Advice re: Council Tax debt not originally in my name but bailiffs chasing me!

oxondaemonfeurer

Hi everyone,

I hope someone out there can help me...

I am a mature full time student with a small son who met a lovely new partner who moved in with us last March. Up until that time I had been a single mum who as a full time student was not liable to pay council tax and I also had a current housing benefit claim.

I notified the council within a month as necessary and forwarded details of my partners income etc, he is on incapacity benefit due to an ear balance and anxiety issue. They amended the housing benefit accordingly and all I thought was sorted.

Unbeknown to me, they then started to send my partner demands for council tax, unfortunately my partner was in a bad way with the anxiety and he admits he was stupid in that he was not opening his post but tucking it away... this resulted in the council taking the council tax arears to the magistrates and obtaining a liability order... and the first I knew of it was when nasty letters started coming from a baliff company in both our names...

My concern is, how can they issue a liability notice in my name if I had not received any communication about the debt and am I liable? I have contacted the baliff company on a couple of occasions (very rude on the phone!) and have quoted various acts re harrisment but both they and the council say that my partner still owes over £400 despite his sole income being incapacity benefit and the fact they had an open housing benefit claim which showed our limited income... they say they cannot do anything about it as it went to the magistrates..

My questions are;
1. Am i legally liable despite never receiving correspondance prior to the baliffs visit?
2. Shouldn't they have countered in the income/benefit claim to the council tax bill?
3. What can I do to stop the baliffs and get this sorted?

many thanks in advance...

oxondaemonfeurer

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice that might help?

thanks

RAS

Hi

Hi two web-sites that might help

Herbie 21

The bailiff by law can charge just £24.50 for a first visit and £18.00 for a second visit.

There is further advise on here:

www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk



if necessary, pm Herbie21. She gives lots of help on here.



and from SC

Some of the info here might be useful to you.

Hope you get sorted x

http://www.tipsandwrinkles.com/?p=25

PayPeanuts_2

Hi,

I would start with the Complaints Officer at your council, this will normally suspend any bailiff action while they investigate. If you get no joy try the Local Governments Ombudsman on 0845 602 1983.


If that doesn't help I would speak to your local councillor.

Good luck x