OK, well I'll write Paul a letter and see what happens. The reason I probably sound like a different woman to yesterday is because I suddenly feel like I have support - it really is hell when you're on your own, I mean, really on your own - we have no family, OK we have family but they've never paid any attention, we move so often (1 year ASTs you see, not to mention 7 schools because of it) we never make friends and basilcally I am on my own..... just a little support from the likes of you guys goes a really long way...... we all feel very uplifted because of today and my son has even practised and done his geography.... thanks.

Oh buggar, I deleted the last paragraph and have already sent it off. I've addressed the letter to Mary Orton. As regards Paul Birstow, he's not in my constituency so I don't think he'll be the right person? However, I've found out my local LibDem MP here in Liphook, Hampshire where I currently live so will see if he can take over especially with the fees. The council officer concerned simply doesn't give a hoot and I've found out that both the bailiff and council interact with each other - the council officer was once a bailiff himself. Also, one of the bailiffs who came round last time is not registered as certified. No one came round today to tow the car and in any event the car has been transported elsewhere - the clamp is placed within sight leaning on our fence. I have not informed the bailiff. Why should I. I've been pretty upset by the whole scenario. I wonder what would have happened if I sat in the car whilst they wanted to tow it away?

Thanks, I've amended the letter, in fact taken out the paragraph about being vulnerable. Thank you so very much all of you for your advice.

Dear friends, Firstly, I've written a letter to the council re charges etc., - one of the bailiffs is certified and the other doesn't appear to be on the list. Please see the letter and tell me if I should change any of it - I won't send until last post today. Secondly, AND YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS!!!! The bailiff DIDN'T properly clamp my car!!!!! How did I find out, you might ask. Well my 13 year old boy discovered it as he went to investigate the car this morning... he came running in saying "mum, mum, it's come off, all you have to do is reverse the car". Fearful, I did this and I've parked it away somewhere and walked back. We've thrown the clamp away behind the bins, is that OK? The clamp is undamaged and perfectly in tact! here is my letter which I hope will bring closure to those rotten b'stards - THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOLKS FOR YOUR HELP, you saved my life.... I refer to my letter of 24th January and note that despite the above council tax bill being paid in full, your bailiffs have returned, clamped my car saying they will return on 27th with tow truck. The bill now stands at £866.19. This bill has been paid so please ask your bailiffs to remove the clamp. You are unlawfully depriving me of goods under the pretence that I have signed an agreement for walking possession which I have not. In the meantime can you please provide me with a breakdown of the legitimate charges, namely those which under statute can be charged. This includes: 1 The time & date of any bailiff action that incurred a fee. 2 The reason for the fee. 3 The full names of the bailiffs that attended on each occasion a fee was charged. I notice that your Mr O’Neill is not on a list of certified bailiffs. 4 The names of the Courts the bailiffs were certificated at. 5. The date of the Certification. This is not a subject access request under the Data Protection Act S7 1998 so does not incur a fee of £10. You are obliged to provide this information. I require this information within 14 days. Finally, please remind both of your bailiffs, Mr O’Neill and Mr T Cooper from Alexander’s that although I am classed as a vulnerable person being a single parent with children I am no soft spot for their bully-boy tactics. "

my car is a renault megane 2002 probably worth £1,000 ish. I live in a barratt style house in a cul-de-sac and we all have an allocated parking space directly outside each house marked with a white line. I obviously cannot go to College tomorrow nor can I do the temp job lined up for next week because I can't afford to rent a car unless its really cheap - I'm looking into it. My children will not be able to go to school tomorrow either and I don't know many parents who I could ask, let alone give them the reason why. As mentioned earlier, we're rural and there's no such thing as a bus round here. In other words, Waverley Borough Council have really buggered me up.

If what you say is correct, then not even the Council know what the law is!! - the fact of the matter remains that my car is clamped outside, the council have refused my payment and want to allocate it to costs. can someone just let me know whether I myself can make an application to a court for this hideous behaviour.

As I have said in my letter to Waverley, the amount I intend to pay is for council tax, surely they can't then tell me it will be creited to costs first?

The police said that the bailiff must be certified if he came from the council - the council only use certified bailiffs, he told me. I'm definitely going to get in touch with Paul Birstow, thank you.

you people are making me see the funny side of this..... and it really isn't funny at all! The famour life of brian song comes to mind.

Thank you for your advice so far. I've just called the police and they don't know what the law is either!! The police seem to think that because the bailiff is certified and because my debt is a council tax debt, it is the only debt that the bailliff has a right to break into my house for. If I wasn't a mother, I would definitely call the press but I couldn't cope with any comeback if there was any. The bailiffs have gone having left my car clamped saing they'll be back tomorrow with a tow truck - did I already say that? I'm just waiting for a reply from the Head Office of Alexander's. I've got such a headache.

yes, they did give me a notice of seizure in December but I don't think I got an inventory because I didn't let them in.

I already phoned the council and he just laughed in my face saying... I know you've no intention of paying.... he just wouldn't listen to reason. I wrote to him also and copied in the Chief Executive in December but only the council officer wrote back with a list of letters, dates that they claim they wrote to me (when I had moved etc.,); The bailiffs have now put a letter called notice of bailiffs attendance through my door saying that they'll come back with a two truck in 24 hours which will make the current £866.19 go up even more if I don't pay today. I've emailed Alexander's Bailiffs Head Office a copy of the letter I wrote to the Council saying I'm about to pay and that I dispute their charges which I felt were disproportionate to the amount owed. Nonetheless, my old banger is now clamped and the neighbours have snubbed me.

I owed a month and a half's council tax before I became a full-time student. I moved. Suddenly at my new address a bailiff turned up - really panicked me - I tried to hide my child - I quickly got on the phone and was told not to let him in. So the situation is this. I owed £250 but bailiffs costs ran it up to £700 - they put a notice of siezure on my 9 year old car and that was in December. I was just waiting for my tax credits to arrive this month and intended to pay the council. My tax credits come tomorrow. I've never let them in and the council are really unhelpful. Today, the bailiffs came back - and clamped my car and they are currently banging on my door - they do look fierce and there's no way I'm answering teh door - can they break in? I've got sod all for them to take unless they want to take my kid's piano (needs 3 men anyway). now they want £900. Should I give them a copy of the letter I wrote to the council saying I'm paying? Will this stop them taking my car? I won't be able to pick the kids up today if they do - we're rural, see. Why am I always so houned by people? why can't they go after my ex and get my kids some child support and be useful. Please, oh please help I don't konw what to do - they've been outside for 1 and a half hours already.