Sorry for my ignorance, but what is IOS? I will write a letter of complaint to the council CEO tomorrow and attach a copy of the bailiffs refusal letter. Should I ask the council to either recall the debt so I can pay them direct, or ask the council to instruct Jacobs to accept our offer?

Yes, we just received the letter today stating their refusal to accept our offer. They said its non-negotiable and we have until monday to make the first payment.

Thanks dx100uk. Thats what I suspected re: cars and finance. I will have to dig out the original c/t bill to set up online payments, but in the meantime (and if online payment isn't an option) should we re-submit an offer in writing to Jacobs for £50 pm and state thats non-negotiable to them! Its just that they want a first payment of £100 by Monday (we can't afford that much), so that only leaves us tomorrow to get another recorded delivery letter sent off in time. As for their fees, I think they've only added on one fee for their first visit.

There's a few things I forgot to ask. Can they take a car that has finance still owing on it? Can they take a car that is registered to another person but parked at the debtors house? And finally, even though the council fobbed us off saying the debt is with Jacobs now, is there a way to just start making payments direct to the council online and bypass the bailff altogether? And if so how? Again thanks for any help offered EDIT: Thanks outlawla, I must have been writing my follow up as you replied as you covered some of the questions I asked

Re: Council Tax and Jacobs Hello, We already asked the council to take back the debt, but they refused. Jacobs asked for a monthly expenditure list so we could come to an agreed payment plan. We sent it recorded delivery and offered them £50 per month, as thats all we can afford, and even thats pushing it. Despite seeing that we can't afford more than £50 pm, Jacobs have replied saying they want a minimum of £100 per month, and this amount is non-negotiable. Are there any options left open to us, as we cannot afford £100 pm. Should I write back to Jacobs restating our £50 pm offer is the maximum and if they refuse to accept that offer we will have no option but to wait until the debt is recalled by the council, and make repayments to the council instead? I'm not bothered about visits and letters because I know the drill - don't let 'em in etc. Thanks to anyone who can offer advice.

My partner fell behind on council tax payments last year - owing approx. £1000. She had 2 visits from debt collectors / bailiffs demanding payment. She was finally able to start repaying the arrears and set up a repayment plan with the council who have been taking payments out of her wages each month. She never made any contract with the debt collectors (Jacobs), she dealt directly with the council. This week a Jacobs bailiff has been around again threatening to kick the doors down the next time he comes round if she refuses to pay or allow him entry. She told him the debt is being repaid, he said he doesn't believe her / or hasn't been informed by jacobs or the council and he'll be returning to collect goods tomorrow (14th Jan). My partner is obviously upset at the intimidation and has been on to the council about it but they just give her the run around saying the person who deals with these matters is unavailable. They never ring her back despite promising to (she's tried numerous times and its always the same bull****). How can she get this bailff to stop harassing her? Can she report him for harrassment and trespass? Is she obliged to show the bailiff her wage slips and bank statements to prove the debt is being repaid to the council to get him off her back? Thanks and appreciation to anyone who can help.