Bristow & Sutor Council Tax Debt - Please Help

KendoNakadogin

Okay, so not knowing any better I let a Bristow/Sutor agent in re an outstanding Council Tax debt. I've been keeping in touch with them and keeping up repayments but missed one in December last due to Christmas, and asked if I could make a double payment this month to get me back on track. They told me that my temporary payment arrangement had expired and that I needed to make a payment by close of play yesterday to avoid further action - sending me the e-mail in such a way that I could not comply. Today, they sent me a copy of a letter demanding that I pay them the full £646 outstanding inside five days or they'll arrange another visit. There is NO WAY that I can pay that amount in that time and I'm sure they know it.
I've contacted them again by e-mail - 500 characters max so I had to split it over three messages - nice guys, eh - to let them know that I can't do that, but expressing a willingness - under protest and making a complaint to the appropriate authorities - to make increased repayments on a new monthly plan if they are willing to agree to one. My main concern is that I don't want them seizing any of my goods. How likely are they to do this? I do not have a car my flat is rented, and all that I really have of seizing value other than my TV is a laptop - which I gather they CAN'T take - and a lot of books and some die-cast models. But these do have sentimental value to me.

All advice welcomed. Thank you.

Arleen

Did you sign a controlled goods agreement during their last visit? What realistically you could pay today, and then further down the line? Posting an SOA from a sticky here will help!

KendoNakadogin

The controlled goods agreement is the hand-written inventory of possessions, right - I did sign that. Realistically I can pay sweet FA today - the earliest I can make another payment is next Friday, and I'd then only be able to manage monthly repayments as I've been doing so far. These were £40 but I'd be willing and able to up that to £50-60 a month if it mollified them...I'd guess that, outside of the telly, none of the stuff that I have would be worth their while to seize anyway, and that they tend not to seize things other than cars, cash and jewellery/precious metals-type stuff - like I say, I'm still willing and able to repay monthly, if somewhat annoyed about their bully-boy tactics and complete refusal to negotiate even a week's more delay in payment. I just don't want them seizing any of my stuff!

Arleen

They don't want to take your stuff either but you will need to be able to come up with some cash to get the payment plan back on track, probably close to half. Arrears for council tax are very serious matter as this is the only debt you can actually go to prison for. So really you will have to come up with money from somewhere. They are going to be a lot less understanding as you've defaulted on the previous agreement.

Are you sure that you are claiming all available benefits etc? Posting an SOA will help a lot: http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

While I understand your frustration with their lack of flexibility and their aggressive collection methods, this really doesn't change that you must resolve it, and fast. Are there some friends you can borrow from? Or family?

KendoNakadogin

Quick answer is no. My parents are retired and barely getting by, same for other family members, and none of my friends are particularly well-off either. A pain, but a realistic one.

KendoNakadogin

SOA -

[tt]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 760
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 760

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 410
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 50
Electricity............................. 60
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 14
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 20
TV Licence.............................. 14
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 55
Groceries etc. ......................... 65
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 10
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 718


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 760
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 718
Available for debt repayments........... 42
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 42

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 0

[/tt]

KendoNakadogin

I'm also currently training for a new job - on benefits only still till the training is over, but by the end of February I should be on a decent monthly wage which should enable me to considerably increase repayments. Is that likely to help?

Arleen

The biggest problem is that you didn't keep the previous agreement and can't come up with any downpayment. I would suggest trying to book with closest citizens advice (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/) and try to call council as soon as you can, explain your position and ask what it will take, realistically, to set a new payment plan. Maybe you can agree to something like 200 pounds downpayment and reinstatement of the plan, then it will be just matter of somehow finding the money.

Karonher

I know you have said there is no one in your circle particularly well off, but if you will have a good income in a month would they be able to help knowing that they could be paid back so quickly.

There are 3 £10 cuts that could be made for the month so you would be up to £70, so that would be just over £100 you would need to make a good offer.

I know you want to sort it but from their point of view the initial payment wasn't made and then the agreement was broken. It is understandable that they want to make sure the same thing does not happen again.

KendoNakadogin

The first paragraph you've written there was pretty much my thinking. With a steady decent wage - fingers crossed - I'd be in a much better position to repay quickly. And certainly even if I don't get a job after training is done there are further savings that I could make to bump up repayments. In about a month I should be in a much stronger repayment situation. As I say, it's not repaying I have an issue with. My two main concerns are would they take my stuff - which appears, from what's been said, thankfully extremely unlikely - and can I mollify them and get some affordable if larger repayments sorted until the job wages start coming in - which is appearing increasingly likely. Obviously still got a few butterflies in the stomach here, but thanks to everyone for their advice. I'm feeling a lot more confident about addressing the remainder of the debt in a more manageable manner now.

sourcrates

Unless you have assets of value, they won’t be taking anything.

Unfortunately letting them in initially was a mistake, but moving on, they will have to agree a new payment plan with you, simply put, they can’t take what you don’t have, so there will be no other choice.

Just don’t agree to anything you can’t afford.