Many thanks again everyone. I have done as you suggested and written to the bailiff company special delivery enclosing copies of the HP agreements. I have also outlined my proposals for payment and made the initial payment direct to the council via their website. I rang the bailiff company today who confirmed that they can't take the vehicle as its on HP and that they will write back to me in due course. I then asked to make an arrangement to pay, in accordance with what I'd suggsted in the letter (this was over nine months). However, i was informed that they need all the money by the end of Feb. I said that this was just not possible and so was told that bailiff action will therefore continue. So, i'm assuming that I now just have to stick this out. If the bailiff returns, I will not let him in or even speak to him. Presumably he will then post another letter with more charges and if I haven't paid by the end of Feb, it will get passed back to the council?

Thanks everyone for your advice. Am feeling a bit better now.The bailiff wouldn't even give me his name. I have drafted letters to both the company and the council. I have also asked the council to take the debt back so that I can deal with them.

Hi, Many thanks to all who replied to my post yesterday. I have £1,500 council tax arrears and am being chased by Bristow & Sutor. The bailiff turned up tonight, 55 mins earlier than expected. As advised, I refused to let him in the house and would only speak to him outside the property with the door locked behind me. His mood quickly turned when I refused to let him in. He first of all told me I had five days to pay in full which I pretty much expected. He then said that the council would only give me until 8 March to pay. Here is where I need the accurate advice. Because he arrived so early, our car which is on HP was parked outside. He has posted me a Notice of Seizure of goods through my door. This is a blue document and says "By virtue of a liability order issued by X court and with the authority of x Council, I have today seized, distrained and impounded the goods and chattels listed on the attached inventory." He has then posted a white copy of an Inventory of goods seized / removed which then details the description of our car. Please note that I have not signed ANY of these documents. I urgently need to know what will happen to the car if we do not pay in the five days. The car is on HP but he seemed to not take much notice of that. He also said he had seized the car as he had taken a picture of it on his phone and completed the paperwork. Please help as I am really worried now. Many thanks.

Thanks Michael, so do you mean discuss everything on the doorstep with the door closed behind me?

So I shouldn't let him in, but if I don't, they'll take further action anyway? I'm getting very confused here.

Hello, I need some urgent advice and this forum seems the best place. I have an outstanding council tax bill (approx £1500) that goes back a number of years. This has now been passed to Bristow and Sutor. I've received two letters from their bailiffs and I rang the number on one of them to try and sort the situation and offer to make a payment arrangement. The thing was that the guy seemed very nice and genuine. He explained that he can't make an arrnagmenent with me over the phone but wants to come round and see us to go though a payment arrangment that is suitable for us. After reading the various posts on here this seems a bit too good to be true. He said that he is a 'resolve' bailiff as opposed to someone who is going to come and take our goods. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Should I let him in and see what payment arrangement he comes up with? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.