Dukes Bailiffs Council Tax please help

ziotree

Hi

I need some help please regarding £981.00 council tax debt and fees.

I was visited by Dukes bailiffs on Tuesday regarding a Council Tax debt that I have on an old property.

I previously agreed a payment plan for the debt with Dukes for £100 a month this was the minimum they would accept but i struggled to keep with this as I've been paying my current council tax (which is up to date) and missed two months payment.

As a result they came to the house on Tuesday and spoke to my girlfriend (I was at work) and passed her the letter.

I rang the bailiffs personal mobile number that was written on the letter and they refuse to accept any payment plan at all now as they said I broke the previous plan and need full payment or they will take my goods.

I asked for a breakdown of the fees and the bailiff texted me the following

£981.62
£75 compliance
£235 enforcement visit

I want to get this sorted and I can probably get enough money together to pay the full amount minus the fees (£310) but I would really struggle to get the whole £981.62 they are demanding in the short space of time they have given me (27th Oct they will be returning). I was just wondering is there any way I can get out of paying the fees they have added on to the account or are those fees legit and have to be paid???

Thanks in advance for any help.

National_Debtline

Hi Ziotree,


In short, the fees are legit and legally form part of the debt as long as the matter is with the bailiffs. Assuming you have never let the bailiffs in before, and nothing has been signed with them, you are in a better position that the bailiffs have told you. However, if you have let them in before or signed anything you need to call one of the free debt charities for advice ASAP.


Unfortunately, your experience is all too common where bailiffs refuse a second payment plan, however, you can write/ email the office, with a SOA and still try and pay instalments. If they refuse you should send the payments anyway through their automated pay service - normally available online. Any payments made will be split between their fees and the debt - even if you pay direct to the council (the first £75 is paid to the compliance fee).


Again, assuming the bailiffs have not been inside your home before, and nothing has ever been signed with them, then the best thing you can do is refuse to let them in. They can only come inside if you let them in or if they find an open or unlocked door. So, lock the house and refuse to let them in. And make sure that anything valuable outside, like cars, are hidden on private land to keep them safe from the bailiffs.


Laura
@natdebtline

Herbie21

ziotree wrote: »

Hi

I need some help please regarding £981.00 council tax debt and fees.

I was visited by Dukes bailiffs on Tuesday regarding a Council Tax debt that I have on an old property.

£981.62
£75 compliance
£235 enforcement visit

I was just wondering is there any way I can get out of paying the fees they have added on to the account or are those fees legit and have to be paid???

Thanks in advance for any help.

It is very difficult to avoid bailiff fees and to explain further, it may be easier to read the following popular page from my website:

http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index/council-tax-national-non-domestic-rate-nndr/can-i-avoid-bailiff-fees-by-paying-the-council

PS: As Laura from National Debt Line has confirmed, once a account is passed to an enforcement company by the local authority (or any creditor), then the enforcement agent fees form 'part of the debt' and according, any amount paid that is less than the 'amount due' is merely considered a 'part payment'.