Hallowitch, Many thanks for your response. As suspected, Newlyn continue to try it on. I will respond to Mr Rose accordingly. However, given that I don't want the bailiffs to come to my parents house, especially during the xmas period, would you guys simply recommend that I go and take Newlyn to a small claims court for fraud and harrassement? I may send them a cheque for £24.50 in my letter, but given the rubbish he has spouted in his letter, I am minded to refuse to pay for the second visit, and counter sue them for the time and STRESS they have put me through .. Anyone have any experiences of what the best method of resolving this situation with the minimum of stress to my parents? Thanks all in advance

I received the attached letter dated 10 December from my ever helpful council. As you can see from the letter, Harrow Council have sided with the Bailiffs and claim that the bailiffs are are justified on the basis that I was issued with a summons on 3 June 2009 and a liability order on 24 June 2009. Is this just some standard reply they send out to anyone. Surely if it is, it is fraudulent/ criminal, and Harrow Council should be sanctioned. I may go to see my MP on Sat, to guage he views, and ask him what the hell he has done regarding my case since i saw him some 6-8 weeks ago ... Harrow Council also claim that I agreed to set up a payment plan on 23 June 2008, which is again rubbish. What I asked them to do, in writing, and about 5 times, was to change the name on the council tax to my father, who rightly lived there, so that he could set up a standing order, and pay the council tax electronically going forward. Accordingly, I take it the the first paragraph in their letter is simply twaddle , and I should respond to Mr Williams accordingly. Thanks Harrow Council.pdf

Hello, first time poster, and hope you can help. By way of info. we purchased a property near to my parents. The property was smaller than my parents and they agreed to move into it as it had a toliet downstairs for my mother who is disabled. This was done a number of years ago, and we started paying the council tax for the house we were now living in by standing order (#55), and my parents started to pay council tax for the house they were living in (#49). This April my father whilst on holiday found out that the company that he worked for had gone belly up and he had been made redundant. he decided to extend his vacation. In May I checked his post and discovered that he had rec'd a summons for non-payment of council tax. I called Harrow Council and advised them that my father was away and would not be returning for the foreseeable future (open ticket). I agreed to bring my father's council tax up to date, and done so, inc. summons costs. I then asked whether the names on 49 could be changed from mine to my father's so he could start paying the council tax by standing order. I was advised that this needed to be done by letter, which I did. I have since sent 5 letters to the council responding to their queries, etc. They still haven't managed to change the name on 49 to my parents. In the meantime, and despite calls to Harrow Council, they have decided to send Newlyn Baliffs to collect (what is essentially my debt) from my parents at 49. Following the bailiff's visit, to whom I explained the situtaion in full over the telephone, Harrow Council who the bailiff spoke to, suspended the debt for 21 days for enquiries. We went to our councilillor, who was amazed why the names couldn't be changed, but advised us to pay the debt, which we did in full, and he would take the matter up on our behalf. This was 6 weeks ago, and we have heard nothing from him or Harrow Council. We have however, heard from Newlyn, who visited 49 again, despite them knowing from the first visit that, the debt, which is still mine as Harrow Council have not changed the name, live down the road at 55! The bailiff left a note saying that we owed £242.50 bailiff fees and that he would be returning some 3 days later to take goods from 49, i.e., my father's not mine! After reading the CAG forums I sent Newlyn a letter asking them for a breakdown of the fees, as I believed there were excessive. I asked them to send a reply to 55 not 49. They initially sent their responte to 49, which we returned. Yesterday, I received a response at 55 from Dan Rose, senior correspondence officer. I attach a copy. From what I've read on that CAG forums, I think there fees are wrong. Just to be clear, my parents have not signed bailiff forms. The first bailiff spoke to Harrow Council and then left after hearing the background to the debt. The debt was then paid. A Newlyn bailiff then came back to 49 to about the debt which had now been paid in full. I sent a letter to Newlyn querying the bailiff fees. We recevied a number of letters at 49 which were sent back. Yesterday, I received the attached letter at 55. Finally, I have heard from parents, that the bailiff is planning to visit my parents property 49 tomorrow re the unpaid debts. Can anyone shed any light. In particular, are there levy fee of £55 and enforcement fee of £145 correct. Even the visit fee 2, seems unfair, given the debt was paid. As you can see the original debt was for £1,050. Thanks all in advance. Newlyn_071209.pdf