6+year old council tax/benifit

jamieandnadine

Hi

Hoping you can help, we have been chased for the last few months regarding a debt of 6 year old debt from when i was in a council flat due to mental illness, since sorted my life out and moved in else where. Now i've ignored 2 letters chasing the debt from debt collectors, refused to pay as debt is 6 years old ans non recoverable. They left and never heard a word more. Now we have recieved a letter for an Attachment of Earning orders, with my employers details on which i have not stated to anyone that i work there.

What can i do, i cant afford the deductions due to having a family now, wishing i never read some advice online stating to ignore them Some letter have stated owed council tax, some over payment of benifits, all of which added to my confusion.

Any advice gratfully received.

James

marliepanda

The 6 year statute barred rule does not apply to council tax. It IS recoverable.

You will have to pay it.
Obviously they have access to records of where you work and have sorted the wage attachment.

All you could hope to do is ask to pay back at a reduced rate, but ignoring previous attempts to collect the debt relying on inaccurate information probably will not have helped your case.

McKneff

If you post up a Statement of Affairs, we could maybe help with your budget to enable you to pay the debt off.

Council tax debt doesn't go away I;m afraid, you have been badly advised if someone has told you that it will.

MissMoneypenny

Maybe find a part time job too, to pay off this debt?

belowtheline2013

Take it you live in Scotland from the "Attachment of Earnings" doc?

Council Tax in Scotland is recoverable from 6years after the date stayed in but then 20years from the date the Summary Warrant is granted (usual a week or so after you recieve a final notice). So I'm afraid it doesn't go away.

They won't cancel the earnings arrestment now since you have been ignoring and not paying. Unless you go onto a DAS or Trust Deed? But both will wreck your chances of ever getting credit in future. Best thing to do is to cut your outgoings and increase your income as much as possible to clear the debt as quickly as possible.

Also remember that while you are paying arrears this does not cover the ongoing liability for Council Tax so remember to keep your bill up to date too