Rossendales Advice

Lew5

I recently got a visit from Rossendales about Council Tax Arrears.
The guy who come was really friendly and said I could set up payments to discharge the debt.
As soon as payday come around a couple of days (1st August) I made a payment of £100.
Then today, I've just had another visit. When I first got the guy at the door I looked into them calling at the door and found this forum where someone said not to allow them into your home. When I opened the door the guy from Rossendales said "oh I'm just calling about the payment you made recently" so I said "Yeah that's right I paid £100 off the debt last week". He then said "well unfortunatly for me to be able to accept monthly payments I need to take a levy of things in your home so you can continue to make the payments". Obviously from reading on here I knew that was the wrong thing to do, and that it would just incur further costs anyway, so I just said I need to speak to my husband about it and he gave me his number to call him at a later date or said if he hasn't heard from us he'll "call round" next week to take the levy.

I don't want this to happen, and I don't intend to waste more of my money on them by calling his mobile number, so what exactly do I say to him when he comes to do the door? I am under all circumstances not going to let him in the house, but I will open the door to him, because I know he'll be breaking conditions if he tried to barge past me. Can he refuse to accept payments from me if I don't do this levy? Or demand the full amount?

HappyMJ

Why answer the door? They will try everything to convince you to pay and nothing will stop them. Simply send the payment you wish to make and if they don't like it the can return the debt to the council to whom you can make payments. He can refuse to accept anything but full payment.

Lew5

That's the thing though, he said that £100 was perfectly acceptable to pay and he will quite gladley accept that offer, if I complete the levy. What if I just ignore him? Can I still make the payments?

RAS

He wants the extra fees for making the levy and then will use any opportunity to add even more fees. it could cost you £250+.

Do you have a car.

What is the value of the liqability order and how much did he list on the first visit letter?

Lew5

No we don't have a car, and I have made sure we have padlocked a shed we have in the back garden. it is for £847.14 on the first letter he gave me. He didn't give me any documentation at all today, just said "ring the number on the bottom of the letter I gave you last time". He was surprisingly pleasent though, although he's probably just being like that to try and gain entry.

hallowitch

pay the council and keep your door locked (so he cant walk in) windows closed
don't answer the door to him you can only be charged for 2 visits £24.50 1st £18 2nd no further fees can be added unless he gets a Levy on your goods

legally he does not have to levy goods to set up a payment plan

be careful he doesn't levy your car if you have one (or a random car for that matter so he can bump up his fees the £100 you have paid he will deduct his fees from this

confirm the liability order amount with the council

RAS

Lew5 wrote: »

it is for £847.14 on the first letter he gave me.

In which case you need to ring the Council first thing Monday morning.

Ask them the value of the liability order. You need that information.

Then come back here.

Do not let him in. Lock everything.