council tax help- bailiffs have been

staceyishere

Hi there, This morning a letter had been posted through my door by rossendale's baliff, there was no postmark or stamp, so it must have been by hand. It read:

NOTICE OF BAILIFFS ATTENDANCE

MAGISTRATES LIABILITY ORDER/ DISTRESS WARRANT FOR UNPAID COUNCIL TAX.

R.E ADDRESS: MY OLD ADDRESS FROM 3 YEARS AGO

AMOUNT DUE £674.33 PLUS COSTS

Payments should be made direct to the Bailiff below to avoid unnecessary action.

I have attended today with the intention of seizing your goods and chattels as are necessary to discharge the above debt.

If you cannot pay this bill in full you should be aware that even at this late stage with a initial payment of £ 200 you can still pay by installments.

to discuss the options open to you please contact me immediately on (they number)

your sincerely

(they name)

bailiff in charge

I do not know what to do, I can't afford to pay the 200 pounds. Also i living between houses at my best friends some of the week and at my granddads the rest. so i don't have any fixed address.This address is my grandfathers who is 83 and not able to walk. I am his carer, but i do not get payed for it. I don't want to tell him that the bailiffs have been because he does not deal with stress very well.

I only work part time, i don't wanna upset my granddad and make him ill.

please help

stacey

Tixy

Hi stacey

Might be worth a read of this http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=02_bailiffs_and_council_tax which deals with how to handle bailiffs (and about not letting them in your property for any reason) and also about how you might be able to get the council to agree to take back the account from the bailiffs so you can deal with the direct.

How much could you afford per week or per month towards this debt?
Also as a seperate issue have you looked into whether you could claim carer's allowance for your grandfather?

mandz1

contact them, i have had dealings with rossendales and they are horrible people. i was living at my mums when they tried to get me to pay and they were still trying to take my mums stuff. Ring them and tell them what you can afford, i pay them £10 a fortnight as i am on benefits.

staceyishere

Well i cannot claim carers allowance as i do not have a fixed address, I could afford at a stretch 40 pounds a month

staceyishere

would the council take the debt back

Archer0710

staceyishere wrote: »

Well i cannot claim carers allowance as i do not have a fixed address, I could afford at a stretch 40 pounds a month

Not true.

All you need is a correspondence address provided he is in receipt if the correct qualifying benefit and you satisfy the criteria.

staceyishere

My main concern is my council tax debt, i just feel at my witts end

dancingfairy

Firstly do you owe the amount of council tax they are claiming? You should double check this with the council and check that they have your leaving date correctly.
When you speak to the council you need to explain to them the situation and request that they take the debt back as you currently live with your elderly grandfather who is ill.
You need to set up a payment proposal you can afford.
df

red_scorpian

Hi Stacy, phone up rossendales and explain that you live in between addresses and that they put the letter through your grandfathers door ,and he is not responsible for your debts ,I'm sure I've read somewhere that they cannot take another persons possession in payment for someone else's debt(hope that makes sense).I would also do what dancing fairy says,speak to your council.b

RAS

OK

Stacy; the bailiffs can only take your goods not grandfather's or your best friend's and can only take goods if what you own (not including personal items and furniture but including cars as a rule) are worth more than debt if sold at auction.

It is important that if you have belongings at GF's house, you move them. You probably also need to tell him incase they do come knocking as he needs to know his goods are safe and that he should not let them in the house.

Is this debt from the same council? If so, can you go and see your local councillort and explainyour circumstances. Most councillors run regular surgeries where you can asee them face to face.

Be very careful costs as many bailiff add illegal fees. Also, the reason they want to get in the house is becuase the maximum fee they can add without a levy is £42.50 for two visits.

Are you listed on the electoral roll anywhere?

tasty_snacks

Good luck with this - hope it's being sorted.

One question - does a 'distress warrant' go onto a credit file?