Unfortunately I have been in exactly the same position but got through with very good advice from CAB and the internet (didnt find this forum till later). The council at 1st wouldn't take back the debt and the bailiffs were wanting payment in full! and wouldn't take on any payment arrangements whatsoever! So I had no choice but to ride it out, I sent a letter to the council telling them that I am willing to pay off the debt with instalments I can realistically afford and even though they didnt want to accept them I sent them anyway through their automated payment line, (they cannot refuse it then) and kept up those payments. Eventually the bailiffs got the message, they were not getting in my house and eventually passed the debt back to the council. Its hard going at the time, as everytime you hear the door knock you think its them, I also had to tell my daughter to not open the door at all and make sure everything was locked. So keep your chin up, you can and will get past this, just a matter of riding it out!

I feel your pain and panic, have had my fair share of bailiffs on my door step, luckily I phoned cab while he was stood outside and was told under no circumstances to let him in! You are now in the right place as this forum has a vast amount of knowledge and people to help you through this nightmare. I eventually had my council tax debt returned to the council who I made payment arrangements with, but for a while it was a nightmare dodging the bailiffs, as they wouldn't accept payment arrangements and wanted it all in full! Try to keep your chin up m8!

OMG - this thread brings back so many memories:mad: I'm a single parent who also had the bailiffs hounding me over council tax arrears a couple of years ago, what a nightmare it was, but I toughed it out and didn't let them in after receiving that advice from CAB, through CAB I offered to pay £50/month and they refused it:eek: so I sent it to the council anyway, the bailiff still came round, but I just didn't speak or let him in, after about a month of not getting in and each visit/letter incurring charges, they then referred the debt back to the council who I paid the agreed payment to. It was a nightmare trying to explain to my 13yr old not to open the door at all. It was like being a prisoner in your own home for a while, luckily I called CAB within a few mins of getting the letter through the mail box, or I might have called the bailiff back, not knowing what options were open to me.