Help! Equita council tax debt!

LolStevo

Hi Guys hope someone can help!

I had a liability order for last years council tax which was £610.64.

I buried my head and didn't pay quick enough so it was passed over to Equita. I received a letter from them in March and called made a payment of £100 and agreed to pay £50 a month, then a week later my partner left, Iv got 3 kids under 4 and had to go part time in work to look after the kids so didn't stick to it! I then moved house and forgot about it!

Today received a letter and the amount is £845.64. I have phoned the council and they said the original amount was £610 but there may be fees so I called Equita.

Spoke to the most horrible person who wouldn't let me speak and just belittled me saying I was unreliable etc. she said in order to set up the plan I would need to clear the £200 a month today which would clear the debt any way! I offered £100 today and would try my best to pay £100 a month even though money is tight and I'm in debt anyway!

She refused and said it would be liable for action unless I cleared it.

Anyway she's calling me back at 6.30 when I finish work.

What can I do?

Surely £335 fees are extortionate for sending me 2 letters? Help I'm stressed out that il get home and someone will be there!

CIS

LolStevo wrote: »

Hi Guys hope someone can help!

I had a liability order for last years council tax which was £610.64.

I buried my head and didn't pay quick enough so it was passed over to Equita. I received a letter from them in March and called made a payment of £100 and agreed to pay £50 a month, then a week later my partner left, Iv got 3 kids under 4 and had to go part time in work to look after the kids so didn't stick to it! I then moved house and forgot about it!

Today received a letter and the amount is £845.64. I have phoned the council and they said the original amount was £610 but there may be fees so I called Equita.

Spoke to the most horrible person who wouldn't let me speak and just belittled me saying I was unreliable etc. she said in order to set up the plan I would need to clear the £200 a month today which would clear the debt any way! I offered £100 today and would try my best to pay £100 a month even though money is tight and I'm in debt anyway!

She refused and said it would be liable for action unless I cleared it.

Anyway she's calling me back at 6.30 when I finish work.

What can I do?

Surely £335 fees are extortionate for sending me 2 letters? Help I'm stressed out that il get home and someone will be there!

Fees are statutory and are fixed. If each stage of action has been met then the enforcement agents will apply the relevant free.

This should help - http://www.civea.co.uk/bailiff-enforcement-agent-charges-fees.htm

National_Debtline

Hi LolStevo,

I know council tax bailiffs can be worrying but here are a few tips that may help you…

Firstly, if they haven’t been inside your home before – do not let them in. These bailiffs can ONLY come inside your home through open or unlocked access or if you invite them. So from now on, until the debt is dealt with, you must keep your home locked and secure and you must not invite them in under any circumstances. As long as you do this, they CANNOT force entry (despite what they may have said to you).

Also if you have anything of value outside of your home, such as a car, you will also need to hide that from now on to keep it safe from the bailiffs. If the bailiffs have been inside or tried to take any assets then I would suggest getting full telephone advice immediately.

Secondly, try and keep all negotiations in writing. It is quite uncommon for them to negotiate over the phone so put together a SOA and work out what you can afford and make an offer – if they refuse then save the money until you have enough.

And thirdly, their fees can be high (£75 compliance and £235 enforcement) but if they have sent a letter and knocked the door then, unfortunately, those fees are correct. Check out our factsheet – it may help you - https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/02 EW Council tax recovery/Default.aspx

Laura
@natdebtline

sourcrates

I'd echo Laura@debtlines advice, and only deal with them in writing, phoning them is a pointless exercise, as your giving them the opportunity to question you.
Put it all in writing, and send it to them, if they refuse, theses nothing else they can do, and will return the debt to the council.

LolStevo

Thank you!

As yet a bailiff hasnt been out and its with the enforcement department of equita. I will be able to pay the whole thing off in a couple of weeks if i get my backpay im owed but not with the charges on top?

Surely for 2 letters and the liability order they cant add on £335?

National_Debtline

Unfortunately, if the bailiffs sent you the initial 7 day notice of enforcement and they have visited the property, (please be are that you did not need to be in when they visited, they could demonstrate a visit with a hand delivered letter) then the fees are a total of £310 and you would need to pay them in the same way as the council tax itself.

Laura
@natdebtline

LolStevo

Well the bailiff has just turned up after my several emails and calls being ignored to Equita 😟

I wasn't in as was at the doctors with my son getting his needles but he left a note with my ex who was in the house with my other kids.

So what do I do now? I really can't afford it all in one go or even 2! I'm struggling as it is now trying to get more hours in work! I'm left with £50 a week to live on at the moment and that's with help from the kids dad!

I can offer like £30 a week but dont know if he is likely to accept that x

HappyMJ

LolStevo wrote: »

Well the bailiff has just turned up after my several emails and calls being ignored to Equita ��

I wasn't in as was at the doctors with my son getting his needles but he left a note with my ex who was in the house with my other kids.

So what do I do now? I really can't afford it all in one go or even 2! I'm struggling as it is now trying to get more hours in work! I'm left with £50 a week to live on at the moment and that's with help from the kids dad!

I can offer like £30 a week but dont know if he is likely to accept that x

You must create a SOA that shows all of your income and your essential expenses. You cannot include any unsecured debts on that SOA. Your council tax arrears come after the current years council tax expense. If your SOA shows a surplus without any unsecured debt repayments then you have to be shown to prioritize the council tax arrears over those debts.

Sky can be considered an essential expense if it includes unlimited broadband but only the lowest TV pack available. If you've got movies and sports then drop those packs.

If you can only afford £30 a week or £100 per month as you said earlier after paying the bills then that's all you can afford. Offer that and your SOA and if refused seek further help.

LolStevo

I have just phoned and offered to pay £100 now and set something up he said its payment in full. He said il put it on hold until Monday so you can find the money for Monday I told him I won't have it, I can barely afford shopping this week and he said well there's nothing I can do you owe the money!

I know I do I have sent emails and website messages and made calls to start paying this but they want it all and making it harder with their ridiculous charges!!!

What can I do I'm stressed out with 3 sick children to look after over the weekend

LolStevo

Could I be considered a vulnerable person so I can seek more help?

I'm a single mum of 3 kids under 4 already have financial difficulties but working part time!

What can I do? x

HappyMJ

LolStevo wrote: »

I have just phoned and offered to pay £100 now and set something up he said its payment in full. He said il put it on hold until Monday so you can find the money for Monday I told him I won't have it, I can barely afford shopping this week and he said well there's nothing I can do you owe the money!

I know I do I have sent emails and website messages and made calls to start paying this but they want it all and making it harder with their ridiculous charges!!!

What can I do I'm stressed out with 3 sick children to look after over the weekend

LolStevo wrote: »

Could I be considered a vulnerable person so I can seek more help?

I'm a single mum of 3 kids under 4 already have financial difficulties but working part time!

What can I do? x

Offer only what you can afford and no more.

Do the food shopping first. DO NOT overstretch yourself.

If you can't afford £100 then DO NOT feel forced into paying it. If you seriously do not have the money then nothing will happen. The debt will eventually return back to the council and they'll consider their next steps. Putting you in prison is not going to happen. They could ask the DWP to take a very small amount from your fortnightly benefits.

AND STOP SPEAKING WITH THEM....sorry for the caps. Write/email but never speak with them.