Loosing a battle! Debts and council tax

lilpunkkitty

I am getting myself into a right state and I am not sure what to do , today I had a letter stating my local council are passing my council tax non payment onto bailiffs in the next 14 days unless I pay nearly £900. I did have a payment plan set up but the lady on the phone wouldn't let me do it for less that £120 a month myself and my partner only work part time and we are struggling as it is I have an adiministration order which i pay for plus rent, bills, other debts that propped up after i applied for my A.O so i fell behind, I literally don't have the kind of funds to come up with that amount of money in 14 days.
I know i'm not the only person with money worries in the world but it's really getting me down all i seem to think about it debt money debt money and it's not like im not bothering to pay anything back, as soon as i sort myself out something else props up. do things really get easier? i'm not even 30 yet and all i seem to do is worry worry woorry. I used to be diagnosed with depression and i'm worried it's coming back.
I tried to call the council to explain myself but she just wasn't interested and said i need to pay the full mount in 14 days, is there anything I can do- even if they sent bailiffs I don't have enough in my house to cover the debt?:(:(:(

dancingfairy

Hi. Have you done a benefits check up to check you are getting all you are entitled to?
Secondly I'm not familiar with an AO - is this in England or are you in Scotland or Wales or somewhere?

I suggest you get in touch with one of the debt charities such as National Debtline, CCCS or your local CAB and go through things again with them. I can advise you about the council tax if you are in England but not 100% sure if you are or not.
Best of Luck
df

lilpunkkitty

Hi fairy Im in England and I put AO( me being lazy)- administration order , which covers my debts such as loans, catalogues etc but not my council tax

dancingfairy

O.K a quick read up on AO suggests to me that one idea would be to contact the courts and get amount of the AO altered (to something you can afford).
Make sure you draw up a new and (perhaps more realistic?) budget to include paying off the council tax. How much would your council tax be normally if you were paying it monthly and can you afford to pay this? Make sure you claim council tax benefit if necessary.
df

dancingfairy

I sugget that you set up a standing order and pay the council as much as you can afford to pay them. I also suggest sending them a copy of your budget sheet clearly showing the amount you can pay them (and then paying them this). They won't like it but a) they can't refuse payments b)they can't have what you haven't got. The bailiffs can only add 42.50 (ish) in charges as long as you do not let them in to your house or they levy on a car. If you have a car you should park it several streets away at least until this council tax issue is sorted out. The bailiffs cannot break into your house. They can however use every excuse under the sun - ie can't come up with a payment arrangement, will call the police, need to phone the boss, need to use the loo, will call a locksmith etc etc. 99.9% of this is complete rubbish. There is a really great factsheet on National Debtlines' website which I will link for you in a bit.
df
Edit: factsheet is here: http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=02_bailiffs_and_council_tax
I would prioritise the council tax and get the AO reduced to a more sustainable amount I think. A debt charity should be able to help you with all this and chat things through with you.