Help needed asap please

spacemonkey79

Hi I new to this so please excuse any mistakes.

I had the Bailiffs call round on friday about my council tax, I know I should have paid this on time but I have had so much to deal with in the past 6 months I couldn't cope. Anyway I didn't let them in as I was on my own and asked her to come back at another time when my husband would be here, which she agreed to and is due to come round today at 1:30pm today. I asked her if I could pay half on the 21st and the other half on 15th of next month, she told me this is fine but needs to make a list of goods before she can agree to this. That is why she is coming today. I have read somewhere you can get the bailiffs called off under special conditions but it just says long term sick, Do you know what is classed as long term sick? I'm am not saying I don't want to pay it just that I can't afford to pay it untill the 21st.

When I had the first letter from them I rang them to query the ammount as I had just made a payment to the council the said they would check this then get back to me to sort this and arrange a repayment plan, the next thing I hear from them is when she knocked my door on friday.

I really don't know what to do and I'm frightened if I don't let them in they will go back to court and take this further. All I want to do is make the payments.

Sorry I ment to say it is for £282.50.

Thank you for reading this and for any advice you may be able to offer.

xx

immoral_angeluk

Long term sickness would be classed as something you were given a doctors note and signed off sick for.

spacemonkey79

Thank you I have been off work since I lost my son in september I guess I'm classed as long term sick then.

immoral_angeluk

Do you still have your doctors note or can you get hold of one? I expect the council would want to see it...

spacemonkey79

Yeah I'm still off and I know my doctor would do a letter or provide copies of my sick notes for me.

immoral_angeluk

I would give the council a ring and explain then. tell them you wish to sort out a repayment and have the bailiffs called off on account of you being on long term sickness and offer to provide copies of the evidence to support this. Make sure if you agree to anything that they confirm it in writing.

spacemonkey79

Hi, thanks for your advice. I have just rang the council and they said they can't recall it for any reasons other than if I'm on income support. She just kept saying don't let them in. I don't know what to do now.

Got2change

Bailiffs - scary aren't they?

Once they have been allowed in peacefully (i.e. - you let them in....), it may be the case that they can force entry subsequently; I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you more but you need to be aware.

Having said that, if I were you (been in a worse place as it happens ) - I would not answer the door on this next occasion and IN THE MEANTIME - look at form N245 on www.hmcs.co.uk - if that's not the correct website, google her majesty's court service. This is a form to request time to pay/terms etc. and, according to what I was told by an actual bailiff, stops them from calling.....

Problem here is the immediacy of their next visit. You have done the right thing in calling the Council and I would suggest that you call them again (possibly mentioning the form that I refer to?) - again, not that it helps but bailiffs do have a code of conduct that they should follow (try googling bailiffs) and should be careful in their handling of vulnerable people - of which you are one.

Sorry it's a bit scatterbrained information - I'm sorry to hear of your situation and wish I could help more.....

immoral_angeluk

Don't let them in. Call the bailiffs up again and make a payment arrangement. Tell them you will not be letting them in and have already contacted the council (you don't have to tell them why.).

spacemonkey79

Thank you so much. I will look up that form now. I rang the bailiffs office and they said as soon as she returns the file to them they are happy to make an arragment with me to pay it. I'm going to try and ring the bailiff (as she left her mobile number) and make her aware I wont be letting her in.

spacemonkey79

I can't get in contact with the bailiff as it keeps going to answer phone. I have left a message for her to contact me.
I'm so worried about her coming.

Thanks again for all your help