Debt advice - Rossendales are looking for me?

Robjw

So I'll try to add in as much detail as I can for you guys

When I was 20, I had my own place, a job and everything, and I was made redundant, my decision was to move to the Netherlands, I dropped my keys off at the councils letterbox and moved with my girlfriend where I stayed for around a year.

While I was there, my mum called me on skype and told me a bailiff had come to visit, my mum told him I'd moved abroad and that she didn't know where I was, I'm not entirely sure but I believe I've been told of two other visits to other family members homes, could be more, could be less.

I'm now 22 and have a job so I can afford to pay them, I went to the council and was told the bill was £282 but was passed to rossendales for retrieval, I'm not sure if I've recieved any letters because no-one actually knew my whereabouts.

I've read forums online and I'm scared to call them due to learning of other peoples past experiences with them, I understand that I will have to call them, I just want a rough idea of where I may stand and the charges I may be facing, I have read they can only charge for the first 2 visits with the amount being 24 pounds, but as they did not actually visit me, myself, can they still charge that?

And would it not be possible to explain to the council that I am willing to pay the debt up front if not through the bailiffs?

Any advice is greatly valued and appreciated

HappyMJ

Robjw wrote: »

So I'll try to add in as much detail as I can for you guys

When I was 20, I had my own place, a job and everything, and I was made redundant, my decision was to move to the Netherlands, I dropped my keys off at the councils letterbox and moved with my girlfriend where I stayed for around a year.

While I was there, my mum called me on skype and told me a bailiff had come to visit, my mum told him I'd moved abroad and that she didn't know where I was, I'm not entirely sure but I believe I've been told of two other visits to other family members homes, could be more, could be less.

I'm now 22 and have a job so I can afford to pay them, I went to the council and was told the bill was £282 but was passed to rossendales for retrieval, I'm not sure if I've recieved any letters because no-one actually knew my whereabouts.

I've read forums online and I'm scared to call them due to learning of other peoples past experiences with them, I understand that I will have to call them, I just want a rough idea of where I may stand and the charges I may be facing, I have read they can only charge for the first 2 visits with the amount being 24 pounds, but as they did not actually visit me, myself, can they still charge that?

And would it not be possible to explain to the council that I am willing to pay the debt up front if not through the bailiffs?

Any advice is greatly valued and appreciated

You don't have to call them. That would be the last thing I would ever do. Only ever communicate in writing.

I would wait until the debt has gone back to the council and they start chasing you. It might take a while....as in years so keep saving your money in the meantime.

Robjw

I'd love to do that, unfortunately I have no permanent address and I'd like to get my own place so that I don't have to rely on others, and I can't do that unless I pay the outstanding council tax bill

HappyMJ

Robjw wrote: »

I'd love to do that, unfortunately I have no permanent address and I'd like to get my own place so that I don't have to rely on others, and I can't do that unless I pay the outstanding council tax bill

Why not? The outstanding council tax does not appear on your credit report. Nobody but you and the council know it's outstanding.

As you are homeless then paying council tax arrears is not as important as getting a roof over your head. Get your own place sorted first then worry about the arrears later on.

They cannot do anything at the moment.

Robjw

I'm not exactly homeless, my situation is that thankfully I have some very good friends and they have been kind enough to let me stay with them until I've managed to sort this situation out, I have a roof over my head, but of course I would not want to overstay my welcome and I wouldn't like to bring bailiffs to their door.

Basically no matter what I'd like to get it sorted, seeing that someday I will need to sort it and while I'm only asked to pay £50 a week here in rent, now would be the best time for me.

HappyMJ

Robjw wrote: »

I'm not exactly homeless, my situation is that thankfully I have some very good friends and they have been kind enough to let me stay with them until I've managed to sort this situation out, I have a roof over my head, but of course I would not want to overstay my welcome and I wouldn't like to bring bailiffs to their door.

Basically no matter what I'd like to get it sorted, seeing that someday I will need to sort it and while I'm only asked to pay £50 a week here in rent, now would be the best time for me.

That sounds homeless to me.

To rent somewhere you'll need one months rent in advance, a deposit equal to one months rent plus £100 and around £400 more to cover fees for credit checking and setting up the tenancy agreement. I'd save that first and get yourself a secure place to stay.

Bailiffs will not or at least should not visit you at a temporary address and if they do just tell them to leave as there is nothing they can do.

fatbelly

The definition of homelessness is 'no secure accommodation' or 'imminent loss of secure accommodation within 28 days'. So you're homeless and advice above applies.

When you have accommodation sorted you will become liable for council tax and that is the time to sort out the old bill - possible by getting the council to add it to the current one.

It's not likely that Rossendales would hang on to an uncollectable account for more than a few months.

Also, the advice you quote from an online forum is out of date. The rules changed in April 2014.

Seanymph

Perhaps another call to the council? I understand why people are saying ignore this debt, but like you I would want to clear it. I would also be concerned about it increasing with bailiff visits and chasing expenses.

fatbelly

HappyMJ wrote: »

Get your own place sorted first then worry about the arrears later on.

They cannot do anything at the moment.

fatbelly wrote: »

When you have accommodation sorted you will become liable for council tax and that is the time to sort out the old bill - possible by getting the council to add it to the current one.

No-one's saying ignore the debt. It's just not the main priority at the moment - they cannot enforce it against someone with no address.

The op has already contacted the council. Bailiff fees are fixed at £310 unless they remove goods.