Hassled over sons debt

Erik2012

My son fell into debt with his council tax at a previous residence. This was eventually passed to a debt recovery agent who's demands came to our house as he used it as a mailing address. Before Christmas he tried to set up a payment plan after we had been told bailiffs would be coming to remove goods to cover the debt, (at that time just over £400),but didn't follow it through and failed to make the first payment. Today we received a letter saying it was now in the hands of the removal team who had the right to enter our home with the aid of a locksmith and remove goods. My son now has his own place and agreed we could tell them his new address, however, when I phoned I had to pretend to be him and asked if I could make a payment and set up another payment plan. They demanded £250 but eventually agreed to reduce this to £200 followed by 5 payments of £82 as the debt was now £605 There is no way he, (or indeed us), can afford £82 a week.
Can I get this substantially reduced to say £5 or £10 a week?

SnowTiger

Erik2012 wrote: »

My son now has his own place and agreed we could tell them his new address, however, when I phoned I had to pretend to be him and asked if I could make a payment and set up another payment plan. They demanded £250 but eventually agreed to reduce this to £200 followed by 5 payments of £82 as the debt was now £605 There is no way he, (or indeed us), can afford £82 a week.
Can I get this substantially reduced to say £5 or £10 a week?

Why are you making things so difficult for yourself? Tell your son to call them and give them his new address. Or simply give it to them yourself.

Erik2012

I know, probably because I'm a parent I suppose. They do have his new address but I'm worried that if he doesn't manage to get lower payment terms he will just let it spiral upwards and they will come and re-posses his furniture etc and leave him with nothing.

Diego_Shock

get your son or on his behalf to contact National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 for advice and what the legal entitlements bailiffs have etc.
Good luck.
d

pauletruth

he is an adult now. he has to sort his own problems out. your not helping him by trying to help.

hallowitch

Erik2012 wrote: »

My son fell into debt with his council tax at a previous residence. This was eventually passed to a debt recovery agent who's demands came to our house as he used it as a mailing address. Before Christmas he tried to set up a payment plan after we had been told bailiffs would be coming to remove goods to cover the debt, (at that time just over £400),but didn't follow it through and failed to make the first payment. Today we received a letter saying it was now in the hands of the removal team who had the right to enter our home with the aid of a locksmith and remove goods. My son now has his own place and agreed we could tell them his new address, however, when I phoned I had to pretend to be him and asked if I could make a payment and set up another payment plan. They demanded £250 but eventually agreed to reduce this to £200 followed by 5 payments of £82 as the debt was now £605 There is no way he, (or indeed us), can afford £82 a week.
Can I get this substantially reduced to say £5 or £10 a week?

Send the an e-mail/recorded delivery letter to the local authority revenues department and copy to the bailiff firm and inform them that your son does not live with you he has no property at your address ask them to instruct there contractors to stop enforcement at your address if possible provide a copy of your council tax bill (you do not have to send this however it makes thing easier for you if you do send it )

the bailiff cant get a locksmith or police to enter your home(or your sons ) to remove goods (current legislation does not allow this for council tax debt) so don't be scared of the bailiff doing this as its not going to happen bailiffs can only enter by peaceful means (unlocked door or open window or by invitation)

you do not have to provide the bailiff with your sons address (the council will find him quite easy when they want to)

as for the fees that have added to this debt they are wrong with NO LEVY ON YOUR SONS GOODS his fees will be no more than £42.50

Is your son employed

If your son has a car tell him to hide it away from his house for the foreseeable future

Have a look at the letters the bailiff has left and see if there is a council tax ref number he may be able to make payments using the councils on-line payment facility

what bailiff firm is it you are dealing with please don't phone them or the bailiff unless you can record the call

MonkeyMad

Tell your son to man up and sort HIS business out so the council stop hassling YOU. If he owes it he needs to work out how to pay for it

RAS

ERIK

please stop making matters worse.

The bailiffs cannot enter your house or your son's home unless they already have a levy.

You have just made arrangments he cannot keep so the bailiffs will be seriously !!!!ed off when you does not make the next payment, which makes them harder to deal with.

The bailiffs have already added illegal fees to the bill, so you need to back out, get your son on here and we can help him.

In the mean-time do anything hallowitch tells you to do, as she knows her stuff.

Erik2012

hallowitch wrote: »

Send the an e-mail/recorded delivery letter to the local authority revenues department and copy to the bailiff firm and inform them that your son does not live with you he has no property at your address ask them to instruct there contractors to stop enforcement at your address if possible provide a copy of your council tax bill (you do not have to send this however it makes thing easier for you if you do send it )

the bailiff cant get a locksmith or police to enter your home(or your sons ) to remove goods (current legislation does not allow this for council tax debt) so don't be scared of the bailiff doing this as its not going to happen bailiffs can only enter by peaceful means (unlocked door or open window or by invitation)

you do not have to provide the bailiff with your sons address (the council will find him quite easy when they want to)

as for the fees that have added to this debt they are wrong with NO LEVY ON YOUR SONS GOODS his fees will be no more than £42.50

Is your son employed

If your son has a car tell him to hide it away from his house for the foreseeable future

Have a look at the letters the bailiff has left and see if there is a council tax ref number he may be able to make payments using the councils on-line payment facility

what bailiff firm is it you are dealing with please don't phone them or the bailiff unless you can record the call

Hallowitch, have I just been talking to you on the phone???
I have just spoken to National Debtline and your post is spot on!! :T Thank you very much indeed! The lady I spoke to explained everything in plain english with no frills or jargon and her advice was exactly as you say. I only wish I had come on here before last night, would have saved myself £200

RAS

You need to write and complain to the bailiff firm and to copy the letter to your local councillor and the REvenues department because they seem to have lied to you.

And they have certainly added illegal fees.

hallowitch

Erik2012 wrote: »

Hallowitch, have I just been talking to you on the phone???
I have just spoken to National Debtline and your post is spot on!! :T Thank you very much indeed! The lady I spoke to explained everything in plain english with no frills or jargon and her advice was exactly as you say. I only wish I had come on here before last night, would have saved myself £200

No i don't work for National Debt line

I'm a mother who had to sort out her Daughters council tax problems way back in 2009 been educating myself and helping people as much as i can from then

you have paid the bailiff £200 unfortunately most if not all of this will be taken in bailiff fees

your son needs to send a letter to the bailiff firm and the revenues department of the council asking for a breakdown of the fees charged (will post up a template letter soon when i find it)

your son will have a fight on his hands to get the money back (fees removed) and will have to write several e-mails to the council and bailiff firm but it can all be done by e-mail we will help you with this

Can you please tell me what bailiff firm this is (or confirm its not Equita )

Please confirm that the bailiff is certificated to the firm he is employed by the list is not always 100% accurate so if he is not list or employed by a different firm let us know and i will look out the MOJ phone number for you
http://certificatedbailiffs.justice.gov.uk/CertificatedBailiffs/