Council tax from 1999 to 2000

symonm1234

hi,

i got a 2 letters in october 2010 from the council saying i owed them money for unpaid council taxes dated 1999 to 2000.

i called them and tried to set up a payment plan as if the money was owing i would pay it, the person on the phone said it was ok.

the following day i had a letter from "rossendales" saying threy were pursuing the matter now.

anyway.....

i paid 3/4 of the two bills around christmas and gave them the address for the person i was living with to try and get the other 1/4.i asked them if they couldnt get it from her please come back to me in a month and i should have the money.

i have also been in contact with the council and they said the account was in credit so i didn't worry about it.

so now i get a hand delivered letter (no correspondence since december) from a bailiff asking for £409.

i phoned the council again and they said two more times the account was in credit. then when i went to the council it was explained to me that the staff on the phones made a mistake and a scheme called the "pyrenes trace" had been used. i owed £253 to them.

if it's called "joint and severel" why are they just chasing me all the time. they know where the other party lives!

any ideas please?

what should i do?

symonm1234

i have also just spoke to the bailiff who informed me that his "attendance fee" was £156. sounds steep to me.

i then rang him back and he told me when he visited my house it was his first visit to me,

all previous visits was to a totally different address.

Tixy

Hi

Joint and several liability means all parties are jointly responsible so the creditor will usually focus on the person most likely to pay.

Regarding council tax - whose name was the bill in? whose name is on the liability order that the council obtained. Someone else might have more info but if only you are named on the LO then I would think a bailiff can only chase you.

The bailiff visit - presumably you didn't let them into your property? and he didn't levy on a vehicle at the property or anythin - if not his charges are too high and I think are illegal. There are set amounts that can be charged by council tax bailiffs and I think first visit is £24.50 or around that figure. You could look on the website bailiffadviceonline which has info as to what they can and cannot charge - or there is info and a list here http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=02_bailiffs_and_council_tax - yep its £24.50 for the first visit, even if for some reason he can count prior visits to an old property then he can still only charge for 2 visits max with no levy.

symonm1234

thank you for your reply, i went to the council and explained the situation and how the bailiff was trying to claim for visits to the wrong address.

the council decided that i need only pay the original cost but with 2 charges to rossendales.

i will now pursue rossendales to get these costs back due to poor / incorrect correspondance with myself.

dancingfairy

O.K it sounds a bit messy. I'd get it in writing the decision from the council as there seems to be some confusion and you don't want it to come back and bite you again.
df

symonm1234

already thought of that, i got a post dated stamped confirmation.

king100

First step is to make sure of the exact amount you owe so pen and paper at hand ring the council and ask
1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you
2 - how much each one is for - never take the Bailiffs figure as to how much is owed
3 - how much is still outstanding
4 - what period of time they cover
5 - the date the LO was handed to the Bailiffs

Please do this now then I can help on the rest.

In the meantime consider these

1. Has the bailiff levied on any goods?
2. Has he been in your house?
3. Do you have any paperwork from him stating any amounts due?

Do not let him in your house under any circumstances, he might need water to take a bill or phone his dying grandmother. TOUGH. Do not let him in.

If you have a car please park this along away from your house at least a 10 min walk.

king100

symonm1234 wrote: »

i have also just spoke to the bailiff who informed me that his "attendance fee" was £156. sounds steep to me.

i then rang him back and he told me when he visited my house it was his first visit to me,

all previous visits was to a totally different address.

Thats not your problem 1st visit fee is only £24.50 and thats all he can charge.

RAS

He cannot charge and attendence fee of £156.

£24.50 is all he can ask for unless he has a levy or WPO.