15 yr old comunity charge bill

b14ck

hi,
i've just recieved a 15 yr old bill for community charge from a previous address that i dont think i owe as i was out of work at the time.
they say i must ring them ASAP otherwise they be sending the ballifs round.
what can i do?
i thought it would have been wrote off by now as its older than some school leavers !!!!!!

chugalug

Don't acknowledge the 'debt' at all and take advice - don't contact the council even by telephone. Most debts are gone after 6 or 12 years but council tax is a law unto itself being one of the few debts you can go to prison for! Go to CAB - unlikely that they will know as this area is specialist but they could possibly direct you to someone who would know.

jockettuk

i would contact the council to let them know you have received it and that you are seeking advice on it.. if you ignore them they might just do as they say and send the ballifs round.

b14ck

i was thinking not to acknowledge the debt but as the letter states they will be sending balliffs round to recover it if i dont get in touch with them,i dont want to ring them as i'm sure i still owe them poll tax from 20 yrs ago and i dont want them to know where i am.
if i dont ring them and balliffs do come it will cost even more.
what do i do?

daveboy

I would be of the opinion that if it is the old form of local tax, that it would be defunct in law.

If you owe council tax since it replaced the old Poll Tax then you might be in trouble. I would certainly be of the opinion that if the law on which this is based is dead, you certainly shouldn't pay it.

Failing that, if this is the first demand for it - after 15 years I think other legislation would stop that as well. Research is needed on that one.

Mumstheword

Well, I suppose if you do owe it, then the easiest solution is to pay it. Not nice, I know, lol

Mumxx

Edit: just re read your first post saying you dont think you owe it. Not sure then as I'm sure you wont have any evidence now of your unemployment back then. Wasn't even aware unemployment exempted you from it!

Midas

I would seek specialist advice asap. Try CAB first, they should be able to establish the true legal position for you.

Debt_Free_Chick

Careful here ..... the 6 year rule under the Statute of Limitation starts from the day the demand is issued. Do you know when the demand was first issued?

Get advice as soon as possible. Get down to CAB first thing tomorrow morning or call the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 - and do it NOW.

Read THIS about dealing with bailiffs. It tells you exactly what to do to prevent them getting access to your property. Ignore that TV show and read the factsheet on that link from the National Debtline.

HTH

b14ck

i'll ring the CAB first thing tomorrow.the first time i was aware of the council wanting the debt was around 2 months after i'd moved out of the flat and i bumped into the landlord who i didn't get on with and he'd obviously opened and read my mail as he asked me if i'd paid my community charge yet,in a sarcastic manner,this was around april 1992.
this is now the second letter i've recieved from the council,the first was around 2 weeks back saying they'd been looking for me for sometime.

chugalug

Surely if you've only just heard from the council that they've been looking for you for some time you couldnt have acknowledged the 'debt'. And before bailiff's can be instructed the council has to obtain a court order - they would have to serve a summons on you. Not easy if they can't find you. I don't think the bailiff's are imminent just scare tactics. Take advice but don't contact the council yet as they will then know that you have received their letter. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Xbigman

Apparently community charge debts never run out and they almost certainly have a liability order out on you already. Don't ignore this debt, its serious.
Regards



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