Hi folks, long time no posts. Been very ill with long term major depressive disorder amongst other things.

The story.

Was long term sick from civil service, put onto half pay which was paid by SSP from November 2015 to may 2016.

During same period was 'single' as ex wife upped and left because of my sickness in 2015 (nice of her to support me)

Applied for single person CT relief and was granted, although there was part of a joint bill still outstanding that i owed.

Nobody to advise whether i could claim full relief/benefit due to being on SSP for that 6 month period. Didn't make any claim, couldn't cope with life. My head was well and truly gone.

My mental health took a turn for the worse and i was off work for a further six month period where i had zero pay, no SSP but managed to keep myself housed and fed by borrowing from family and friends to pay rent and ate basic food; all whilst i was dealing with a legal issue regarding my early ill retirement issue with legal assistance from union.

During the zero pay period i had claimed ESA although only received payment for about a moth before it stopped. I didn't know why it stopped; the guy at the hub said i was getting it.

My mental health was bad and i just went along in my own crazy little world, out of it on my meds for chronic pain and depression. Didn't care, was suicidal and in self destruct mode in many ways.

Eventually i got pensioned off in November 2016. Lump sum paid into bank and approx 1k monthly ill health pension is being paid every month. I had 20 years service with civil service dept before retirement.

So, still away with the fairies, still very sick and still on the happy pills i had cash in the bank and some income coming in to eat and pay rent whilst i find a cheap house in the auction to live in without a mortgage by using my lump sum to buy a small house outright.

I was financially able to pay back friends and family so paid them asap as the relationships were starting to get strained. I didnt want to lose the only friends i have, being chronically depressed you need some support and life is lonely enough as it is.

Out of the blue last week get a letter from ESA that i was to be put on contribution based ESA from November last year which was to be back dated and they also paid a back dated sum for all the payments they didn't give me that were due from June last year until last week. This has been now been swallowed up in other debt payments. No explanation as to why i wasn't paid

Now i have some pension money in the bank for a house, a letter that says i am and was entitled to ESA from May 2016.

During this time i did not pay council tax, couldn't pay it as i had no money coming in.

I had previously wrote to the council and told them of my woes although i cant recall ever making a claim for benefit using an official form. I had told a council guy on the phone once that i was getting ESA because of zero income. Then i had a note from Swift so i sent them the report from my consultant, a vulnerability notice that i had got from another bailiff over unpaid speeding fines (another long story) together with an updated report from my doctor, which cost me money.

Now Swift have been chasing me for council tax from 2016-2017, after i sent them the forms and consultants report i heard nothing until they turned up yesterday.

Arrogant young kid, i had taken my meds so he was lucky i didn't take his head off and shove his recording device camera up his jacksy!! I have these turns where i lose control when under any kind of pressure from perceived authority figures. At 140kg and 35 years in martial arts and a champion boxer in my youth the community psychiatric team have their concerns although i manage well with my meds.

Anyway.........................

I paid the outstanding bill from when my ex wife and i were together. I kept the Swift kid outside event though he asked to come in. No warrant no entry.

He added on a fee to what i had owed in council tax and i took that one on the chin.

I told him that i disputed the other outstanding amount because:

A. I was entitled to single person discount during the chargeable period that they say i owe.

B. I was claiming SSP and then ESA for the whole of that chargeable period and should have had some reduction

C. I am vulnerable and have little in the way of support.

He says he will come back in 2 weeks after i contact the council. I have written to them via email and they have not yet replied.

This Swift goon was talking about £1800+ no way i owe that!!!

I can and will pay what i truly owe in CT out of my pension lump sum, however i don't agree with paying any charges, paying any more than i was supposed to pay bearing in mind that i was on SSP and ESA at the relevant time.

In any case i don't want these people at my door, it sets me off, the hairs go up on the back of my neck and i don't want to hurt anyone, don't want to get locked up so that's why i keep away from conflict as much as possible. I have sent them my vulnerability and psychologists reports previously.

I never called their office because i was so wound up, in any case experience tells me that i will get nowhere with the call centre staff as they are mostly buffoons and scoundrels that try and hoodwink people into paying as they are also on 'commission'. I would have ended up getting even more angry and that doesn't help.

My head went after he had gone and i had another mini breakdown. Got the knives out of the cupboards etc.

Was supposed to go to my brothers wedding today but cant face the world so cancelled at last minute

Will i get anywhere with this battle?

I have read numerous threads here that state that once its gone from the council to the Bailiffs then it is out of the councils hands.

I don't agree with this as the bailiffs are collecting on behalf of the council and are therefore 'agents' of the council under contract.

Regardless of my point of view on the matter, how can they (Bailiffs) try and extort an alleged debt (CT) that i don't actually owe (based on the fact that during the relevant chargeable period i was sick, claiming SSP and ESA with zero income)

Long story, bad situation for me.

I don't want to evade my liability, however i also don't want to pay that which i don't actually owe! Especially to scoundrels like Swift, sending out these young athletic steoid type men trying to intimidate and hoodwink people.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

Ring the council check they do have a liability order the tell them your troubles

They might well take it back

Yes you are correct..no right of entry on ctax

thanks dx, i will call them monday.

If they (Swift) do have a liability order, can this be 'disputed'?

I would rather not get into another lengthy legal battle, i've been through a lot over past few years and despite my burning desire to fight bullies all the way i am mentally fragile and have aged well before my time.

I will have to consider the effect another ten rounds vs bully boy council and bailiffs will have on my health when weighed up against just paying them so they p**s off and i can then try to get back to some resemblance of good health. Not the best position to be in i know, i just want to be left alone to try and rebuild my life.

No Monday.....

And the council must have the LO to employ the bailiffs

Tell then about the benefits debacle too

Disputing it won't stop any action continuing as the Liability Order has been granted (unless the council choose to suspend action). As it's a court order the charge remains due until you can demonstrate an entitlement to (and are awarded) any reductions. The fact you may be entitled makes no difference to the overall position.

A. I was entitled to single person discount during the chargeable period that they say i owe.

B. I was claiming SSP and then ESA for the whole of that chargeable period and should have had some reduction

C. I am vulnerable and have little in the way of support.

There's the option to apply for Section 13A reductions [link removed - dx] (in place of or on top of any other discount or council tax reduction you may be entitled to).

Craig

No reply to my email or letter to the council.

Not been well and havent got a phone to call them

found a letter folded and pushed into my letter box this morning dated and timed last night

Big red writing with the threats of coming and taking my stuff etc

So Mr Swifts bailiff had a call from a friends phone. I told him there was a vulnerability notice at his office and should be shown on my alleged account

I asked his name and how long he had been working there? Name given and only 3 months as a Bailiff.

How can i check that he is certified and part of their welfare department?

I will go to the council in person this week. Take them details of everything and try to talk to a senior member of staff.

I am considering taking Swift to Court for harassment, they had the vulnerability notice and a 16 page report from a consultant psychologist.

PTSD type symptoms manifested themselves again today and now the fire has been lit right up inside me.

With nothing better to do with my time, as an early retiree from govmt. agency due to mental ill health i am now about to embark upon a full blown investigation into this outfit.

Utilising my skills from 20 years working for a government agency investigation dept.

I will give them my full attention now, having previously worked investigating serious and organised crime and as an advisor on the human rights aspect of covert surveillance Swift had better be beyond reproach, they would be well advised to act in accordance with the law and ensure all their bailiffs' vehicles are fully insured for the purposes that they use them for.

Friends and family in the police have been informed that these fools are using their private vehicles for bailiff work - insurance is therefore null and void - strike 1

These scoundrels have rattled my cage too much now - i took on my previous employer in tribunal and won despite the odds and a huge legal team behind them.

First thing is to seek advice from my ex union and current retired staff association as to whether my subs will cover legal costs to sue the bully (as an individual) that came here and posted the threatening red letter through my door.

He is obviously on commission and therefore responsible for his own actions and not acting under some sort of deferred liability of his employer.

Ah well, another battle against bullies, scoundrels and con artists.

Will keep this thread updated as best i can considering my mental ill health.

Luckily (or unluckily, depends on how i am feeling) , my illness manifests itself into obsessive researching and a kind of OCD where i deal with these matters with such intent and so obsessively that it keeps my mind busy and stops me from going completely crazy and becoming violent towards the bullies.

Professor who has examined me actually encouraged this type of mental 'diversion' as a form of 'release' of the pent up anger.

Oh dear Mr/Mrs Swift. I hope you are always playing buy the rules of your scavenging business.

Bully boy agreed to giving me a further 28 days to liaise with the council but only after i gave him the warning about ensuring he has the correct insurance on his vehicle, the tyre tread is correct, water bottles and fluid levels are full and also the fact that i will be taking an unhealthy interest in the company and him personally.

Information submitted to the Police already.

Freedom of Information request is in to Trading standards and the police regarding complaints about Swift Credit.

Anyone else who may hold information about complaints made against this company?

I will send in a FOI request and build a picture of their 'tactics', maybe even get a mate to 'work' for them over a few months period, to get the inside scoop of their operation and procedures.

I have nothing better to do with my time and TBH this will help keep my mind occupied so the devils cant create their mischief