good luck linzih, my fingers are crossed for you. Thank you to everyone for their advice and best wishes. I am now 5'7" tall because that breeze block on my shoulders has been removed. Love to all. kaz

MY GOD I AM IN TOTAL SHOCK.....................AND IN TEARS AS WELL The bailiff just phoned me to say he had seen my offer of payment and would not be accepting it. I pointed out all the items that I was unhappy with and he tripped himself up by saying the letter I had delivered in the post was his fault because he had called on the 24th and forgot to leave the letter so had posted it. I made him repeat this 3 times before I told him that the letter was delivered on the 24th so this was obviously a lie. The levy fee of £47 is just for attending and the fee of £100 for a van, which according to my neighbours cctv which covers my property did not arrive, is his own landrover discovery that he uses to attend properties. Apparently he said when they stick a levy fee on to a debt it does not mean they have singled out any goods. I then asked him what colour my curtains were as I did not believe he had been to my property and also if he could see anything outside he could levy on as there wasn't anything left out. He agreed there was nothing outside so I asked him 'what about my daughters 24' £12.000 caravan parked all the way across the front of my property. HE REPLIED WITH THIS STATEMENT I WILL RETURN THE DEBT TO THE COUNCIL and remove all fees. I am in total shock You people on here are absolutely brilliant I would never have been so strong with the bailiffs if it hadn't been for your advice. I was very proud of myself for handling the stroppy man. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Kaz P.S. all you others out there sick with worry, listen and act on the advice given on here it certainly does work.

Oops edit 4th letter to read dated 23rd January not 2rd. Both the second and the 4th letters were received on the same day 27th Jan.

Ok well they have not lawfully levied on anything then. I only have 4 letters from them, 1st one stating they had called with a van on 11th December but no mention of fees of levy's. 2nd one dated 23rd January in reply to my letter asking for a fees breakdown and offering a payment plan stating they wanted income/expenditure information and then would consider a payment plan. 3rd one stating they called with a van on 24rd January to remove goods, this was delivered by 2nd class post and we were in all day. So total lies. 4th one dated 2rd January stating I have ignored their letters and they will call with van, house clearance people, police and a team of other people to remove goods within 10 days. God this is just so mad I don't know what to do Thanks chris for your help. kaz

Oh also does anyone know if Rundell and Birchalls are the same company as I am dealing with Birchalls and wrote to them yet leter received back from Rundells. Rundells state they are willing to come to an arrangement when i send a more comprehensive income/expenditure form in Birchells say they are visiting again within 10 days with house clearance people Who do I believe. Sorry this is so long but I get confused. kaz

Does the bailiff have to by law tell you what the levy is for then? Also do they have to tell you in writing if they visit your property as I did not know they had visited on 1st and 2nd december which is what they are charging for? On the 11th when they said they visited with a van to remove goods my elderly neighbour who sits in her window all day said she never saw any van outside my house but she sees loads of people and cant recall if any one person came to my house but definitely no van. Then last saturday they said they called again with a van and hand delivered a letter as we were out yet the letter arrived by 2nd class post and we were in. Surely if they have levied on my daughters caravan and if they have turned up twice with a van they would have taken something even if it was just my patio furniture which is the only thing outside. Thanks kaz

Also I have read on these sticky notes on this site that the bailiff cannot levy on anything that is considerably more in value than the debt in question. We even if he was half sighted he would know the value difference would be well over £10,000 between the debt and the caravan. My daughter has a hitch lock and wheel clamp on it and I dont have the keys so I don't think he can take it.

Hi, No they have not been into my house before for anything and I have no idea what the levy is for it does not say on their paperwork. The only thing that is outside my property of any value if my oldest daughters caravan which is worth £12,000 and if they tell me they have levied that I can prove it does not belong to me we store it for her as her house does not have enough room. Kaz

New installment and I need your advice please. I have today received mail from Birchalls saying I WILL CALL AT YOUR PREMISES WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS ACCOMPANIED BY HOUSE CLEARANCE CONTRACTORS. I WILL REMOVE GOODS WITH POLICE ATTENDANCE IF NECESSARY, IF YOU WISH TO BE THERE PLEASE PHONE MY OFFICE. I have also received a reply to my letter to them but this is from Rundle & Co, asking me for a more detailed income and expenditure so they can consider my offer of payment. They have listed their charges as follows: 1st Dec 1st visit £24.50 2nd Dec 2nd Visit (the following day) £18.00 11th Dec Levy fee £47.00 11th Dec Attendance/van £100 Now the first I knew of the bailiff existance was on 11th december when I arrived home to find post from them saying they had called and to phone, which I did to make an arrangement an amount of which we could not agree I am not sure I believe they attended at all as on Saturday my husband took a letter from the post man which inside stated hand delivered and contained info that they had called with a van that particular day and we were out. Please advise. kaz

Morning all, Just a quick update for you as I am not sure where to go with this. Not heard anything from the bailiff or council regarding the letters I posted, however, on Satudary my husband took the post from out postie personally and there was a letter posted second class from the bailiff. This letter says HAND DELIVERED and it says they called today to remove goods and will return in 48 hours with a van and the police. Now obviously this is total claptrap, my husband phoned the bailiffs and the person on the phone said OH JUST IGNORE IT, it shouldnt have been sent, he would not answer how this letter stating hand delivery informing of a vist was sent through normal post. The question is what do I do with this letter, can I complain, especially if they refuse my offer of a payment plan which I set out in the letter I sent last week. Regards kaz P.S> got to go out will be back after lunch. xx

Thanks guys, I will wait until I hear more from the bailiff, I have asked for a breakdown of his charges. I think he may have made a levy from outside as my daughters caravan is stored on my front, it's in her name and she has proof and it has a wheelclamp and hitchlock so I'm not too worried about him taking it as I can proove it's not mine, although he has not told me either in writing or on the phone that he has made a note of the caravan. Will update you when I hear more. Thanks to everyone. Kaz P.S. Chris600uk, I couldn't spot your scales sorry but to everyone, CHRIS IS REALLY HELPFUL. XXXXXXXXXX

I keep reading that bailiffs charge just under £30 for 1st visit and under £20 for second visit. Birchalls have been to my house once nobody was in so nothing was signed, they left a business card saying 'Phone me' which I did, council have informed me that my bill is £744 and Birchalls have charged £191 pounds for 1 visit and they can charge what they like, I explained I had a charges breakdown from the council on what the bailiffs can charge and she said it was only their guide and the bailiffs don't have to follow it.

Just read the factsheet and debtline says make payments to the council even if they refuse your offer, I just phoned council and they said debtline doesn't know what it is talking about as each council has different rules and ours will not accept any payments and return any made online once the bailiff is involved. Going to phone debtline now and ask for their advice. Everyone seems to be giving me different advice, not you guys, the council and debt people and I am worrying like mad here. I know it's our fault we are in debt but that doesn't make it any easier.

Thank you, I am just going to read the link that was posted for me. If seems that everything I have read is being contradicted by the council

Hi everyone, I have received a visit from the council bailiff for unpaid council tax arrears of £744, which the bailiff has increased to £935. Anyway he visited Chritsmas week while I was out, I phoned him and he said I must pay £200 per month starting January. I said I could not afford £200 but he would not accept any less, he said if he didn't receive £200 by 21st January he would enter my property and remove goods with police presence. I have read all this forum and followed all the advice, printing off template letters and sending them to the bailiff and council. No reply as yet. I have also phoned the council after reading this statement on the forum you do not legally have to pay the baliffs a penny and the council DO have to take any payments you want to pay them. The council have told me that they WILL NOT accept any payment and any such made will be returned, they DO NOT accept any payments once it has gone to the bailiffs and they expect the bailiffs to collect money or goods, also the bailiff can use his discretion on the amount he wishes me to pay and the amount he wishes to charge for visits etc, and they want the bill paying before April if possible but before June at the latest, which is the information they have passed to the bailiff. I have asked them under what circumstances they can take back the account and they said they will never do this. The bailiff may return the account to them if he cannot collect and then they will immediately file for Committal to Prison. Please help I am so confused now. I have done a means test and I have £35 a month excess (money not being used on bills) My husband has had his working week reduced to 3 days but we are £18 over the amount required for council tax rebate. I have today received mail from Birchalls saying I WILL CALL AT YOUR PREMISES WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS ACCOMPANIED BYT HOUSE CLEARANCE CONTRACTORS. I WILL REMOVE GOODS WITH POLICE ATTENDANCE IF NECESSARY, IF YOU WISH TO BE THERE PLEASE PHONE MY OFFICE. I have also received a reply to my letter to them but this is from Rundle & Co, asking me for a more detailled income and expenditure so they can consider my offer of payment. They have listed their charges as follows: 1st Dec 1st visit £24.50 2nd Dec 2nd Visit (the following day) £18.00 11th Dec Levy fee £47.00 11th Dec Attendance/van £100 Now the first I knew of the bailiff existance was on 11th december when I arrived home to find post from them saying they had called and to phone, which I did to make an arrangement an amount of which we could not agree I am not sure I believe they attended at all as on Saturday my husband took a letter from the post man which stated hand delivered and contained info that they had called with a van that particular day and we were out. Please advise. kaz