Urgent help - bailiff problems

Nothadoth

Hello,

Yesterday I received a letter from a bailiff. I rang her today and she says the amount is for roughly £590 from council tax. So I asked if I could set if a payment plan and she basically said she can do that but she needs to speak to the enforcement agency and visit my home address to set up a plan. She also told me it had gone to court and given me a ccj (a quick credit check shows no ccj and I rang the council and they said there was no ccj).

What do I do!???? Surely it's not wise to let them into my house.

Thanks.

National_Debtline

Hi nothadoth, glad you asked!

Main points to make here:

- Do not let them in. The bailiffs have no power to force entry.

- If you own a car(s) outright and are expecting a bailiff visit, park it out of sight.

- There is no CCJ - you will never get one for a council tax debt and thus your credit file will not be affected by it in any way.

As for a payment plan, determine what you can offer by sitting down and working out income vs essential outgoings (remember to budget for the new 2012-13 council tax bill you've probably received very recently), and then attempt to pay the bailiff what you can spare. If they refuse, put it to one side until either (a) the bailiff gives in and accepts it, or (b) the bailiff returns the matter to the council.

There's plenty more that can be said but we hope that helps for starters.

Nothadoth

Thank you for that peace if mind.

On the phone she said she must come to the house to arrange a payment plan. Are you saying I should ring her, refuse her to come and offer the payments over the phone?

- would the payments go to her personal account? I have no idea how bailiffs work.

- I found this. A letter to send to the council, about 10th post down. Would this work?
consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?166537-Bailiff-wont-accept-payment-offer

Thank you

Nothadoth

Also -

I own a car. It is sat on my drive but immobile as the engine has given up. I may be able to drive it out of sight, IF it works long enough. If not, what should I do?

HappyMJ

Nothadoth wrote: »

Also -

I own a car. It is sat on my drive but immobile as the engine has given up. I may be able to drive it out of sight, IF it works long enough. If not, what should I do?

If the engine has given up then does it have any value? They won't repo a car that has no value. I've been wanting them to take mine away so I don't have to pay the recovery company to take it away but they don't want to.

Don't let them in. If you wish to make a payment arrangment with them then only do it in writing. If you ignore them long enough the debt will return to the council.

National_Debtline

It's hard to stop a bailiff visiting in practice. She doesn't HAVE to visit to set up a payment plan, though. I would send them a cheque with a covering letter (enclose your budget sheet as well) if I were you - keep the stub and it's evidence of your willingness to pay which is useful to have.

As for the car, I assume it's SORN? Doesn't sound as if it's worth a great deal if the engine is dead. If that is the case, the bailiff may not take a great deal of interest in it anyway.

antonia1

Nothadoth wrote: »

Also -

I own a car. It is sat on my drive but immobile as the engine has given up. I may be able to drive it out of sight, IF it works long enough. If not, what should I do?

HappyMJ wrote: »

If the engine has given up then does it have any value? They won't repo a car that has no value. I've been wanting them to take mine away so I don't have to pay the recovery company to take it away but they don't want to.

If you have a car that won't run and can't be fixed, you can sell it for scrap. I just did with mine (a totally wrecked N reg fiesta which you couldn't even start the engine) and got paid £150 by the company who collected it.

Nothadoth

Who would I sent the payment too though? I only have a mobile number for her. Or do I just send it to Ross an Roberts.

No it isnt SORN yet. Still trying to fix it. Has MOT for a couple months still.

Has anyone checked the link I posted? Is it worth sending the letter to the council?

RAS

Hi

Is this a recent (last year) or old Council tax debt?

Have you rung the Council and asked them for the value of the liability order? If not, do it today as bailiff routinely pre-load accoutns with anything up to £250 in fees to which they are not entitled.

Do not let her in the house. Try to move the car.

She does not need to come in the house whatever she says; she is lying. Just if you let her in, then she can charge you extra fees, push you into unsustainable payments and charge even more fees when you fail to meake them.

Nothadoth

£190 is from last year. The rest is from the year before (with her fees in there too obviously).

What is the value of liability order? What do I do when they send it me?

Thanks

RAS

Nothadoth wrote: »

£190 is from last year. The rest is from the year before (with her fees in there too obviously).

What is the value of liability order? What do I do when they send it me?

Thanks

Do you have the account numbers for these debts?

Even if you do not have them, ring the COUNCIL.

They are the only people who can tell you the value of the liability orders.

Then come back here and tell us.

There is a letter you need to send to the bailiffs.