Bailiffs - Council Tax

specialkaye

I would suggest calling the council to offer an instalment amount, you have stated that you intend on paying this money so if you have an idea at what you can afford to pay, reduce it slightly and then ring the recovery department. They do have the power to recall it from the bailiffs or they can liaise the instalment amount with the bailiffs (if they are being nice/depends on council policy). Leave yourself some wriggle room for if they wont accept your first instalment offer. Work out what you could pay today if you needed to, use that they were trying to correspond/intimidate with a minor.


Do not let the bailiffs into your home if they call today though!

weezypoos

Many thanks for the advice again! I'm out all day today, fingers crossed that they haven't emptied my home by the time I get back!

I have written to the council today and told them that I have found Jacob's unprofessional and unhelpful and have created a standing order payable directly to council for payment of this debt.

specialkaye

I work for a local council in charge of council tax collection (in a different department) and if they are the same they will be thankful that you are making efforts to pay. You may still have to pay the £75 bailiffs fees but we work with Jacobs and they can invoice the council directly meaning you don't have to deal with them at all. e.g. you owe £1000 to council tax and you would pay £1075 to the council and they would move the £75 from your council tax account to a holding account that is contra'd off when Jacobs send their invoice directly to them.


Pretty sure that they don't HAVE to do that though and will depend on their council policy and their flexibility.

National_Debtline

Hi again

weezypoos wrote: »

I'm not sure what a notice of enforcement looks like, all I've had is threatening letters from Jacobs with removal of goods notices. On the 19th I had a letter saying they were recommending committal to prison (this was given to my 14 year old daughter) and yesterday there was a letter through the door saying they are calling today between 9-5 to remove my goods

It's not in their remit to "recommend" committal proceedings and it's simply a scare tactic. I hear this old chestnut being used by bailiffs week in, week out and it never gets any less irritating to me.


Good to hear that you've set up a payment directly to the council. So often these problems drag on for longer than necessary because the debtor puts off starting payments while they wait for a green light from the council and/or bailiffs.


Dennis
@natdebtline

specialkaye

I echo the advice above - no council is going to turn away a payment!