Can anybody help me regarding Council tax arrears?

lilly153

I'm sorry i don't really no what board to post this is let me know if it should be somewhere else.

I am a single parent i work 30 hours per week (Min wage) and i am really struggling to pay everything. I get a single person discount on my council tax but i suppose stupidly its another one of thous bills i cant afford so don't always pay in full and I've got my self in a really bad situation. Which i take full responsibility for and i am trying to sort it out but I'm at a loss as to where walker love want me to magic this money from. From April this year I'm going to make every effort to start paying in full so no more arrears mount up.

This is what i owe them to date.

2007/2008 £454.96

2008/2009 £200.55

2009/2010 £171.47

2009/2010 £33.15

2013/2014 £58.36

2014/2015 £651.34

2015/2016 £699.81

2015/2016 £56.94

2016/2017 £687.05

Walker Love are demanding £45 min payment EVERY WEEK. Ive sent them all my incoming and outgoing etc (im in minus every week) but they dont seem to want to compromise any. I've had a standing order set up for months with £5 consistently being paid every week but thats not good enough i have offered to up this to £10 every week but again they just flat out refuse and want £45 min every single week. Can they just arrest my bank if i dont agree to the £45/ do they need to take me to court first? I'm honestly so stressed over this situation but i physically don't have any more to give them by the time i pay my full rent, childcare, car(which i need to keep my job) electricity and gas I'm beyond skint. I don't drink, smoke i never ever go out so its not like Im enjoying life:(

sorry ive rambled a bit any advice would be greatly appreciated

CIS

lilly153 wrote: »

I'm sorry i don't really no what board to post this is let me know if it should be somewhere else.

I am a single parent i work 30 hours per week (Min wage) and i am really struggling to pay everything. I get a single person discount on my council tax but i suppose stupidly its another one of thous bills i cant afford so don't always pay in full and I've got my self in a really bad situation. Which i take full responsibility for and i am trying to sort it out but I'm at a loss as to where walker love want me to magic this money from. From April this year I'm going to make every effort to start paying in full so no more arrears mount up.

This is what i owe them to date.

2007/2008 £454.96

2008/2009 £200.55

2009/2010 £171.47

2009/2010 £33.15

2013/2014 £58.36

2014/2015 £651.34

2015/2016 £699.81

2015/2016 £56.94

2016/2017 £687.05

Walker Love are demanding £45 min payment EVERY WEEK. Ive sent them all my incoming and outgoing etc (im in minus every week) but they dont seem to want to compromise any. I've had a standing order set up for months with £5 consistently being paid every week but thats not good enough i have offered to up this to £10 every week but again they just flat out refuse and want £45 min every single week. Can they just arrest my bank if i dont agree to the £45/ do they need to take me to court first? I'm honestly so stressed over this situation but i physically don't have any more to give them by the time i pay my full rent, childcare, car(which i need to keep my job) electricity and gas I'm beyond skint. I don't drink, smoke i never ever go out so its not like Im enjoying life:(

sorry ive rambled a bit any advice would be greatly appreciated

Are you in England, Scotland or Wales ?

Craig

lilly153

Scotland sorry should have said that

CIS

lilly153 wrote: »

Scotland sorry should have said that

To arrest an account they need the Summary Warrant - if Walker Love are acting then it looks like the Summary Warrant has probably already been granted (it's a mere formality to the council in obtaining it).

Once the Sheriff's Officers have the case and the Summary Warrant then they can issue the order to arrest an account if they see it to be the correct course of action.

Craig

lilly153

so does that mean they can just start taking money from my bank?

CIS

lilly153 wrote: »

so does that mean they can just start taking money from my bank?

They need your agreement otherwise they need to apply back to the court for a 'decree of furthcoming' to seize any monies.

Do you work ?


You could look at applying for a 'time to pay order' - https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/factsheets/Pages/03%20SCOT%20Council%20tax%20recovery/Page-02.aspx

Craig

EssexHebridean

I'll leave others to deal with your original question, but will say if you've not already set up a Direct debit for the monthly amount of the Council tax, then you really should do this as a matter of urgency. That way there's no risk of it going unpaid or part paid.

Can I suggest you might post a Statement of Affairs (SOA) on here - we can take a look and see if there is anywhere that you can make savings that you might have missed. You'll find the link to the SOA calculator at the top of this board in the "sticky" thread there. Just complete, format for MSE, and post into this thread.

CIS

Sorry, just seen that you do work.

They can issue an arrestment order against your earnings which will seize a % each pay period towards the arrears,

Craig

lilly153

yes i work 30 hours per week, I've not had anything through regarding a time to pay just threatening letter to say the will start enforcement action so ive contacted them regarding being able to pay it up but now ive got an email from them saying ive to pay £45 per week starting next week or failure to pay may result in enforcement action.
ive just changed my standing order for them to £10 a week instead of my usual £5 but i will defo look into the time to pay link

i will post soa as well, and do you mean setting up a Direct Debit for next years council tax just now?

nmlc

Afternoon

Sorry to hear that you are struggling so badly, I note you're in Scotland so rules may be different. Are you entltled to Working Tax Credits/Tax Credits? Could you be entitled to housing benefit to help pay your rent? You said you get Single Person Discount for your Council Tax, but are you entitled to Council Tax Benefit/Support? Tax Credits are dealt with by DWP and Housing Bens and Council Tax Bens/Support will be dealt with by your local council (if it's the same as in England). Also have you taken any debt advice from Citizens Advice Bureau? Or Step Change - they could give you advice relevant to where you live.

This are just a few things that came to mind - hopefully some of it may help you.

Keep safe and well x

nmlc x

lilly153

im not entitled to any housing benefits or council tax benefits ive done quick calculation on one of the free benefit check sites. i do get tax credits and working tax credits already. No i have contacted my local cab but trying to fit in an appointment around my work wasn't possible so i have been in touch with the national debtline to see if they could offer any advice but still waiting on a reply from them