Over £20,000 of urgent debt, bailiffs, warrants and medical issues

runforlife

Harry365 wrote: »

If I sold all the business assets, I would have enough to cover all the debts and have a couple of thousand left over to keep me covered while looking for work.

That's your answer. Your 'Get Out of Jail (not) Free' card. Just think. That is all of your debts, almost £21,000 gone. No more debt. New job. New start. Relief. Living life normally again. And maybe giving you time and space to fight your parking issues.

I know that's probably not what you want to do but if it's a case of losing your home or your business then... I do think that it is worthy of serious consideration and discussion with someone whom you can rely on.

runforlife

In relation to the parking issues I guess you have probably come across this site

http://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/site/index.php

Here is an interesting appeal, a sort of 'stated case' that has been used successfully in similar circumstances to your situation:

http://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=132&pageNumber=21

Enforcing restrictions against a resident (CE050050D)
The appellant parked on a single yellow line outside their home where parking was not permitted between 11.00am and 12 noon on weekdays. She was issued with a PCN for parking in a restricted area and appealed on the ground that she had not been parked at a time when the restriction was in force. The appellant said she understood that the restriction was intended to protect residents from cars being parked by commuters from a nearby railway station, although there was no exemption for residents and no provision for residents' parking.
The appellant had been successful in the Magistrates' Court in contesting an alleged parking offence that arose before civil parking enforcement in similar circumstances to the present PCN. The Magistrates exercised their power to find the parking restriction unlawful by reason of its being unreasonable. While the restriction was not subsequently enforced against the appellant, the current PCN had been issued shortly after the enforcement procedure was decriminalised. The Adjudicator described the case as "unfortunate" and hoped that the council would shortly address the issue highlighted by this case. Unlike the Magistrates, the Adjudicator was unable to intervene, having no power to strike down the bylaw for being unreasonable.
The appeal was allowed (but not on the ground that the bylaw was unreasonable - that ground of appeal was dismissed).

antonic

I can advise you from the HMRC aspect.

If you are trading as a Ltd Company and you wind the Company up, then the debt stays with the Company , not you personally.

For which Head of Duty do you owe money to HMRC for ? is it your own personal tax (Self Assessment) or is it debts that the Company owes (VAT/PAYE/CIS) ?.

Have HMRC started enforcement proceedings yet or are they sending warning letters and making phone call ?.

Unfortunately for you, the only chance you will get to discuss this matter face to face with HMRC, will be if a Field Force Officer calls to get full payment, they do not do face to face interviews at the Local Enquiry Centres (all to be closed by 31st May 2014 anyway), it will be done over the phone.

If you ring HMRC to try and arrange a repayment plan, make it one that is for a reasonable timescale AND one you can stick to.

hettiecarro

Good morning Harry!
You see - there are lots of wiser people than me on here to give advice.
Keep reading.
Ask your doctor for an anti-depressant that isn't addictive. There are many of them out there (I know because I suffer from anxiety and depression) and these days you do not need the 'heavier' drugs to give temporary relief. Please re-visit this with your doctor. If you can get yourself in a better mental place you will see things more clearly to make the other adjustments and decisions you need to face.

sourcrates

Morning mate,
Just wanted to say im with you on the parking issues, councils have been operating outside there re-mitt on this issue for years, they have now been told by central government to clean up there act, as to the rest of your debt, hopefully you can get the advise you need, good luck with it all !!

[Deleted User]

antonic wrote: »

they do not do face to face interviews at the Local Enquiry Centres, ... it will be done over the phone.

Just out of curiosity, what happens if you don't have a telephone?

sjw64

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what happens if you don't have a telephone?

Out of curiosity what would you do if you need one? Find one, I guess!

LannieDuck

Harry365 wrote: »

What ever man, I asked for help and advice. You don't seem to give a lot of that around here.

Really? You've had a page full of helpful comments/suggestions, and one person questioning your approach to the traffic tickets - something that I'm sure a lot of other readers were thinking (I certainly was as I read through). Don't throw your toys out of the pram.

The parking tickets are a problem, esp if you're continuing to accrue them. Yes, the underlying problem may have been caused by the council, but the fact is that each night you're parking somewhere that you know will accrue a parking ticket. You need to find a way to stop throwing that money away.

* Are there no roads around you that you could park in instead? (I'm sure this is an easy 'no', but figured I'd ask it anyway.)

* You have a car SORNed and off the road - could you move that car elsewhere and free up somewhere to park your work van?

* Is there a car park anywhere near by that you may have to pay for, but which would cost less than the penalty tickets?

* Do you have any friendly neighbours who have a driveway they don't use?

Larry123

sourcrates wrote: »

Just wanted to say im with you on the parking issues

I find that most people are once they full understand the situation. It is very hard for some people to grasp when they are privileged with driveways or less busy streets. There are 110 houses on my street and parking for only ~40 cars.

hettiecarro wrote: »

Please re-visit this with your doctor. If you can get yourself in a better mental place you will see things more clearly to make the other adjustments and decisions you need to face.

Thanks, and of course you are right. These things are much easier to deal with when you feel you are in control. Can you recommend anything? The only thing I have had offered was something that took about a month to kick in and 3 months to come off. Didnt sound very attractive, especially when there is nothing physically wrong with me.

LannieDuck wrote: »

Really? You've had a page full of helpful comments/suggestions, and one person questioning your approach to the traffic tickets - something that I'm sure a lot of other readers were thinking (I certainly was as I read through). Don't throw your toys out of the pram.

Fully appreciate what you are saying here and of course I was concerned of this when replying. But of course I was referring to only him specifically; everyone else has been spectacular. Advice should always be constructive. It seems BillJones just goes around having a go at people for their problems.

LannieDuck wrote: »

* Are there no roads around you that you could park in instead? (I'm sure this is an easy 'no', but figured I'd ask it anyway.)

There are a few but I am restricted by the fact I am in a very small "permit zone". There is also the issue of insurance. I have had 2 van break-ins. One only a month or so ago. If I am not parked on my street, I am not insured.

LannieDuck wrote: »

* You have a car SORNed and off the road - could you move that car elsewhere and free up somewhere to park your work van?

This vehicle is parked elsewhere.

LannieDuck wrote: »

* Is there a car park anywhere near by that you may have to pay for, but which would cost less than the penalty tickets?

Unfortunately not. There would still be the issue of insurance.

LannieDuck wrote: »

* Do you have any friendly neighbours who have a driveway they don't use?

Unfortunately, everyone I know lives quite a distance away. I am already cluttering a mates driveway with my trailer and his garage with my equipment.

Appreciate the suggestions. They are well thought through but unfortunately exhausted.

Thanks again everyone. Tomorrow cannot come soon enough. Looking forward to making some progress and reporting back.

dancingfairy

I think the first question(s) that have to be asked are to do with the viability of the business. How long have you had the business? What are the trends - ie are you getting more business or less? Making more money or less? Is the issue cash flow related or that the business is not making money? If the business is not making money and hasn't been doing so for 6 years (if you've had the same business for 6 years) then I think, actually you need to call it a day. This would be a wise option as you have the option to sell the assets and walk away.
It is great to own a small business but if it is making you ill and putting unbearable stress on you then maybe it's not the right thing to be doing?
Have a chat with Business Debtline and see what they recommend. Once you know whether to carry on the business or not then it may well be easier to plan way forward.
Regards
df