Rossendales

GAZZA544

Hello all, wonder if I could get some advice please, I have £220 left to pay in council tax for 2014/2015, and intend to pay it tomorrow however I received a letter from Rossendales saying I have to pay them £295, how can I be fined £75 when I am not late in paying the council tax in the first place and can they make me pay £75 for sending me a letter, I get paid £298 tomorrow and Rossendales saying if I don't pay them the whole amount they will send a bailiff around on Wednesday.
My argument is that a. The council tax runs until end of March this year, b. How can they charge me £75 for sending a letter, c. I am working however I suffer depression and arthritis and I have a disabled son, the stress of the threats are causing me sleepless nights and making my psoriasis worse, I will pay it but if I have to pay the £75 I will be totally broke.

National_Debtline

Hello Gazza

The £75 fee is a standard amount for the administration/compliance stage of the process. It can be added once the bailiffs receive their instructions, carry out initial checks and send a letter.

If it has been legitimately added it now forms part of the overall debt you owe.

If the debt has been passed to Rossendales to collect I suspect you must have missed monthly instalments at some point during this council tax year, and the council called the whole bill for the year in. If this is not the case then you could complain about the council.

As you suffer from depression and have a disabled son you can explain to the council that you have vulnerable members of your household. Ask whether they’ll use discretion and withdraw the bailiff action so that you can deal with the council directly.

James
@natdebtline

timbstoke

When did you receive the letter? If this is the first you're hearing that your c/t account is in arrears, I'd be tempted to make the payment as normal, and write to Rossendales advising them that your council tax is not in arrears and requesting that they refer the account back to the council. Then phone the council and ask what they think they're playing at.

antonic

For more information please follow this link : http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1894/contents/made

The £75 fee is for the issue of a letter called "Notice of Enforcement" or NoE.

To help you further can you please say

1) Have you had such a letter ?
2) If you have, what is the date of the letter ? (By law Rossendales have to wait 7 days between the date of letter being sent and visiting you).

I would also recommend you contact your local councillor and advise them of both your health problems and your caring responsibilities and ask that the Council take the debt back.

And finally the £75 charge is actually a fee that is paid to the Ministry of Justice and should be paid first & separately to the MoJ by Rossendales before they get paid.

Hope this helps.