's the furthest thing from unreasonable. I certaintly will be looking in to taking her through a small claims court too.

I think I'd forget asking for it monthly and just go with the small claims court once you or her has moved out. With her burying-her-head-in-the-sand style she probably wouldn't even turn up!

I don't see why I should get a loan for her... how can I trust she'll pay me back???

DON'T do that - at least at the moment you're jointly liable - if you take the loan to pay it then you're solely liable and I don't think you'd have much of a leg to stand on in the small claims court if you decided to go that route. Leave the debt with the council (or their DCA as it now). Are Scott & Co charging interest?

I really don't think you need to worry about this affecting your future - it doesn't get reported to the credit agencies and you're paying it back now.

Jinx

The last thing I want is to go to court and for a CCJ, like I said it will jepordise my career aspirations, I'm hoping to join the police full time for goodness sakes! and as well as that, I'm a special constable at the moment, I dont want this opportunity to be taken away from me,I've worked too hard over the 3-4 years for this opportunity to be taken away from me!

As I mentioned earlier, I think you may need to check this - a CCJ may have already been done. You could ask the Council or Scott & CO.... Unless you already know for sure it hasnt been done? Its just that in my experience of councils (west lothian and south lanarkshire) they quickly move from non-payment to court and then the sheriff officers do the collecting...... hope its not the case for you guys.

[Deleted User]

Is your flat mate currently paying ANYTHING towards the CT Debt?

I know that you (and quite rightly) want as little to do with her as possible at the moment but would you helping her face her current finacial problems (and I don't mean finacial help, I just mean order and organisation) help get her in financial order and pay more towards this debt (assuming she's paying something already)?

Helping her might help you (in the long run)

Go through an Statement of Affairs with her? (Income, expenditure, debts etc) Get her to sign up to this site? Get her to post an SOA? Or get her to contact one of the debt charities - CCCS, Debtline, CAB? (they will offer her free, non-judgemental advice - and will priorities CTax debt)

HTH

D9