Council refusing to accept my offer to pay arrears in full

jessiebubble

I have recently been chased for an outstanding council tax bill from ten years ago that I thought had been paid. I have been checking that I am responsible for the debt and discovered that I am as I lived there at the time.

The Council have referred this debt to the bailiff, Rundles, who have been sending me a letter per week and text and paid a visit while I was out, even though the Council said they would put a stop to them while I looked into the debt and relevant dates.

Today I called the Council and offered to pay the amount in full. They refused and said I should pay the bailiffs. I said that I have been advised that I could pay them by CAB and the response was "the CAB don't konw anything- they're not the council".

I have now paid the debt through the Council website. My worry is that the last letter I received from the bailiff had added £200 to the CT debt I owe. THe Council said the bailiff may have added a car outside my property but I don't own a vehicle.

I have written to the bailiff to say I've paid the council and don't expect to hear from them again. Will they contact me again? I will ask for a breakdown of any charges they try to apply but am I liable for any?

Thanks.

Tixy

If they have visited your property but have not levied on any of your goods (either a vehicle or other assets outside and haven't been in your house) then the only charges they can add are for 2 visits totalling £42.50.

Information here
https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/02%20EW%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Default.aspx
and http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/bailiff-advice/council-tax-nndr/council-tax-am-i-paying-too-much

fatbelly

The old fee schedule has almost completely disappeared from the online resources as the new one comes in (with increased fees of course) on April 6th

Wirral council still seems to have the old one here

jessiebubble

Thanks for your advice. I've now paid the Council but today got another letter from the bailiff for a charge of £259.09- less than the £400 odd they were asking for last week before I paid the council but still no explanation what for. I have written to them and they keep directing me to the mobile number of one particular bailiff. I have left two messages for him but got no response.

I have now written to the council to ask them to cancel the bailiffs and explain to me what other charges they think I'm liable for.

Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks.