So Worried -What Can I Do?

starlite_2

We are five months in arrears with our council tax, and the debt has been passed to a bailiff. We never recieved the court summons (we have a few problems with mail going missing/thrown away by neighbours in our shared hallway) and the bailiff has said we missed the opportunity to make a repayment arrangement.
we have been trying our best to get out of debt, and are making small repayments to all our creditors monthly, but had foolishly overlooked the council tax.
I am currently off work with pregnancy complications- I am 27 weeks, very ill and have enough stress without dealing with this. My boyfriend earns less than £170 per week, and we barely manage to live on this.
My claim for incapacity benefit is taking forever, and the social services have refused to make an interim pyment.
I spoke to the bailiff last week and he said we must pay £900 immediately so I asked for soe time to try and get it, but that time is now up and he is due to come round this morning.
We cannot get a loan (and I really want to avoid further debt anyway!) and family cannot help as they have been supplementing our income over these last difficult months and none of them are in a position to help us out.
The bailiff is refusing an arangement, even though I have literally £5 in my purse, and though my bf is paid tomorrow we will be left with £30 after bills and such are paid.
The council also won't help, saying it is for the bailiffs to deal with now.
We also don't have a great deal that the bailiff can take - no car, a very old tv, stereo borrowed from bf's parents etc.
What on earth can I do, do we have any options left?

lindens

I think when the bailiff comes round and sees you have no spare money and nothing he can seize to sell, he will just pass it back to the council.Good luck

rchddap1

Indeed. If you genuinely have nothing that they could take to make up to £900, and you have nothing in the bank to give them...and neither do family or friends the best policy is probably to be honest with them when they turn up. Of course they will try and put some pressure on you to see if there could be a way that you could get the money...but if you can't get it there is nothing they can do. THen they'll pass it back to the council

starlite_2

He has already refused to do that, or is it that he needs to see evidence first?
I'm worried he may take the tv and computer, which as I am pretty much housebound are the ponly things keeping me sane and connected to the outside world.
I have seen the drama on tv programmes such as 'bailiffs' and cannot imagine him being very sympathetic- he certainly hasn't been so far!

Bendybops19

Oh starlite i really feel for you.

I think that the computer will probably be taken, but hopefully if he has heart he will actually taken into account the fact that you are already poorly.


If you dont have the money, dont have any possesions to make the money up, it has to be passed back to the council.

Take care, dont make4 yourself any more poorly. xx

starlite_2

I can't imagine our old tv and computer brining more than £100 to be honest - which is only a tiny amount of the debt. I hope in this case he wouldn't bother.
But why will he not accept an arrangement? Surely it will save him and the council a lot of hassle to accept one now?

rchddap1

His job is to get the money as fast as he can. You have to try to understand that there are people out there that claim they don't have anything...when actually they do. Until he sees things for himself he has to keep putting pressure on you. WHen he turns up he may put pressure on you about family or friends helping. Try to relax, take a deep breath and be honest. Tell them that you've already asked family and friends and they simply can't help more than they have.

Do not worry too much about it. If you don't have the ability to pay then there is absolutely nothing that he can do.

starlite_2

Thanks everyone for your advice and well wishes..I'm just going to call him and see if he will give at all.
wish me luck!

lifesachallenge

Starlite - you poor thing. You must explain the situation to the baliff, especially your condition - as he may be inclined to use horrible bully tactics that are very frightening - hopefully if you tell him your delicate condition, there may be a sensitive side that will stop him from being too hard

I am also surpised that in this situation the Council will not help - or Citizens advice who will do some of the hard negotiating for you

On a sneaky note, hide things like sentimental jewllery; engagement/wedding rings or inherited bits - as they will be worth nothing towards the debt but the baliff will take them - seriously hide what you can get away with - other than that be hoinest

Good luck - let us know how you can get on so we can offer support

starlite_2

To be honest I don't have any valuable jewellery- only a ring I got for my 21st which is at my mums where i forgot it last time I visited, and everything else is claires accesories or new look..hehe
Do they really have the right to go through our drawers etc? I would be horrified to have to deal with that.
I have tried to contact cab but our local office is appaling..I tried to speak to them a couple of months back about my benefit claim and spent four days trying to get through, with the line going straight to an answerphone- and they never returned my messages.
It also cost us a fortune as it is an 0845 number and i must have called literally 100 times.
The impression I am getting is that it is far too late for anything..what about attachment of earnings? I've heard that mentioned whilst searching the forum for people in a similar situation and am wondering how and if they would set this up (and if it would cripple us!)

Bendybops19

lifesachallenge - i was going to suggest hiding special bits, but i wasnt sure if i would get blasted for it!
I think its definately worth hiding away bits that are precious to you.

I just wish i could do more for you ( If i had £900 i would do a bank transfer to you right now )

Please do take care of yourself, at the end of the day, what can the baliff do? You dont have the money, you dont have anything he can take, and your trying your hardest to cope with all your financial problems. So just relax, make a cup of tea and wait for him to come round so you can explain everything.