council tax bailiffs

sd1988

I share a home with my partner and I don't work. The flat is in my name but he pays all rent and bills ect and he works as an engineer. He works and provides everything for me. I don't claim any benefits. I have some personal problems which is why I am out of work. I think I may have PTSD due to some events that happened and were ongoing a few years ago. I am very frightened by professionals such as anyone on the NHS ect as they are all part of my trauma so none of my problems are confirmed anywhere. I stay inside all day and don't really talk to anyone. Without my partner I would be homeless and most likely dead.

I got a letter yesterday to say that I owe £1,600 i council tax and that something called a 'magistrates liability order' has been made and that enforcement officers will be coming to my home. I don't own anything worth any money. All the electronic equipment in the house belongs to my partner.

I saw other council tax letters last year but my partner deals with the mail and he deals with everything usually, so I thought he sorted it.

I have been reading online that I could end up going to jail. I don't work, I don't even have a bank account. My partner doesn't even give me spending money. I ask for whatever I need and he takes me out to buy it. How can they charge me for taxes? I can't deal with going to prison. I am supposed to be moving with my partner to his home country of china later this year and we are getting married. If I have a criminal record I won't be able to do that and I might as well just hang myself. I am not in the right place mentally to cope with jail or court or any of that business.

I also think someone called today. Someone knocked at lunch time but didn't leave a note. My partner has told me not to answer the door, although I usually freak out when the door knocks anyway. He tried calling the tax people whilst he was at work, but they wanted to speak to me and refused to volunteer any information to him. I find it very hard to talk on the phone with professionals because of the trauma I experienced related to them. What happens next and how can I get out of this?

National_Debtline

Hi sd1998


I would encourage you to think about getting some help with how you are feeling. That doesn't have to be through the NHS, you could contact a mental health charity such as Mind (www.mind.org.uk) or Rethink (www.rethink.org) for some impartial help and advice.


The next thing is to reassure you council tax bailiffs cannot force entry unless they have been inside before. You need to keep your doors locked and not let them in, if you a car you will need to hide it. Sending someone to prison is a very last resort and not something you should worry about at. The important thing is not to ignore it and find out more.


Do you know what period the debt relates to? If it is for a time before you lived with your partner, that could explain why the debt is just in your name and why they won't discuss anything with your partner. You could give your partner written permission to act on your behalf so he can contact the council and bailiff for you. I'd also advise informing the bailiff you are vulnerable at the moment, you can use this sample letter https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/Pages/Tell-a-bailiff-that-you-are-vulnerable-%28sole-name%29.aspx. You may be able to get the council to take the debt back from the bailiff on this basis.


Once you know more about the debt and whether it is correct you can then look at your options to deal with it. You or your partner may want to call one of the free debt advice agencies for more help.


Susie
@natdebtline

CIS

Don't worry about Prison - the chance of someone going actually going to prison for council tax arrears is very, very, low (and it would be a way down the line from the current stage of action). The fact you have a liability order in your name at present won't give you a criminal record.

I share a home with my partner and I don't work. The flat is in my name but he pays all rent and bills ect and he works as an engineer. He works and provides everything for me. I

Both yourself and your partner should be named on the council tax account for the current property - if that isn't the case then that needs sorted to make sure it's correct.

I saw other council tax letters last year but my partner deals with the mail and he deals with everything usually, so I thought he sorted it.

To have been as far as a liability order there would have been at lease one demand notice, at least one reminder and a court summons. For whatever reason they must not have been dealt with. For enforcement agents to take any action on the case they will also first have provided a 7 day notice to give warning that they have been instructed by the council.

Ultimately they only way forward however is for the council to confirm the period of charge and for which address. Once you have this information then it is possible to consider what action needs to be taken.