council tax equita

RAS

sofi3353 wrote: »

i have had a reply from equita regading the breakdown of fees:

liability order date: 05/10/2011

debt:£885.00
statutory visit fees: £42.50
levy fees: £51.00

total: £978.50

i dont understand why there is a levy fee as i have not sighned no walking possession. the bailliff posted a walking possession through the door on 20/02/12 and they levied on a car which is on hire purchase but i was told they can't levy on that as it is not mine so how can they charge me a fee foe that????

please can someone advise me on what i should do next regarding the bailliff.

OK

So do you agree that the debt is £885 rather than £850? Have you asked the Council for the value of the liability order?

Have they made one orr two visits?

They cannot charge a visit fee on the same day as they levy.

And the levy fee is not enforceable.

sofi3353

i did ask the council and they informed me that the amount outstanding is £850 rather than £885 but i will ring them again today and double check as to what the actual amount is but am pretty sure its £850.
as far as i am aware they only made 1 visit and the second 1 was made when they did the levy.
what should i do next? i am aware that the debt needs paying of as soon as possible but am not in a financial position to pay it of in one go. i havr tried to make arrangements with the bailliff but she wants payment in full.
should i write to the council and ask them if they would recall the debt back from the bailliffs and make arrangements with me???
i was also thinking i should send them my income and expenditure budget sheet so that they know what i can and cant afford and maybe by looking at that they will consider making an arrangement. is that something i should do? i just want to sort this matter out asap but i really cnt afford to pay in one go.

RAS

She cannot have it in one go.

Do you still have the account number so that you can pay the Council on-line?

If you have then pay them what you can directly whilst this mess is sorted out.

Ring the Coucil today and if they say it is £850, then WRITE to Equita (two copies from different post offices with a certificate of posting is the cheapest option) and tell them that the Council say that the debt is £850 not £885.

The only other fee you owe is £42.50 for the two visits. Unless you are stupid enough to let them in the house, that is all they will ever be entitled to.

Since the levy is not valid they can charge the second visit fee but they cannot charge the levy fee.

And they know that they can only charge the levy fee or the visit fee, not both, by law.

sofi3353

yes i do have the account number to pay the council direct.

i have rang the council and they have told me that the amount outstanding is £885 and not £850.

am also goin to send them a copy of the hp agreement for the car so that they are aware that the car is on hp.

the bailliff spoke to me last week and told me she wants the payment in full by thursday 15 march. what should i do regarding that? i dont want to have to take a loan to pay that of as i will be in more debt and because of bad credit its impossible for me ro take out a loan.
what if thursday comes and am not at home and they take away the car even though i have sent them copies of hp agreement?

hallowitch

e-mail the council telling them you have sent by recorded delivery on (Date) a copy of the HP agreement for the car the bailiff levied on(Date) ask them to confirm in writing that the levy and any associated fees be removed from your account once they receive the HP agreement tell them you have made the bailiff aware the car is on HP however she is still threatening to remove it on the 15th



Inform them that bailiff MRS/Miss xxxx has refused all offers of payment and insists on full payment only tell them you are not refusing to pay the debt but simply do not have £xxxx tell them you can pay £xxxx (always offer less than you can afford you can then up your offer if you need to) this being the amount you can afford to pay without going into default and putting you into severe actual hardship

Tell them you want to pay by standing order only also ask them to confirm that there is no charge for payments made this way tell them what day the payment will reach your account ( if payment leaves your account on the 1styou tell them to reach your account by the 8th this gives thepayment a week to clear)



You may also be interested to know that your council don’t administrate their own council tax and as a rule when Equita are the bailiffs of choice Capita provided the back office staff Capita own Equita bailiffs so it’s always best to get everything in writing by e-mail and or recorded delivery letter

sofi3353

i have sent of a recorded delivery to the council regarding hp agreement and i have also explained to them that i cant afford to pay full amount and would like to pay £xxxx each month.
but in the meantime if the bailliff rings me today then what should i do?
if i dont answe her calls is sghe likely to come and remove the car or not even though i have not signed nothing.
how long before the bailliffs refer the case back to the council if they cant get payment?

RAS

Photocopy the HP agreement and sellotape it inside the windscreen?

sofi3353

the bailliff has rung me 2day ay 1.29pm but i did not answer the phone so she has left a voicemail saying to ring her back and make payment.
should i ring her back or not? if i do ring her back then what should i say to her?

RAS

Hi

Do not ring her back.

You need to deal with them in writing.

sofi3353

hi ras

ok i will write to them instead. but what should i write regarding the payment today.
i have sent a written recorded letter to the council today asking if they would consider a payment arrangement and also to notify them that the bailliff acting on their behalf is levying on a hp car but what should i do regarding equita?