Thanks for the response! So I am right in thinking I can refuse payment to the debt collection agency and go direct to the council? If i call them and tell them this can they still come round? Should I inform them? I have only once dealt with these people and they are pretty nasty!

Hello All Thanks for reading my post, I hpoe you can help me out a little... Today I found a letter proudly hanging out of my letter box from Penham Excel Debt Collection stating I owe them over £600. Always how you want to end your working day! Basically this was from a previous property where council tax was not paid. Not to put to fine a point on it a flat mate was responsiable for this and evidently didnt pay! I have since learnt never let anyone be responsable for a payment on my behalf. However, this is of no help now! The letter is to me and another flat mate - I can only assume the 3rd person has paid his, not ours and given our adresses out (no we are no onger mates!) Is the debt soley mine, am i responsiable for the whole amount or can i seperate the debt? Do I have to pay Penham Excell or can I go back to the council? Do I have any rights here? The baliffs have visited my friend and said we have to pay the whole amount! Do they have to accept a payment plan? I dont have £300+ liquid cash so I am worried they will visit me and wack on some monumental amount - is this a reality? I hope you guys can help Danny