Council Tax Arrears help

srosser

We are in arrears with our 2011 council tax as my husband (who is self-employed) was out of work for the majority of 2011 - he has thankfully found work now. We entered into an arrangement with a company to pay £150 until the debt is cleared. In Feb I wrote to them stating that our feb payment would be delayed for 8 days (husband's pay was delayed) which we paid - nothing was heard back from the company until the 8th day (they denied receiving any letter) they said we had defaulted and had to pay £250 which we managed to get down to £173.50. I then had a new credit arrangement put through my letterbox to say that our regular repayment had now gone up to £200 (we had not agreed to this) - after 7 attempts at writing to them to say we had not agreed to a new monthly repayment, we eventually got a reply today saying that they could not do anything about it and had to pay the amount. We have only paid the £150 on our normal due date of 26th, but I am now completely worried that they will turn up on the door step to remove the goods for the remaining debt. We cannot afford to pay £200.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

BlushingRose

Which company did you make the arrangement with is this a debt collection agency?

RAS

Hi

These appear to be bailiffs?

Have you ever let them in the house or have they levied on your car?

KirstyO

I was hoping from the thread title that I might be able to help. I got into arrears with the council and they have accepted an offer of £30 a month for the next tax year on top of my normal payments to clear the arrears. It sounds like your council have already passed your debt on to a DCA...of which I'm afraid (well, you know what I mean, I'm not afraid, but it means I can't help) I have no experience

srosser

Thanks all. Yes it is a Debt Collection Agency and yes they have already been invited into the house when we made the first credit arrangement. No there is no levy with the vehicle. I am happy to pay the original agreed amount of £150 per month, however they have changed that to £200 without our agreement. They have said in so many words "tough" and we don't have a leg to stand on.

hallowitch

send this to the bailiff company and the revenues Dept of your council by e-mail

From:
My Name
My Address

To:
Acme Bailiff Co
Bailiff House

Ref: Account No: 123456

Dear Sir

With reference to the above account, Can you please provide me with a breakdown of the charges.

This includes:
a - the time & date of any Bailiff action that incurred a Fee.
b - the reason for the fee.
c - the name(s) of the Bailiff(s) that attended on each occasion a Fee was charged.
d - the name(s) of the Court(s) the Bailiff(s) was/were Certificated at.
e - the date of the Certification.

This is not a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act S7 1998 so does not incur a fee of £10. You are obliged to provide this information.

I require this information within 14 days.

Yours faithfully

to check your fees wee need to know if the bailiff has a levy on your goods

If they have a levy can you list exactly what has been levied as written on the notice of seizure/distress
can you also list the outstanding council tax amount and fees charged on the notice of seizure

DS4215

How much is the remaining debt? - were you both unemployed during the period that you owe council tax and did you apply for any discounts or benefits during that period?

hallowitch

DCAs don't collect council tax its usually bailiffs can you name the company that is collecting the debt

srosser

For Hallowitch: Not sure why I need to write to Council and Bailiff company regarding fees and items levied - I already have this information on the Notice of seizure and inventory of goods. Is this so that they could explain the fees incurred when producing the 2nd arrangement notice?

For DS4215: No only husband out of work and he is self-employed - no discounts or benefits asked for. He has been struggling for past couple of years (building trade) but hopefully now ok - obviously we are now playing catch up etc with all our bills. Approx £1,000 owing which I do not mind paying on the original terms agreed

Thanks again for your help on this

hallowitch

For Hallowitch: Not sure why I need to write to Council and Bailiff company regarding fees and items levied - I already have this information on the Notice of seizure and inventory of goods. Is this so that they could explain the fees incurred when producing the 2nd arrangement notice?

sorry if i didn't make myself clear

the breakdown of fees request is to see exactly what you have been charged (nothing to do with the notice of seizure i know if goods have been levied that you would have it your possession therefore no need to request a copy of this ) bailiffs are well known for inflating there fees and charging fees that are not in legislation

the reason i wanted to know what goods have been levied is because some goods are exempt
and the goods levied must cover all bailiff fees to include removal fees storage fees auction fees and a portion of the principle debt

srosser

Sorry now understand. The goods levied are:-

Dining table and chairs
Couple of shelving units
Computer
Computer desk and chairs
TV
Settee and chairs
Sideboard

2 original Form 7's

1: Amount owing £1156
2: Amount owing £220
1: Bailiff Costs £118
2: Bailiff Costs £109
1: Total to Pay £1274
2: Total to Pay £329.50

Started Nov 2011, Paid £150 Nov and Dec, 8 days late with Jan so had to pay £173.50, Paid £150 Feb

New arrangement posted through door asking for £200 pm starting from 26th Feb

Does this help at all?