Please help with Equita and Council

JTG1959

Hi, I am Jon and I have been sent here by a friend who says you are the best people with advice.

I had lots of debt left from a bad marriage. But have slowly worked to get rid of it all. I was debt free but then I lost my job due to constantly being off work with stress and anxiety. I've been unemployed since August, but unwell since March. I paid all my bills by standing order or direct debit, but not my council tax. I just forgot, Its sounds stupid but I did.

So I eventuallt plucked up courage to open my mail a little while ago and saw I owed tax. I paid £20 which was all I had. Then they sent a letter from Equita. I called the council to ask how much I owe, they said to ask Equita. I asked my Universal Credit lady and she said I shouldnt be pauying full c tax when unemployed. SO i called back council again, They said they couldnt help me as it was with equita now.

Equita now sent me a letter called Notice of Intention. It seems to be a bailiff warning. There is no details at all of how much they want.

I am going frantic. I dont own anything in this flat, I sold everything I had to pay off my last debts. I have written to equita telling them I am beiing treated for mental health and that Im unemployed. Ive heard nothing.

What can I do? No one seems to listen to me. I would set up a payment plan but no one will tell me what I owe.

Last time I ended up with heart stress in hospital, I cant do that again.

Please advise me, thank you so much, I am so frightened

sourcrates

Hi,

It’s likely equita will be making a house call soon, don’t allow them access to your home, they cannot force entry, no matter what they may say, keep them outside, they will attend up to 3 times, then pass the debt back to the council, there fees will be added, but you will then be able to arrange a payment plan.

Council tax, as you are aware, is a priority debt, try not to get behind again, as it causes no end of trouble.

WhenIam64

but not my council tax. I just forgot,

The bailiff will want paying or a payment plan. So the first thing to do is to call the bailiff company and ask for an Income and Expense form. Fill it out as best you can and see what offer you can make. Then go to the council and get an idea of your total liability.

Since you are not working, have you applied for Council Tax Reduction? It may be the amount you should have paid (and there is usually something) may not be as large as it should be.

As SC says it is a priority debt so should be paid before non-priority debts such as credit cards.

If you want help with what should be on the Income and Expense form then do a Statement of Accounts and we'll help see if you can trim enough from your expenses to help pay the CT