Urgent Advice Needed -council Tax

[nataliedickinson]

To cut a long story short, my partner and I owe council tax from this April to next April 2007. We hadnt actually paid anything yet and ended up getting a baliff round. I feel gutted now but I let him in!!!!!! I am now guessing this is a big mistake.

Anyway, I wasnt refusing to pay and didnt realise at the time how ignorant they could be. I was told I needed to pay the debt at 300 a month. I said straight away, no chance, not going to happen, children to feed, house to pay for, food etc. already in debt!!!

Anyway, I went back to them and said we could pay £70.00 untill April 2007 and by that month we would pay the final balance off and begin the new council tax year afresh.

In the meantime I have made two direct payments to the council both for £25.00 thinking that any payment would be better than none.

The Baliffs (suitor and someone) rejected our offer and said they needed the full balance clearing in full or withing the 300 a month offer.

I said i wasnt prepared to could no way do this again.

Eventually I thought I might as well write to the council to see if we can do anything with them. Said that we would go back to paying our normal monthly council tax direct debit, for the normal amount, but would attemp to pay the arrears off at the same time. I copied in the baliffs on the letter only to get a response that it was a waste of time as the council will now not liase with us never mind accept an offer of payment.

Clearly, as I let them in initially we are worried that they will come back and take our stuff.

Im not clear on charges either. What can they get away with charging and what cant they?

I sent the letter to the council on 02 October and am still hoping for a response. Will prob call tomorrow to chase.

But in the meantime any help would be appreciated!!!

Natalie........ boo hoo....;-(

[jimfishybob]

Your best bet at this stage is probably the council. They hold the leash on the bailiffs and can call them off at their discretion.

Sadly, this method relies on you finding somebody at the other end of the phone who is sympathetic and this is no mean feat when we're dealing with local government.

Follow up your letter and let us know how you get on. Zooman is the authority on this kind of thing and will hopefully be able to offer more helpful advice than I have.

[nataliedickinson]

Thanks! Am calling them this morning so fingers crossed.

Will let you know what happens.

I couldnt sleep last night cause its bothering me so much!

remember to mention the duty of care they have to your family, and if you can record the call and tell them you are recording the call (this will put them on best behavior) and ask to speak to the manager go to the top, also ask them is they will arrange the bailiff to send you an itemised statement of what has been charged and at what stage, tell them you saw the bbc1 program last week and you want to ensure that they have charged. Also let them know you have seek advice on the matter, and if they say they can not take it back tell them you have been advised that they can.

Are you on any benefits as they have an extra duty of care to them who are in hardship. Explain paying £300 a month would mean you fall behind on rent/mortgage etc