Council Tax Enforcement officer

MrFay15

Hello people I'm new to this and under my brothers account but I need advice please. Yesterday I got a knock on my door by a enforcement officer from jwp for unpaid council tax that amounts to £1300. I know im in the wrong but i was struggling and they passed the debt to jwp! He was very rude and I know he has a job to do but he said he won't accept a payment plan even though I do not have any money at the moment to pay the full sum by Friday. He said if I do not pay he will come back and remove goods! Now I live alone with my 5 year old son and work full time and as you can imagine I'm scared stiff! Now I do want to pay the debt back but that kind of money is impossible to get hold of. I have rang citizens advice and called step change which was the best thing ive done but what I would like to know is that by calling these people (stepchange) would I be able to stop the balliffs coming back to take stuff I don't really have. Will the enforcement officer have to take the payment plan? I will be able to pay 100 a month and stick to it but he the enforcement officer has point blank refused and so has the office from with the debt has been given to (JWP). Jwp said that the enforcement officer does not work for them but instead on behalf of them? As a kind of contractor I suppose? My son was crying when he knocked as he scared us both with his demands and im pregnant so the stress is making me ill. Please help me I have no one to turn to as no one I know has any where near that money to help!

MrFay15

Hello people I'm new to this and under my brothers account but I need advice please. Yesterday I got a knock on my door by a enforcement officer from jwp for unpaid council tax that amounts to £1300. I know im in the wrong but i was struggling and they passed the debt to jwp! He was very rude and I know he has a job to do but he said he won't accept a payment plan even though I do not have any money at the moment to pay the full sum by Friday. He said if I do not pay he will come back and remove goods! Now I live alone with my 5 year old son and work full time and as you can imagine I'm scared stiff! Now I do want to pay the debt back but that kind of money is impossible to get hold of. I have rang citizens advice and called step change which was the best thing ive done but what I would like to know is that by calling these people (stepchange) would I be able to stop the balliffs coming back to take stuff I don't really have. Will the enforcement officer have to take the payment plan? I will be able to pay 100 a month and stick to it but he the enforcement officer has point blank refused and so has the office from with the debt has been given to (JWP). Jwp said that the enforcement officer does not work for them but instead on behalf of them? As a kind of contractor I suppose? My son was crying when he knocked as he scared us both with his demands and im pregnant so the stress is making me ill. Please help me I have no one to turn to as no one I know has any where near that money to help!

National_Debtline

Hi

Calling Stepchange and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for advice was certainly a good idea but it will not stop the bailiff coming round. As long as the bailiff hasn’t been allowed into your home to take control of your belongings they can’t force entry, so don’t let them in and keep any vehicles you own in a garage or well out of the way.

Bailiffs often refuse people’s payments plans and want high payments or even the full amount and as they know it makes you feel pressurised. If you can’t afford more it’s tough though. As far as you’re concerned you just need to show willingness to pay by offering an affordable instalment plan, as you have done.

Save up your instalments if the bailiff will not accept them from you. You can also try offering payments to the council directly.

If the bailiff can’t access your belongings they’ll either have to accept your offers or pass the debt back to the council.

You might find it useful to read our council tax factsheet and you're also welcome to call us for advice.

www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/02%20EW%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Default.aspx

James
@natdebtline

National_Debtline

MrFay15 wrote: »

Hello people I'm new to this and under my brothers account but I need advice please. Yesterday I got a knock on my door by a enforcement officer from jwp for unpaid council tax that amounts to £1300. I know im in the wrong but i was struggling and they passed the debt to jwp! He was very rude and I know he has a job to do but he said he won't accept a payment plan even though I do not have any money at the moment to pay the full sum by Friday. He said if I do not pay he will come back and remove goods! Now I live alone with my 5 year old son and work full time and as you can imagine I'm scared stiff! Now I do want to pay the debt back but that kind of money is impossible to get hold of. I have rang citizens advice and called step change which was the best thing ive done but what I would like to know is that by calling these people (stepchange) would I be able to stop the balliffs coming back to take stuff I don't really have. Will the enforcement officer have to take the payment plan? I will be able to pay 100 a month and stick to it but he the enforcement officer has point blank refused and so has the office from with the debt has been given to (JWP). Jwp said that the enforcement officer does not work for them but instead on behalf of them? As a kind of contractor I suppose? My son was crying when he knocked as he scared us both with his demands and im pregnant so the stress is making me ill. Please help me I have no one to turn to as no one I know has any where near that money to help!

Hi

I’ve just replied to your other post with the same issue but I’ll reply here too.

Calling Stepchange and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for advice was certainly a good idea but it will not stop the bailiff coming round. As long as the bailiff hasn’t been allowed into your home to take control of your belongings they can’t force entry, so don’t let them in and keep any vehicles you own in a garage or well out of the way.

Bailiffs often refuse people’s payments plans and want high payments or even the full amount and as they know it makes you feel pressurised. If you can’t afford more it’s tough though. As far as you’re concerned you just need to show willingness to pay by offering an affordable instalment plan, as you have done.

Save up your instalments if the bailiff will not accept them from you. You can also try offering payments to the council directly.

If the bailiff can’t access your belongings they’ll either have to accept your offers or pass the debt back to the council.

You might find it useful to read our council tax factsheet:

www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/02%20EW%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Default.aspx

James
@natdebtline

MrFay15

Thank you James. So if I save £100 a month and give it as a lump sum that will be okay. I want to say I desperately want to get rid of this debt but the balliff is just not listening to me. Also i read that because iI'm pregnant that they cannot harass me is that true? What do you suggest I do when he knocks tomorrow? I'mso scared I haven't been sleeping and I constantly feel sick! If I don'topayhim tomorrow on his second visit canhe break in or get some sort of order to gain access to my home?
Again thanks
Sarah

National_Debtline

If you’re the only adult in your home and pregnant you have a strong argument to say the enforcement officer shouldn’t keep trying to collect from you and should pass it back to the council.

They’re regulated by the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014 which says that the enforcement officer must leave your premises if the only person present is classed as vulnerable, in point 72.

It then goes on to clarify that one of the definitions of people who may be vulnerable are pregnant women, in point 77.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bailiffs-and-enforcement-agents-national-standards

You can save up your £100 per month but I think you should contact the council to explain your circumstances and that you want them to take payments from you directly as you’re pregnant and the enforcement officer is causing you distress.

When he comes tomorrow you can either speak to him through the window or go outside to speak to him and lock your door behind you. It depends on what you feel comfortable with. You could also telephone him if you have a contact number. Explain about your pregnancy and that as this is classed as a vulnerability he needs to leave you alone.

If the bailiff hasn’t been inside your home so far and made a controlled goods agreement by listing your belongings they are not allowed to break in at all. Keep your door locked for the time being.

You’re welcome to call our helpline on 0808 808 4000 if you want to discuss things with an adviser.

James
@natdebtline