Help Please on Council Tax Debt

dazjames

Can anyone please offer some advise if possible.


My wife has debt on her council tax from before we got married on her previous property. We were paying it off monthly as agreed with Swift Credit.


However the payment we should have made on 25/3/2015 we forgot to do as I have been recovering from an operation and today had a visit by a Enforcement Agent. I was in the toilet when he knocked and by the time I go to the door he had gone but I have telephoned him and he has said he will agree to a payment of £167 in a weeks time and then the remaining £167 something a month from that. however I think we will struggle to get the £167 together for a weeks time.


I spoke to swift prior to getting hold of the Agent and they said as it is with the agent I would need to contact him as it was now with enforcement.


I am not debating the fact they have added the Enforcement cost to the Debt, as frustrating as it is as we were only 2 payments off clearing it, however should they be able to accept a new payment agreement or are we really back against a wall and going to have to come up with the money regardless.


Any help would be much appreciated.

Meatloaf1981

If you don't have the money then you cannot pay it to them, simple as that really. I would suggest speaking to National Debtline about your options, as if you cannot afford the repayments they want you to make, there may be an option to liaise with the company enforcing the debt directly to arrange a more manageable payment schedule, particularly as you are not disputing the debt. Do not pay anything cash in hand, insist on having relevant bank details to pay the debt because cash is not secure. Insist on everything in writing also, to cover your back.

dazjames

Thanks Meatloaf1981

DorisTrousers

Have they at any time entered the property? If not then they have very little legal power. If they have, and hold a Controlled Goods Agreement, formally called a Walking Possession Order then that is a different matter.

Should they not hold security on the debt then you may have little to fear and may be in a position to negotiate something more reasonable. A lot does depend on when the debt was from as to what charges can be added to the bill, so it is still just as well to get some advice from the likes of National Debtline or from Council Tax Advisors, which is also a free service but one which specialises in this area.