Hello,

just to give some basics.

The past couple of years has been seriously bad healthwise and has caused the obvious roll on effect of being skint because i am stupid enough to be self employed.

Money being tight and getting even tighter i have allowed myself to get in trouble with my council tax.

On my 2016 account i owe £116 + £75 compliance stage fees, this is now with Collect Services.

I have agreed to pay £20 per month on this which should get me out of trouble.

Unfortunately,

and please don't judge me as i have suffered and still am with severe depression along with many "real" ailments

,i have now got into trouble with my 2017 council tax.

I received the bill in April with imstallments,but i have not paid any.

So far the council for whatever reason have not contacted me,

i am going to start paying the minimum amount plus additional to catch up,

however i do not see the council accepting this and fully expect it to take the same route as the 2016 account and end up in the hands of the bailiffs ...

ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS WOULD BE GREAT.

Thanks

Dan

so which year has the

Intended notice of taking control of goods [you write about in your header?]

been served for and when was it served?

Hello,it was served on 22nd May for the 2016 account for which i have now agreed payments terms with them,so really 2016 is not a problem (hopefully).

2017 is what worries me,and i mean really worries me.

Dan

ring the council and tell them then.

just have a look at what you spend money on

mobiles credit cards catalogue debt loans etc ALL need to take a backseat - drop them down to £5pcm or less.

CTAX, rent/mortgage , gas/electric are priority debts and must come first

Good advise from DX

I got myself into a similar position but worse,

now under control,

I have 3 LO's outstanding having paid off 2 others.

it spirals out of control, you must be firm but fair with the council,

if you get some like Citizens Advse involve the council may listen.

speak to the council . come to an arrangement to extend over the full amount, of time remaining to March next year,

it may help to spread the burden.

try not to get in the same position as it cost me £95 x 3 LO's 3 x £75, on top.

Leakie

Thanks for the advice.

I am waiting for a call back from the council and i will tell them that i can pay the complete outstanding amount spread over until next March.

Dan

I definitely agree with the above sentiments, about cutting back on mobiles TV subscriptions etc. However, you are making this way too harsh on yourself. I may only have a couple of posts but I have been through years of Bailiffs, AOE's, etc and have been in far worse arrears than you are. I am now up to date with everything to the current month so finally feel qualified to share my experiences.

1. Your local council's own code of practice will take into account your illness, especially depression (classed as a vunerable person). You want to make sure that you are talking to somebody in the revenue collections department, as opposed to a call centre operator, preferably as senior as possible. You will find they will (mostly) be incredibly sympathetic! There is also absolutely no way they will go down the bailiffs route either in the illness situation. A letter from your GP may be needed here if they ask.

2. You are safe from the AOE route, being self employed !

3. If they still insist on an arrangement that will cause you hardship. Phone and email your local councillor / head of Council. In the email along the lines, of

' I want to pay as much as I can afford, but it's not much because of xyz illness and XyZ financial problems' The council have demanded X amount, I am happy to pay x amount reviewed in 6 months , as I want to be able to clear this debt'

In my experience it's these local councillors who have done the impossible. Providing you show willing to pay, often things will be sorted out within 24 hours using this route !

Any questions feel free to ask ?

Some good points from London 1971, the only issue is that problems arise when a council is infested by Capita.