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Rundles and unpaid council tax

Can some one help me please I'm in a bit of a pickle.

I went to step change with a few debts one of which is rundles and unpaid council tax
My dad is currently on JSA and I receive no money as I am a full time student.

Step change they said they can help with the others just not rundles, yet rundles have given me no way to pay in installments nor did the council do a means test. When my dad agreed to pay £5 weekly the council said they could not accept this payment there fore took it to court. Now they want it all.

I have no way to pay and my dad can afford the bare minimum of £5 a week but he has no idea on how to make this payment nor has he been sent any idea on making weekly payments.

right now i just want to pull my hair out because they are sending these demands weekly but with no help with how to set up a weekly payment to stop bailiffs knocking.

any advice would be welcomed.

Comments

  • ~Beanie~
    ~Beanie~ Posts: 3,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What did Rundles say when you contacted them and asked about a weekly payment plan?
    :p
  • Herbie21
    Herbie21 Posts: 562 Forumite
    edited 9 October 2014 pm31 8:34PM
    pip33 wrote: »
    Can some one help me please I'm in a bit of a pickle.

    I went to step change with a few debts one of which is rundles and unpaid council tax
    My dad is currently on JSA and I receive no money as I am a full time student.

    Step change they said they can help with the others just not rundles, yet rundles have given me no way to pay in installments nor did the council do a means test. When my dad agreed to pay £5 weekly the council said they could not accept this payment there fore took it to court. Now they want it all.

    I have no way to pay and my dad can afford the bare minimum of £5 a week but he has no idea on how to make this payment nor has he been sent any idea on making weekly payments.

    right now i just want to pull my hair out because they are sending these demands weekly but with no help with how to set up a weekly payment to stop bailiffs knocking.

    any advice would be welcomed.

    It is difficult to respond without knowing more detail.

    You say that you have offered £5 per week and that this proposal has been rejected. It is difficult to know whether this is a fair amount as you have not provided details of the amount that is owed.

    Also, I am not sure from your post whether the debt is yours or your Dad's.

    Could you provide a bit more detail as this would assist with the reply.

    PS: You have also said that the council did not do a 'means test'. I am not sure what you mean by this.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Step change they said they can help with the others just not rundles, yet rundles have given me no way to pay in installments nor did the council do a means test. When my dad agreed to pay £5 weekly the council said they could not accept this payment there fore took it to court. Now they want it all.

    For council tax purposes there is no means test or any requirement to do one - for council tax reduction (formerly council tax benefit) there is a means test but this is a different issue.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Firstly if you are a student then from the information you've given it sounds like it's just you and your dad? In which case you should have a student exemption (if full time student) and your dad should therefore get a single occupier discount.
    I'm not sure who you offered the £5 to or when. If you offered it before it went to court then the council may well have felt that they needed to formalise the debt before they could accept a payment plan. It is not uncommon for people to promise all sorts when threatened with court, then not stick to it, then the council have to cancel proceedings and start again, which wastes everyone's time and money. They therefore were unlikely to even entertain the idea of a payment plan before court. They know that once it has been to court if you fail to stick to a payment plan then they can send in the bailiffs.
    I would make sure you have the single occupier discount in place and I would write to the council and the bailiffs. Email is fine for speed but it is wise to send a printed copy or hand written letter as well. In the letter you should explain that you don't dispute the money is owed and that you are willing to pay but unable to pay the full amount in one go and re-offer the £5 a week, you can also point out your circumstances (ie 1 student, 1 on JSA) and ask that the council tax be taken directly from the benefit in an attachment.
    You should continue to refuse entry to the bailiffs (As otherwise the charges will skyrocket) and you should move your car as far away as possible until things are sorted.
    Hopefully now the council has the court order they will respond more favourably to your offer. The council will probably tell you you should only deal with the bailiffs but you should write to both just to be on the safe side.
    If you do not get any joy from this then you can make a formal complaint to the council (again in writing, make sure you ask for their complaint procedures and follow them) or you can seek help from your local councillor, who should be able to put a rocket up the council (councillors are meant to serve their community and they know if they fail they are unlikely to be reelected, they also have the power to make the relevant people jump).
    Hope you get it sorted.
    df
    P.S there's a really useful factsheet on the national debtlines website here: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/02%20EW%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Default.aspx
    Edit: obviously council tax is a priority debt so this may well mean there is no money for any of the other debts so make sure you communicate this to step change.
    Making my money go further with MSE :j
    How much can I save in 2012 challenge
    75/1200 :eek:
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