Equita Council Tax Probs

lollypops29

Hiya,

To explain the confusion over the £100, half way through the arrangement,i asked them to confirm how much was owing, it should have been £658 this tallied with my figures as i keep a record each month, however, they said i owed £758 and the original amount appeared to have gone up by £100, (all payments had continued, no lapse or missed etc). I queried this and equita basically said that i owed this amount and that my calculations must have been wrong.Went round in circles so just backed down in end, tried to get council involved but to no avail.

Car is partly financed.

The bill was for £1258, And was due to end in Jan. We living in Oxfordshire so quite expensive council tax!

The bailiff is expecting full payment on friday and i am still awaiting a response to my letters to council etc, should i just pay up and then fight it or hold off?

thanks for all of the advice, its very much appreciated, dont know what i would have done!

lollypops29

Hi

Just wanted to give an update! after receiving no reply to my original emails to equita and council, and with the balance looming on friday, i called the council today. I put my side across and whilst i was on the phone, they phoned equita directly, equita proceeded to tell them that i had broken 3 arrangements????? when? and that they had spoken to me several times in february whereby i had promised payment??? it was all lies, however, after standing my ground and fighting my case to the council, she has removed all charges with just the balance of £153.38 to be paid. Wooohooooooo. Thanks for all of the advice peeps, i realise im lucky, from reading some similar problems on here, other councils have refused to get involved. I am so relieved

hallowitch

good result well on standing your ground

however i would strongly suggest you still get a breakdown of the fees Equita have added to this account i very much doubt your calculations were wrong

as there is no levy on goods (the levy on the car would have been unlawful anyway as they cant levy goods on finance or HP) add bailiffs 1st visit fee £24.50 .bailiffs 2nd visit fee £18 to the amount of the liability order work out what you have paid in full if the figures don't tally you have been overcharged


If you sent the template letter in post 4 and have not received a reply
E-Mail a formal complaint to the head of revenues telling them to instruct there contractor (Equita) to provide the information requested tell them if the information is not received you will make make a complaint to local government ombudsman

lollypops29

Hiya Hallowitch

Yep i did send the letter from post four and no reply as yet. I think that the mysterious £100 that was added months back is prob some sort of dodgy fee adding. So i will do what you suggest, am still gonna clear the £158 friday, but am doing so directly to the council and will then follow up today with the head of revenues etc. Whilst i was on the phone today, the lady at the council actually mentioned that i had called them back in October querying the amount due to an increase in amount owing, so at least it is also recorded with them etc, should strengthen my case

thanks for your help, its been a godsend

hallowitch

lollypops29 wrote: »

Hiya Hallowitch

Yep i did send the letter from post four and no reply as yet. I think that the mysterious £100 that was added months back is prob some sort of dodgy fee adding. So i will do what you suggest, am still gonna clear the £158 friday, but am doing so directly to the council and will then follow up today with the head of revenues etc. Whilst i was on the phone today, the lady at the council actually mentioned that i had called them back in October querying the amount due to an increase in amount owing, so at least it is also recorded with them etc, should strengthen my case

thanks for your help, its been a godsend

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/613/contents/made

http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/docs/Enforcement_Agent_Charges.pdf


bailiffs fees for council tax are governed by the council tax administration and enforcement regulations
regulation 45 schedule 5 charges connected with distress