Council Tax Debt Querie?

Markfezzer

Hi all

I just came home to find a hand delivered letter addressed to me on the floor in the communial hallway.

It was from Pheonix Commercial Collections stating that I owe them £729.17 and that they had visited my premises and I must make immediate payment or they will re-attend to remove goods.

Firstly I do not dispute the debt (well not exactly) as I do owe Council Tax and had an arrangement to pay back £10 per fortnight.

I missed one payment back in March due to illness (I payed double the following fortnight), but had made every payment before and since on time.

I spoke to the Council Tax offices and was met with nothing short of bad attitude and what I feel is misinformation.

What I wanted to know was that if my debt was passed over for debt collection in March, then who have I been paying £10 per fortnight too since and how much have a I payed.
I did not receive a straight answer and believe they were trying to baffle me with smelly male cow poo.

So I asked if they could provide me with a full statement of what has been paid from the date the agreement started to the current day. The reply was "if you don't change your tone you won't get nothing" ??? I was talking calmly and being polite at all times? So I asked again for a full statement to be sent out putting empthasise on the word 'please'. This time the reply was "well we will send it out but it's not a priority and it may take a couple of months"

I can't believe the attitude i received and surely a couple of months for such a important document in the dispute of a debt cannot be right?

I have contacted the debt collection agency who are happy for me to pay them back at £10 per fortnight, but now I want to know the ins and outs of what has and hasn't been paid. Is there any other avenues I can take or people I can contact to help get the information I require sooner?


Sorry to waffle on, but the initial shock of receiving this demand really shook me up.

Also is there anyway to challenge the fact that I knew nothing of their intentions to pass the debt to a collection agency? They say they have sent me letters, but they haven't and this isn't the first time they have claimed to have sent out letters and such and I have not received them.

RAS

Who was the letter from? Name of company please. Was it bailiffs or debt collectors?

Markfezzer

Hi Ras

It was Pheonix Commercial Collections.
They are based in Bolton from the address on the letter.

They are Certified Baliffs according to the letter.

RAS

If they are bailiffs, you need to ensure that all doors and windows are locked at all times and that you do not open the dopor to them. Otherwise they can levy on your goods and then come in the house any time they want, and add loads of fees to the bill.

Do you have a car?

This is standard procedure for any CT debt that will not be paid off within two years, and often any CT debt that is more than 2 months in arrears. it is a priority debt, so you need to pay it off in preference to anything other than utilities.

Markfezzer

Hi Ras and thank you for you help.

I do not own a car and have no other assets than a TV and computer.

It is impossible for me to pay this off in one go and paying £5 per week is about my limit. I did call the Baliff's and they have said to continue to pay the £10 per fortnight and they have made a note on the account.

What I really need to know is how I can gain access to the information held on my Council Tax Account regarding the debt and my payments. They have been very inconsistent when quizzed about my account and I get the feeling something is not right.

They took 4 years to even raise this debt with me in the first place claiming they had sent previous letters that I never received.

For all I know I might not even owe the amount stated anymore.

I've dug out the receipts to prove all the payments I have made and will add them up, but without a corresponding statement it's a bit of a futile exercise at the moment.