I went to court today.Was taken back because I missed 1 payment because benefit money didnt go in.I made up the payment but left court today with a 28 day suspended prison sentance.This was for years 08 and 09.The magistrates refused to award the council their costs.I now have to fight the fact that my car was seized by bailiffs nearly a month agofor unpaid council tax from 2010-2011.The bill is £1200 even though I only worked from April to July in 2010 and have been on full benefit since then in a joint ESA claim for my seriously ill partner.The council wont tell me if my car has been auctioned yet,my MP was no help at all.The council have said they cannot take direct payments from the ESA because it is in my partners name and the council tax bill isnt as he has only lived with me since he became ill.I am not sure if I am classed as vulnerable,I care for my partner(without carers allowance because he was awarded DLA at lower rate,against which I am appealing)My eldest son is disabled.He does not live with me full time now but was in 2008 and 2009,and does visit home.I am at a loss what to do next,any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

Yes we are.Partner has a multitude of health problems incl severe depression.I lost my job last year because of it.Council have no sympathy what so ever.

Can anyone advise me again? I went to court in March for unpaid council tax for 07.09 and 09.Part of the debt was remitted,council didnt get their costs and I agreed to pay £5 a week,In the meantime they took my car for 09/10(I only worked for 3 months that year),they still have the car.I asked my MP for help but she was useless.My partner is on ESA(joint claim).The DWP had a glitch and paid us late so on 2 occasions standing order wasnt paid.I have since paid it and paid the missing amounts.The council are taking me back to court on Monday unless I pay over £1000,which of course I dont have.I asked for a breakdown from council and they have included court costs which they were not awarded.I care for my partner full time and I am very worried about what may happen. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Unfortunately in the bedlam I didnt think to record that and he didnt put it in writing.I asked him what would happen if debt wasnt covered and he just said they would be back.

Thanks for that,v interesting.The delightful Mr Foxley from Whyte & Co told me if the car didnt raise enough at auction then he would be back.I have never let them in my house so they have never been able to raise a levy on goods in the house.They do have the key to the car by the way,saw no point in keeping it.My car would have been worth about £1800 by private sale but obviously different at auction.I will challenge the levy as you suggested.I have asked my mp Tracey Crouch for assistance but don't know if they can do anything.I only have 5 days to raise the money before the car is auctioned so the time scale not on my side.

I had 2 cars,one on hp via motability which they couldnt take.The other one which was paid up and was sorn is the one they took.The old tax disc did have disabled class and although I originally gave it to my partner was still registered to me.Was sorn'd because he is too ill to drive it.They will sell it at auction because I don't have £1200 and it won't cover the debt so the bailiffs will be back.Complete catch 22.We did our best to stop them taking it with the help of our neighbours but the bailiffs won again!

Igt would appear the law is an ass and the council do what they like.Today they have taken away my partners car which was sorn because he is ill.Didnt put log book in his name cos he couldnt drive it.Will be auctioned and wont even cover debt.Is a catch 22.Was taken to court over 2008 and 2009 then they sprang 2010 on me.I only worked until july and lost my job because of my partners illness.The debt went from £400 to £1200.Is wrong.I have contacted the MP but have no faith in this government so wont hold my breath.have never refused to pay council tax just cant afford to!

I have just spoken to the council and they wont take the debt back and said I have to negotiate with the bailiffs. have just spoken to the council and thet wont take the debt back and say I have to negotiate with the bailiffs???

I have just had my car clamped by whyte and co even though I went to magistrates court and agreed tp pay £5 a week.I do not know if this is the same debt or another one that has appeared.I do not own the car.it is a motability car for my son on their hire purchase scheme.Any advice on what to do?

Thanks for your replies which I agree with of course.My point is,the magistrates wanted to remit part of debt but council wanted to attach a suspended custodial sentence for the remainder,the legal advisor to Magistrates said she did not believe they could do that under council tax legislation.She took advice from a higher authority and they agreed.Therefore I did not receive a suspended sentence for remaining debt and agreed a payment plan.But how many people have had a remittal and got a suspended sentence for remaining debt?Medway Council's warrant officer said that is what they always do and was furious that they would not impose suspended sentance for rest of debt.It would appear they cannot do that and are therefore not following legislation?

I had an interesting time at court yesterday.I was bailed to appear for a review of my financial situation with a view to my comittal to prison for unpaid council tax.The amounts go back to 2007 when I worked part time and medway council messed up my benefit claim.I have had endless visits from bailiffs and have posted about them before.However yesterday as I am unemployed and caring for my ill partner on a very low income the magistrates remitted part of the debt and wouldnt let council claim court fees.the warrant officer from the council wanted them to give me a suspended prison sentance against the remaining debt,but the magistrates legal advisor disagreed and said that wasnt legal.They are still arguing about it now!I ended up without a suspended sentance-a result for me but I wonder how many people have had a remittal then given a suspended sentance for the remaining debt?If they have it is apparently against the law.Does anyone know about this or experienced similar?

Strangely enough we never heard from the police about Whyte & Co's allegation of assault.The council have taken the debt back and agreed to my offer of payment.The bailiffs still at it though,they have clamped a car up on new road near the st george hotel.Was clamped last thurs but still there.

we awoke at 6a.m to find a bloke with a van on our drive looking at cars.he had clamps in back of a silver/white van.My partner (who is actually seriously ill,an outpatient at Kings College and taking morphine)asked him what he was doing.He merely grunted "bailiff".We asked him for paperwork and his I.D but he did not produce it.He then shoved my partner to get past him, so he shoved him back and told him to clear off or we would call police.I have had dealings with Whyte & Co over unpaid council tax so I presumed it was to do with them.I have never let them in to my house and have tried to negotiate with Medway Council as the bills are incorrect.They did not send me a levy for cars which dont belong to me.1 on hp and the other my partners and declared SORN.I e-mailed Whyte & Co re their "bailiff" and they claimed he had been assaulted!I asked for a crime ref no but they refused to comment.I have complained to medway council and the police (as he shoved my partner which could be seen as an assault.The police did not seem to be aware of a report of a bailiff being assaulted at my address but could not reveal any crime incident numbers cos of DPA but they are going to come back to me re my complaint.This company are a nightmare and will bully relentlessly.They recently sat for 3 hours outside my house so I couldn't take my partner back to my hospital as they had blocked my drive.