Advice required - Council Tax

Nelson341

Hello

Apologies in advance if this isn't the right place for this.

I had a message from someone I used to work with saying someone from the council had called and spoken to them to ask if I worked there still, said I owed them money and asked if they could take money from my wages.

So rather than ask for HR or a manager, they spoke to a part time employee and discussed my private finances. I have tried calling about this and eventually emailed them (55 minutes on hold 4 times and they open open during my work hours) to which they acknowledged.
I emailed a few times. The 1st time they responded to apologise for the delay (I emailed a couple of times in June, July & August to ask for information on a repayment plan so I haven't tried to hide from the debt).
I replied twice in Sept with an offer of a plan starting on the 1st November due to personal circumstances.
They have my home address, email address, mobile and home numbers yet I have no letters, no calls, no voicemails or email at all since. Instead they have called my previous employer.

So really I just wanted to check on this, is this allowed? I understand about a liability order possibly being granted but surely they don't not reply or contact me but instead contact whoever picks up the phone at my place of work to discuss?

Thanks in advance

CIS

So really I just wanted to check on this, is this allowed? I understand about a liability order possibly being granted but surely they don't not reply or contact me but instead contact whoever picks up the phone at my place of work to discuss? .

Once the liability order is granted the council choose the method of recovery (within the allowable methods) and with an Attachment Order they don't need your permission. The employer is legally obliged to co-operate if the order is issued.

There is no requirement for them to accept any payment arrangement (other than the statutory instalment plan).

ViolaLass

CIS wrote: »

Once the liability order is granted the council choose the method of recovery (within the allowable methods) and with an Attachment Order they don't need your permission. The employer is legally obliged to co-operate if the order is issued.

And that includes telling all to anyone who happens to work for the former employer and answers the phone that day?

Nelson341

Thanks for the reply.

I understand about the liability order, but as far as I'm aware, they haven't even applied for one (I've had no letters or calls regarding one). The last thing was they asked me for details of my repayment via email and I replied.
The other gripe is that they didn't speak to payroll or even a manager but instead spoke to a part time data entry clerk.

Without a liability order, is contacting my (old) work allowed?

CIS

Without a liability order, is contacting my (old) work allowed?

Section 29 of the DPA will be what they are using for the 'collection or assessment of tax'.

The other gripe is that they didn't speak to payroll or even a manager but instead spoke to a part time data entry clerk.

That's not the council's issue if a person has identified themselves as being able to provide the information on behalf of the council.

Nelson341

Thanks again for more info. I'm not convinced she would be told of this information had he asked an appropriate question to start with, such as "does she still work here?" The answer would have been "no" then he has no reason to continue explaining the reasons.