Those lovely Jacobs bailiffs

Trislander

Hello everybody I am new to the forum and seeking a little advice I have received in the last two days two letters from those lovely people at Jacobs bailiffs for outstanding council tax which I'm struggling to pay I have nots call them or responded in any way but I have not entered my property so I know that they cannot legally enter my house they claim that that is £471 however the original debt was only £235 I have paid £50 off yesterday and was planning on paying another £50 today but I have no intention of dealing with the bailiff directly anybody offer me any other advice please and while I am here can anybody tell me are The names on the bailiff letters real names or made up names for the sake of the job

Trislander

Also I am very curious to know if I was not to respond what they constantly post letters through day by day or give up try again another time I have no intention of ignoring it I'm just very curious

CIS

Trislander wrote: »

Also I am very curious to know if I was not to respond what they constantly post letters through day by day

Unlikely with Jacobs - I used to deal with Jacobs every day and they tended to be in contact with debtors less often than some of the other companies. That being said, each enforcement agent has a case load and a way of working that case load so there will be some variation.

Trislander

Am I obliged to pay their charges they have added?

National_Debtline

Hi

You’ll owe the £75 compliance fee which would have been added straight away. If they’ve issued you with a notice of enforcement, allowed at least 7 days notice, and then attended your property they can also add a £235 enforcement fee.

You can try asking the council to take the debt back from the bailiffs and deal with you directly but most councils tend to say no until the bailiff passes it back to them. You can try offering affordable instalments to the bailiff and save the money up if they don't accept your offer.

You might find this council tax factsheet useful:

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

James
@natdebtline

Trislander

Thanks James
On that basis at what point would Jacobs pass the debt back? I know my council will not take it back
Ive dealt with these idiots before so have some experience but it kills me letting them "win"

fatbelly

Bailiffs seem to keep hold of the account for a few months, maybe six, before returning it.

James has given you information on the fees. Can you work out how your debt became £471? You should check that there isn't any funny business.

As things stand the fees are legitimately part of the 'sum due' and you won't avoid this by paying the council direct.

Trislander

The original debt was £235 but im assuming because they hand delivered a letter they have upped it to £471:mad:

CIS

Trislander wrote: »

The original debt was £235 but im assuming because they hand delivered a letter they have upped it to £471:mad:

If you've had the 7 day warning they are coming to collect goods then the second lot of fees are added if they've been out to collect. The first letter is usually posted out and subsequent letters are usually hand-delivered to show they've visited, which is why the second fee has been added in your case.

If a further postal letter is made then it's usually a final warning before handing back to the council.

Trislander

Ive not actually had anything sent in the post just the hand delivered ones the last 2 days

CIS

Trislander wrote: »

Ive not actually had anything sent in the post just the hand delivered ones the last 2 days

Usually Jacobs post the first one for ease but if they've got the staff (and dependent on what their contract with the council says) they can hand-deliver it and it doesn't affect the validity as long as the 7 day notice is given correctly.