Scott and Co (Glasgow/Edinburgh office)

Legacy_user

Please please help!!! I have Sheriff Officers from Scott & Co coming to my house on Friday 22 July. I live in Glasgow. I phoned their Edinburgh office on Monday, they phoned the Glasgow office. Edinburgh then told me that Glasgow were looking for £125 per month. I told them we could not accept that. I cannot get a job because of my health. My partner is only on a low wage on 35 hours per week. Advisor told me if I phoned back on Wednesday and paid the missed payment arrangement payment of 40 per fortnight then I could set up the payment arrangement again. I called yesterday to be told that that was not what was written on the system from my conversation on Monday. Instead the system said that I had been told that the sheriff officers are coming to my door on 22 July to give me a payment charge. the woman that I spoke with yesterday did not believe what I told her actually was said on Monday. I asked to speak with a manager to put in a complaint. she would not let me. She then said that she could get a manager to call today at a time that suited me. I asked for after 2 pm today. I was told that she would put in a complaint on my behalf. The woman that I spoke with yesterday called me this morning and left me a message asking me to call her back. I called back. She was not available. There has been nothing at all done about my complaint. I very much doubt it was even written up. Scott & Co in Edinburgh have now said that they will accept only £168 per month and that was it. As I said that we could not afford that, I was not even allowed to make a payment to them today. I was told if I could not afford the £168 per month I was to send in an income and expenditure to their office. I rather stupidly called the Glasgow office. Apparently I was put through to the advisor who had told the advisor from Edinburgh that Glasgow were looking for £125 per month. This advisor was awful. No empathy at all and he spoke to me like I was a piece of dirt on his shoe. He told me that an income and expenditure form will NOT be accepted without proof of both our bank statements, my benefits award letter and my partners wage slips. I told them that the income and expenditure had been done by a Debt Advisor for a company that is helping me with our debt. I was told that I either send in all the proof or we get taken to court, the choice apparently was mine. I asked where on the terms and conditions that this was specified. I was told that there was nothing on the website terms and conditions about Scott and co being allowed to demand all this proof. I was told that it was part of their training. I told the advisor that I was going to talk with a lawyer. I called my local law centre. I have an appointment for next week. I have now phoned Scott & Co to tell them that I will be speaking with a lawyer. I am fed up being bullied by them. In the meantime, I have their sheriff officers turning up at my house tomorrow. I was told today by Scott & co that we will will have 14 days to agree to an acceptable payment arrangement with them which of course will probably now be more than £168 per month or they will take us to court. I do not feel comfortable allowing these people access to our property.:(

sourcrates

Give National Debtline (Scotland) a ring, now, tonight.

They will be able to best advise you on this, stay off the phone to Scott & co, it's never advisable to contact them any other way except in writing.

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/Pages/default.aspx

What was the debt for ? Has it been to court, or are they just acting as a debt collector ?

National_Debtline

Hi Mac007 and welcome to the forum.


Your post indicates that you are spending an awful lot of time back and forth on the phone to Scott and Co - I would suggest that there is little point in engaging in lengthy conversations with them at present. At present you may be better off simply making any payments you are able to afford regardless of their acceptance or refusal. It may also be possible to make an application to the court directly for "time to pay":


https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/factsheets/Pages/06%20SCOT%20Time%20to%20pay%20directions%20and%20orders/Default.aspx


Tomorrow's scheduled visit appears to simply be for the purposes of serving you with a Charge for Payment. This is a formal demand for the outstanding balance which should be served to you in person where possible. It gives you 14 days to settle the debt, after which the creditor may apply to the courts for diligence, such as an earnings arrestment. Read more about diligence here:


https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/factsheets/Pages/04%20SCOT%20Diligence%20-%20how%20creditors%20can%20enforce%20debts/Default.aspx#


Please note that there is no requirement for you to allow the sheriff officers entry to your property tomorrow.


You refer to a debt advisor from a company "helping" you with the debt - is this company charging you a fee? Either way, why are they not handling this particular matter, or at least helping you deal with Scott & Co?


I would strongly recommend that you contact one of the free advice charities for more detailed information, especially if you have not already done so.


Dennis
@natdebtline

System

The debt is for council tax. We were already behind. But on a payment arrangement with Scott & Co. Due to a serious illness I was unable to pay April 2016 council tax. Before I even had chance to contact council tax, they had already transferred this years ctax to Scott & Co. It was on 15 May I think. My partner was so worried about how ill I was that he just piled up all the mail. I applied for ctax reduction but we are not entitled. No it has not been to court. I got told today we have 14 days then it will go to further action. I spoke with my local Law Centre. They cannot see me until Monday. I think it was the National Debt Line that I called today to get an income and expenditure done. I am so worried that because I complained about Scott & Co that is why this has happened. I was told by them they want this years ctax paid plus extra to the arrears. They have been trying for weeks to get my partners bank details and name of his employer from me. I have alreadt told them that they are not getting that information. That is why they are now demanding it with the income and expenditure form. Do I have to provide proof of all our finances to Scott & Co?

National_Debtline

Hi again Mac007


The council (or in this case, sheriff officers acting on their behalf) can demand that you supply details of your employer, along with details of anyone else who is liable to pay council tax at that address e.g. your partner. Failure to supply this information can lead to an initial penalty of £50 being imposed, followed by a further penalty of £200 on each subsequent occasion that the information is requested but not provided.


For what it is worth, I don't think any of this has been affected one way or the other by your complaint about Scott & Co.


If you are going in to see the law centre on Monday, I recommend that you take in any income & expenditure form you have completed, and that you ask them about completing a "time to pay" application. This can be done on a form DSA2 which ought to have been enclosed with the other papers served on you. If not, a template version can be found here:


https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/factsheets/Pages/03%20SCOT%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Page-09.aspx


Dennis
@natdebtline

CIS

Mac007 wrote: »

I applied for ctax reduction but we are not entitled. No it has not been to court.

If Scott and Co are involved it sounds like it already has been to court.

National_Debtline

CIS wrote: »

If Scott and Co are involved it sounds like it already has been to court.

Yes, indeed. The council will have had to apply to the sheriff court for a summary warrant before Scott and Co. can serve this charge for payment on Mac007.


Dennis
@natdebtline

CIS

National_Debtline wrote: »

Yes, indeed. The council will have had to apply to the sheriff court for a summary warrant before Scott and Co. can serve this charge for payment on Mac007.


Dennis
@natdebtline

Scottish council tax is my weak area - never needed to deal with their system.

Craig

System

Dennis

I am really confused. I have been taking advice from National Debt Line Scotland. I asked about the wage slips and the advisor told me that Scott Co can NOT demand them. I am now really confused. Our ctax has been passed over to Scott & Co. I was told by Scott & Co that they want the bank statements, wage slips and proof of all cash coming out of our accounts. We pay TV by payment card and we have a key electricity meter. I am still recovering from a spell in hospital. This whole situation is making me ill. I have hardly slept and ate for 3 days. I agree about the Time to Pay. I will see what the lawyer says and I hope they can help. Thank you for your advice. The sheriff officers have so far not appeared.

System

Papers served yesterday. SO's did not even chap on door. Just put through letter box. The only thing with the letter was the Accountant in Bankruptcy booklet. Partner will get wage slips asap. Partner is now saying he will get a loan. I am worried he won't pass a credit check. I already know that I won't. I think council is pushing for bankruptcy. I was told if we go bankrupt we would lose Sky and mobile phone contract. I was also told to change our bank accounts from Scottish banks to English banks because then the accounts can't be arrested. Partner will not talk about it. If I bring up the subject of how very serious this is, the subject is changed. He is being an Ostrich. Do you think I should ask the lawyer about a Trust Deed? Also Scott & Co said the charge was £79.80. The charge was £96.25.

sourcrates

OP, how much do you actually owe ?


I doubt very much they will make you Bankrupt, I know things operate differently in Scotland, but usually in England, if you don't let the bailiffs in, they make 3 attempts to collect on the debt, then it gets passed back to the council, and the customer is usually able to set up a payment plan again.


I would assume things will be similar in Scotland, I've never heard of a council making someone bankrupt for unpaid council tax !!