Hi Echowitch The council are outright refusing to take the debt back. When I quoted the Council Collection and Regulations Enforcement Act, Mrs Hammond at Gravesham Council replied that "We have had ample opportunity to pay and the account is now with the bailiff and that I would have to deal with them." End of converation. She couldn't give a S**T basically. Mrs Hammond asked where I got this information and I told her. She said that once a bailiff company has the account they will not take it back. What should I do. Just carry on paying the council what I can afford? Then right a letter? Also what part of the regulations is it that concerns that the council have to take back? Please help, I am at my wits end with this. Plus we owe £1,753 in total. Some from 2008? Regards

Okay thanks for your help. I missed the council today but I'll be on it first thing Monday morning. I knew that I was right but they (council & bailiff) both insisted that I had to deal with them. Regards X

The council involved was Gravsham Borough Council. We owe approx £850 in council tax, but when I called the auotmated bailiff payment line the outstanding amount was £957 something. As far as I know we have only ever had a letter from the bailiffs. We have never had a letter posted through the door by hand indicating that a bailiff has attended at our property. I gave the bailiff hell on the phone. He got quite defencesive on the phone because I kept laughing at him. Sorry I know it proberly wasn't the smartest thing to do but I was so incenst that he had tried to misrepresent the powers he had to enter my home. The F****R!!!!

Hi Echowitch. I have recently received a letter fom a bailiff company called Rundle & Co headed "Removing of your goods". My husband spoke to the bailiff whose name is on the letter on the phone and he was utterly nasty. He stated that he had a court warrent to enter our home a seize goods. I know that he can't do this. I callled him and the bailiff assured me that I can not pay in installments as we had missed one payment of £50 on our payment plan with the bailiff company and that they were now seeking for the full amount. He would not accept any offer of paying by installments. I then told him that I thought I could get the account returned to the council he informed me that was ludicrous. I called the coucill and complained, the lady at the council told me that they only take the account back in extreme cases, which was very rare and that I would have to deal with the bailiff. The lady at the council actually advised me that I should arrange for the bailiff to come into my home for a chat. We have hence forth refused entry to our home to the bailiff, we have continued to pay our original payment plan to the bailiff company on their auotmated line and have caught up on the payment we missed. I am worried about all the extre charges from bailiff fees as we seem to incurred an extra £100 on our outstanding bill. I don't know where this has come from??? Please could you give me any good advise. The council are refusing to take the account back and insistant that I have to deal with bailiff and the bailiff is insistant that I have to pay in full. My husband and I both work and we don't have any children so we are not classed as vunrable. We just got in a mess financially with the mortgage and our council tax. What can I do, please help if you can. Regards XXXX

Hi Any one can check if the bailiff that has visited them is really a certificated bailiff. If you have the name of the bailiff and the company they represent. Call: Mr Michael Johnston on 0203 3346355. This is part of the Her Majesty's Court Service. Michael can tell you what Court the certificate was issued at so you can then make a complaint against that bailiff if they have misrepresented anything to you. Hope this helps and good luck!!!!! Give um hell people!!!!!