Bailiff threatening removal

lonew0lf

Hi, I was arrears on council tax we we moved house and was sent a summons. However, I paid the dues before the court date but not the £60 summons fee. I didnt hear anything after since we no longer lived in that property and it was the final bill. 
However, yesterday an enforcement agency started calling us and threatening us to pay £410 (£100 fee + £310 bailiff fee). I didnt not receive any correspondence from them previous to this although they claim they have sent letter to previous addresses. What can we do? I dont want to pay these bailiff fees as I feel they are unfair..and now they are threatening to start removal process and add on further fees.

sourcrates

You ask - "What can we do ?"

Well don`t allow them into your property for starters, bailiffs cannot force entry for council tax debts, but if you allow them entry, you will also become liable for the removal fee of at least £110.
It was a mistake not to pay the summons fee, its now going to cost you a lot more.

What do bailiffs charge?

• £75 will be added to your debt when the initial ‘Notice of enforcement’ letter is sent
• £235 +7.5% of the debt’s value over £1,500 will be added when the bailiff makes their first visit
• £110 +7.5% of the debt’s value over £1,500 will be added if the bailiff comes back to remove your goods
• Other storage and auction costs will be added if your goods are removed and sold

Bailiff fees are fixed in law, so the bailiff can’t charge you more than the standard amounts. 

This means that the bailiff can't keep adding more and more fees.

Your debt won`t get any larger now, so you should write to them with an offer of payment, otherwise they will keep pushing for the full cash amount all at once.