Rossendales Bailiff/Collections Help

Earthworm

Hi I hope someone can help me. I built up an old council tax debt a year or two ago which currently stands at approximately £602 and is with Rossendales. They previously sent out a bailiff who I was happy to make payments too, just not willing to let them into my property in order to levy my goods. It ultimately led to the bailiff passing the debt back to Rossendales. I had been happy with the monthly amount quoted by the bailiff (150.00) and in the mean time have been paying this back to the council directly. Rossendales then requested £235 per month which is a totally unrealistic amount based on my earnings.

So far I've played ball... I even sent them letters via recorded delivery breaking down my earnings offering to pay £160.00 on the 30th of each month which they've accepted.

What worries me is their knowledge of me. They request the monthly payment on the 25th of every month which is pay day. They know my employers name as their rude staff request this info when you call up and don't seem to want to take no for an answer but at no stage have I told them my pay day or included it in any documentation. I don't have a problem paying them on my pay day I had just intended paying via a Pay Point outlet to keep a copy of my receipt which delays the payment an extra day.

Sorry for the waffle but ultimately are they allowed to ring my employer for information like my pay day without my authorisation or is this borderline harassment?

smiler651

The employer would be in breach of the Data Protection Act if they gave away this information.

Why don't you ask the bailiffs for a data access request. They are by law required to give all information they hold on when you make this request under the Data Protection Act. They are entitled to charge you for this but only a reasonable charge, which will probably be between £10-£25

Earthworm

What if say they rang my employer posing as a potential worker enquiring about payment dates? At the moment im exploring all possibilities but the data access request sounds like a good option.

smiler651

Apparently I'm not allowed to post links, but if you google

find out how to access your personal information

The first hit should be the ICO website which will tell you all you need to know about this

Red_dog_Sam

When the Council first get the liability order they send out a form (Regulation 36 notice) that requires you to provide employer and income details in case they want to take out an attachment to earnings. So it could be that the information on where you work, what you earn and when you get paid was originally supplied by you. If you returned that form , as you are technically obliged to do, the Council would be able to tell Rossendales if they asked for additional information on you. Plus if you work for a large or well known employer then the dates they pay staff could be a matter of common knowledge. Some bailiffs can act improperly but it is still highly unlikley that the bailiffs have been in direct contact with your employer.