Bristow & Sutor chasing me for Council Tax and unwilling to help!

JayWizard

Yesterday I got a surprise knock at the door. I didn't answer because I seen through the CCTV that it was 2 guys holding clipboards. I assumed it was door to door marketing. I don't answer the door unless I'm expecting a visit.

They left and pushed a letter through the door saying they were hear to levy goods for unpaid council tax. I've never paid it, I'm on ESA and DLA. The last borough I lived in didn't charge me. I moved house to a new area in January and they put me down as "working". For a month I was paying for rent out of benefits until they corrected the mistake. I assumed that the council tax bill was a related error.

Stupidly I ignored their letter.

I called the officer and explained the situation. I called the council this morning and they verified I have to pay 20%. News to me. I tried to call the officer back today and his phone is off.

So, I called Bristow and Sutor directly. I explained I will not be answering the door to bailiffs and if they can set up a payment plan for me. They refused and instructed me to deal with the enforcement officer as it's now with him. I then asked if I could come into the office and deal with this. Again I was refused and they said it would be a waste of my time. They will deal with me if I pay it all off in one go though - which I can't do because I'm on a low income.

I've called the council and offered to pay them weekly and they refused.

So the only way I can deal with this is by opening the door to the enforcement officer. Which I'm unwilling to do. They want to gain access to levy the goods and intimidate me.

I'm not being evasive. I want to pay this. I'm on a low income so can not afford the full amount.

What other options are available?

National_Debtline

Hi Jaywizard and welcome to MSE,


You are right not to open the door, in fact, keep all of your doors locked, don't let the bailiffs in and hide anything valuable outside to keep it safe from the bailiffs. Stay off the phone, instead, write or email the bailiff office and make your offer again. Ensure to attach a SOA to show what you can afford.


If they continue to refuse the offer you may be able to pay through their website or over the phone through an automated pay service. If that isn't an option, save the money at home until you have enough to pay the debt and their fees.

They will charge you a £75 compliance fee and a £235 enforcement fee but as long as they don't get in or take control of anything outside, there are no more fees they can charge. If you can clear it all by April it will help you next year with your new council tax payments, but that isn't essential if you can't afford it.


Laura
@natdebtline

JayWizard

Thank you so much for your advice. It has been most helpful.

I will get a letter written tonight with my offer and see what they say. I am currently on a low income but will attach all benefits information and outgoings.

I'm on a back to work scheme at the moment and have an interview next week for an office job. With any luck if I get that I'll be able to pay it off much faster.

Many thanks again,

J

CIS

JayWizard wrote: »

Yesterday I got a surprise knock at the door. I didn't answer because I seen through the CCTV that it was 2 guys holding clipboards. I assumed it was door to door marketing. I don't answer the door unless I'm expecting a visit.

They left and pushed a letter through the door saying they were hear to levy goods for unpaid council tax. I've never paid it, I'm on ESA and DLA. The last borough I lived in didn't charge me. I moved house to a new area in January and they put me down as "working". For a month I was paying for rent out of benefits until they corrected the mistake. I assumed that the council tax bill was a related error.

Stupidly I ignored their letter.

I called the officer and explained the situation. I called the council this morning and they verified I have to pay 20%. News to me. I tried to call the officer back today and his phone is off.

So, I called Bristow and Sutor directly. I explained I will not be answering the door to bailiffs and if they can set up a payment plan for me. They refused and instructed me to deal with the enforcement officer as it's now with him. I then asked if I could come into the office and deal with this. Again I was refused and they said it would be a waste of my time. They will deal with me if I pay it all off in one go though - which I can't do because I'm on a low income.

I've called the council and offered to pay them weekly and they refused.

So the only way I can deal with this is by opening the door to the enforcement officer. Which I'm unwilling to do. They want to gain access to levy the goods and intimidate me.

I'm not being evasive. I want to pay this. I'm on a low income so can not afford the full amount.

What other options are available?

At this stage the aim of the enforcement agents is to collect the full payment from you - they're under no requirement to take anything other then full payment however as mentioned above they will be instructed not to refuse any payments made (even if they're not giving a formal payment arrangement).

Very few local authorities pay 100% Council Tax Support (except in certain specified cases) - 80% is pretty much what most local authorities will cap the level of Council Tax that is covered by Council Tax Support.

You need to make sure that all letters from the council etc are checked to try and stop the issues escalating again in future. If it had been actioned at any earlier date (it's already been through a demand notice, at least one reminder and a court summons before the liability order was granted) then you could likely have had the local authority set up an Attachment of Benefit Order for £3.70 per week before an enforcement agent was considered.

Craig