problems with equita and council tax!

tun

sgtbush wrote: »

sorry for not being clear-- this is from the bailiffs point of view


but even at the £266/week not including benefits, £20/week would not be unreasonable as seen as you get more with your benefits

it is unreasonable when you have 3 mouths to feed and your rent is £550 a month alone, as well as utilities and council tax!
i pay what i can, but im always getting deeper in debt. i know i need a real job, but im trapped.

tun

thanks for the replies and help everyone, i really appreciate it.

HappyMJ

tun wrote: »

looks like my best bet is to ignore them and let this go back to the council then. i dont mind paying the little extra to the council (would work out about £30 a month more) to get them off my back. i wouldnt have minded paying them but they spoke to me like crap!

the £42.50 fee is far less than they have added on, and they havent even visited yet. i have read about asking for a breakdown of their charges, so if by some chance their fees do go back to the council i will ask for this.

thanks for the help!

When the debt returns to the council usually the fees are removed from the debt. If it isn't then pursue the incorrect fees.

tun wrote: »

it is unreasonable when you have 3 mouths to feed and your rent is £550 a month alone, as well as utilities and council tax!
i pay what i can, but im always getting deeper in debt. i know i need a real job, but im trapped.

Do you get housing benefit? Claim child tax credits? Your rent should be partially paid on that level of income. Is the property you live in at or below the LHA rate for the house type for your area? You should consider moving to somewhere where the rent is at or below the LHA rate so you don't have to find the excess rent from income. It might just mean you have to live in the cheaper side of town.

tun

HappyMJ wrote: »

When the debt returns to the council usually the fees are removed from the debt. If it isn't then pursue the incorrect fees.

Do you get housing benefit? Claim child tax credits? Your rent should be partially paid on that level of income. Is the property you live in at or below the LHA rate for the house type for your area? You should consider moving to somewhere where the rent is at or below the LHA rate so you don't have to find the excess rent from income. It might just mean you have to live in the cheaper side of town.

i get child tax credits and working tax credits.
i am going to apply for help with my rent, i just need to get the forms.
what is an LHA rate?
i cant really move from my area because my daughter goes to school here, yea she can change schools but its a tough age as it is and i would much rather keep her in school where she is comfortable, also the school is much better than the other schools in the area, particularly in the cheaper housing areas. i would rather go bankrupt than jeopardise her education.

thanks for the reply, and sorry about the delayed response!

dancingfairy

I would write to the council and ask them for details of how to pay. State you are willing to pay but can only afford to pay x amount per month towards any arrears.
Keep a copy and get a recipet of postage.
If you don't pay anything to anyone you are at risk of being marked as a won't pay not a can't pay.
Also watch out for illegal bailiff fees.
Do not under any circumstances let them into your house.
If you have already let them in then post back as the advice will be different.
Keep copies of any letters/replies from the council.
Best of Luck
df

tun

dancingfairy wrote: »

I would write to the council and ask them for details of how to pay. State you are willing to pay but can only afford to pay x amount per month towards any arrears.
Keep a copy and get a recipet of postage.
If you don't pay anything to anyone you are at risk of being marked as a won't pay not a can't pay.
Also watch out for illegal bailiff fees.
Do not under any circumstances let them into your house.
If you have already let them in then post back as the advice will be different.
Keep copies of any letters/replies from the council.
Best of Luck
df

i havent let them in. they dont even come to my house even though they say they will
the council already told me i had to pay the bailiff, not them. should i send them a letter anyway?