Council Tax Vultures

SMB1982

Back in 2006/07 my flat mate and I got behind on our council tax before he cleared off leaving me with the debt. The council passed this debt onto Equita bailiffs who began harassing me for the money. I paid them off in 2008 for what I was told was a full and final settlement (though I no longer have the letter).

Five years later I receive a letter at my new house saying I still owe the council £297. I phoned them immediately to dispute this fact and forwarded them statements showing the payments made but today I have received another letter stating that of the £420 paid to Equita £235 of it was the bailiffs fees and a debt of £297 was passed back to the council.

They are saying I must either pay in full or set up a payment plan to pay this but I am adamant that this was paid off in full and cannot understand how it has taken them this long to realise a debt is outstanding when I was paying council tax under my name until September 2010 and was actually given a refund at this time. Where do I stand, can I dispute this or will that just lead to the bailiffs and more exorbitant fees?

Any advise will be much appreciated

Sarah

timetogrowup89

I don't have any helpful infomration on the way forward...

just wanted to say that I hve just been contacted about old council tax from yeaaaars ago which Im not even sure I am due them. I recon that due to my locality authorities funding cuts they are chancing their luck going back through old cases to try and make some money :P

DS4215

Did the bailiff take a levy of goods originally (2008)? If they didn't then the fees are too high and should be £42.50 (for two visits). You might have grounds for complaint with that.

SMB1982

Thanks for the responses!

DS4215, the bailiffs didnt take a levy of goods or visit the property at all and I was assured they had recieved payment in full. The council could not provide me with a breakdown of the bailiff's fees and have advised me to contact them direct to obtain them. I do not want to make any kind of contact with these crooks. In the meantime, to appease the council and stop this from going any further, I have set up a repayment plan although I am going to write a letter of complaint to the local government ombudsman as I am adamant the council have been extremely unfair with this considering the amount of time passed and the origins of the debt, but apart from doing that, I dont know what else to do. I'm 4 months pregnant with my first child and this is really putting me under so much stress!

Any thoughts??

Thanks!

RAS

Read this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4599563 and send both letters listed in post 18 by hallowitch.

Copy your letters to your local councillor stating that it appears that their bailiffs charged fees to which they are not entitled and asking that the current enforcement is stayed.

hallowitch

SMB1982 wrote: »

Thanks for the responses!

DS4215, the bailiffs didnt take a levy of goods or visit the property at all and I was assured they had recieved payment in full. The council could not provide me with a breakdown of the bailiff's fees and have advised me to contact them direct to obtain them. I do not want to make any kind of contact with these crooks. In the meantime, to appease the council and stop this from going any further, I have set up a repayment plan although I am going to write a letter of complaint to the local government ombudsman as I am adamant the council have been extremely unfair with this considering the amount of time passed and the origins of the debt, but apart from doing that, I dont know what else to do. I'm 4 months pregnant with my first child and this is really putting me under so much stress!

Any thoughts??

Thanks!

you cant go to the ombudsman until you have gone through the councils formal complaint procedure (you need to give them the opportunity to rectify any mistakes first)

your council are fully responsible for all actions of their bailiffs and in fact the bailiffs levy on behalf of the authority therefore the levy and fees charged belong to the council and not the bailiff

start by making Formal complaint to the CEO of the council

SMB1982

Thank you for the advice Hallowitch, I did call the council this afternoon and spoke to a member of their revenues team. Although she was sympathetic, she said there was nothing further she could do. Would I need to speak to the complaints department? I have until 28 June to get any correspondence sent out (be it to the ombudsman or council complaints debt) and then I will have to make the first payment of this debt - which I already paid in full in 2008 and which isnt mine! I can't believe this is happening. How can a person just leave somebody with debt and think no more about it and how can the council justify this treatment? I am sick to my stomach. Honestly, I'm so upset.

RAS

Being upset achieves nothing.

Please send both letters. And arrange to see your local councillor at the next surgery they run.

Staff at most Councils are taught the broken record technique annd have no permission to vary from the script.

If you also complain to the CEO of the Council and your councillor you can get this sorted out in time.

SMB1982

Thank you for your advice RAS, you are right getting upset is futile. I will definately be calling the council complaints dept tomorrow and also sending the letters you suggested from Hallowitch. I will keep updating this thread with the responses I recieve. Fingers crossed for a fair result!

RAS

Hi

Stop ringing people; they will only respond to the written complaint, so get this letters sent.

The letter to the bailiffs, you might want to send two copies first class with a certificate of posting , from two post offices. They cannot deny receiving it in that instance.

hallowitch

ask your council (should be done by e-mail to the revenues department ) you can also phone and ask followed up by the-mail


1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you
2 - the dates they were obtained
3 - the addresses they were for
4 - the period of time each covers
5 - how much each one was for
6 - how much is still outstanding
7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement
8 - the dates & amounts of any payments