in debt to council tax

michael2007

hi am looking for some helpful advice im young and inexperienced with this kind of thing.

I owe tax quite alot £3000 odd, i received a summons and recently went to the CAB the woman was able to type my reference in and see my council tax account.

I was told that the council probably wouldnt accept monthly payments now, as it had reached this stage, the woman checked and there was no record of my telephone calls - i called them numerous times to find out about how to make payments and enquire about my council tax. the staff at council were very rude to me and hung up on me.

also i was never told anywhere that i could have paid monthly at the CAB office after council refusing monthly payments. she told me this the day i went to CAB. I wish i had known this.

she said i should write a letter to bailiff (who i have never dealt even heard from) but supposedly one came out in january & left a letter, but there was no letter left) i should offer to pay £.......per month + enclose the first payment to show willingness to pay and that the CAB would forward it internally.

is that the best way?

should i try the council first with this letter and enclose a cheque for first payment and see if they accept it rather than the bailiff and if so who should i address it to?

im worried if i send monthly payments to a bailiff via CAB then bailif may try to rip me off and what if they add on charges, pretend not to have received payments or never confirm the payment agreement?

Also is the bailiff she is talking about probably based at the council therefore sending a letter to council reinforcement dept, would go to the bailiffs anyway? or would it be a separate company?

i want to arrange payment of £50 - £100 a month, i just want to post a cheque each month i dont want to have bailiffs coming out to the house.

i dont know whether to send payment to bailiff through CAB or try sending it to council please could someone offer some advice