Baliff Issues - Advice needed please

Brit-Wifey

Hello everyone,
I received a letter yesterday from a company called "Newlyn". It was addressed to "THE OCCUPIER". The letter gave me 7 days to pay $504.13. Today I received another letter addressed to my husband ( they got the sur name right but not the first name!) The 2nd letter states that the will be coming to "remove goods" on Friday March 18th..... That was weeks ago!!

I have never had baliff issues & need some advice. To make a very long story short we owe £338.63 council tax. We moved to our current address 2 months ago & ad our mail fowarded, and contacted the council to tell them that we were moving etc. We had a payment plan in place with the council and for 3 months we were only able to pay 1/2 of what we agreed due to unexpected car problems We had never received anything from the council etc about our 1/2 payments.

I called the council today and was told that it had been taken to magistrates court & turned over to Newlyn. First I had heard of this!!:eek:
I offered to pay them (the council) the £338.63 Friday (husbands payday) and they refused!!!

What should I do?? There is no way we can hand over £504.13 & there is no way that I am letting ANYONE in my house. The letter states that they can come in without my being present. Is this true? I also have a car (since old one died) through Motability - I am disabled and my DLA goes straight to Motability. Can they take my car?? Should I make a payment agreement with these snakes?? Why such high fees?? I've had 2 posted letters only, with wrong names & dates etc!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

RAS

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Can you make a on-line payment to the Council on Friday? Should be possible.

HAs the bailiff sent letters through the post or delivered letters to the house?

Brit-Wifey

Hi,
Yes, we always pay online, but the lady at the council that I spoke to said that I would have to deal with Newlyn, that they would NOT accept a payment.....

They have never come to my house - I am here all day & had no one come. Just 2 posted letters in 24 hours.

Brit-Wifey

**Via Royal Mail **

dancingfairy

Right o.k so right now you owe the 1) the council tax, 2) the liability order costs (perhaps 80 pounds) and possibly *some* bailiff fees.
If all you have had from them is the 2 letters then they can't charge you ridiculous fees yet but you need to take some steps to protect yourself. They can levy on cars which can wrack up an awful lot of fees - I'm not 100% sure whether they can levy on a mobility car though - will have a quick check.
On Friday you need to make sure you pay the council direct the amount of money you owe for council tax and the liability order costs. The bailiff costs will need to be sorted out seperately.
df

Brit-Wifey

Thanks DF !! I am freaking out.... like I said I have never had any issues like this before.... So, after I pay the council online Friday, do I then contact Newlyn and tell them that I have paid the council direct? Can they still try to come into my house for their bogus fees??

dancingfairy

O.K factsheet from National Debtline on council tax debts and bailiffs here:
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=02_bailiffs_and_council_tax

You will also need to write to the bailiffs asking for a breakdown of their fees - hopefully someone will have a sample letter you can send them as they are almost certainly trying it on with those fees.
df

RAS

Hi

The bailiffs cannot charge for posted letters. No costs at this stage.

BW you need to know how much the liability order was made for, including the fees.

Brit-Wifey

Thank you DF & RAS very much!!
I assume that the council will know all the details ie: liability order fees etc?
Also, DF mentioned that I need to protect myself.... what should I do?
Also the letter from Newlyn is in my husbands name (well they got 1/2 of it correct) and not mine, even though the council tax bill is in both names.
The new car is via Motability and is in my name only and my husband is down as a named driver only. The car is also brand new & not paid for..... we have had it 1 month. Didn't want to go into debt for a new car but didn't have the money to buy a second hand one or KEEP repairing the old one.
If they turn up what should I do?? I really don't want to get arrested......

Culex

dancingfairy wrote: »

They can levy on cars which can rack up an awful lot of fees - I'm not 100% sure whether they can levy on a mobility car though - will have a quick check.

The car will be from Motability, so she merely leases it.

RAS

If they turn up, they canno0t levy on a motability car and as long as you do not let them in the house, they can do NOTHING.

Keep windows and doors locked.

You do need to challenge the fees, as these are illegal. Will try and find the letter