Bristow and suitor letter

pinknfluffy0

So a girl at my work has had a few problems with an old council tax bill and I'm trying to help her out.

So basically she moved out of a flat on to friends sofas due to not being able to afford it.

She informed the council but because she didn't have a forwarding address they still charged her for the rest of the year. She was taken to court despite going down to the council repeatedly. After the court vist she went down again and they finally agreed to paying £40 a month. This was months ago.

This morning she received a letter from bristow and suitor saying she needs to pay the amount in full. She has checked with the bank and the direct debit was never attempted to be taken.

She has just rang them to get it sorted and they are saying she has to pay £80 a month which she can not afford. The total owed is £237. She has offered £25.

They have told her she either has to pay £80 or wait for the bailiffs, the address they have is her grandads, as she has no per,image address.

Is there anything she can do? She has a part time job and is looking for more work. She wants to get it paid but can not afford £80 a month.

happy_bunny_2

Not sure how council tax works.

Did she get a CCJ for it already?

pinknfluffy0

happy_bunny wrote: »

Not sure how council tax works.

Did she get a CCJ for it already?

No ccj or anything

If she pays some can they still send the balifits

CIS

Council Tax doesn't use a CCJ (except in unusual circumstances) and instead uses a Liability Order from the magistrates court.

If she pays some can they still send the balifits

Yes

pinknfluffy0

CIS wrote: »

Council Tax doesn't use a CCJ (except in unusual circumstances) and instead uses a Liability Order from the magistrates court.


Yes

Any idea what she can do? She can't afford £80 a month and none of her stuff is at the address they have

happy_bunny_2

If you get no other advice, get her to call the CAB for advice.

I'm no expert in this at all.

Red_dog_Sam

Problem is the bailiffs can and probably will turn up at her Grandad's house. If your colleague has no goods there, there's nothing they can take but there is still a risk they will attend. Usual advice is don't let them in, keep doors and windows locked so they can't gain entry and park car away from street. She can try to agree instalments with the bailiff. Or she can try to get the council to call the debt back from the bailiffs but they are under no obligation to do so.
There may be some mileage in checking the amount is right. The liability for council tax should end on either a) the date your colleague left the flat or b) the date the tenancy ended if that is later. Even if the tenancy ended later, there may still be an empty discount or exemption due between the date she left and the end of the tenancy. Make sure the Council have correctly recorded the date she moved out and if applicable, the date the tenancy ended. And if your colleague lived alone make sure there is a single discount for the dates she was living there. They cannot charge to the end of the year just because they had no forwarding address but that might mean the details they are using to calculate the amount of charge are wrong.