Thank you Scott x Hi i hate bailiffs - thank you for your time... i hate bailiffs too! So you think don't make the payment to bailiff company tomorrow, instead call the council and see if I can get them to take the case back at a reasonable rate? And call off the bailiffs? Then tell the bailiff that I am dealing with the council directly and they should back off starting immediately? What if the council refuse? If I make a payment to the council before speaking to them are they more likely to play ball - having received some payment? I know no-one can technically refuse a payment from me but apparently bailiffs get naffed off with councils who take back cases so I read often they take a no can do attitude? We do have a little one... It is intimidating... I'd probably be more ballsy if I did not have her safety to consider... They can access where she used to happily play and our garden used to be a sanctuary... We will protect her eyes from this at all costs (rather than be scared witless) and now being the summer holidays and now they found the back door / garden / drive (they saw and asked about the car, it doesn't drive, they didnt mention anything about levy on it) we barely go out there with her... to say im twitchy since is an understatement... Will they accept me dealing with the council immediately or should I anticipate more trouble? If they did get in for any reason and take goods is it not then my job to prove what is mine? I cant see him just taking my word for it.... We have shared a family home for many years... Thanks again for you time and help... I know the bailiff preys on the un-informed and seems a balance between holding my nerve and gaining knowledge... Im training at the moment for a career change and see clients on a voluntary basis at home... The last thing I want is regular door hammerings.... Look forward to hearing from you x

Okay... Any advice gratefully received... Out of the blue had a couple of chaps turn up at the door... (Can give a name; paperwork says company is certificated but not sure how to check if he is certified. Others have had unpleasant experiences with him) I thought it was regarding my recent dealings with British Gas and went outside (door locked behind me) to tell them to naff off as it was already being sorted and knew they had no right of entry! Turns out they were not looking for me but my long term partner & his ex wife in regard to two council tax liability orders dating back to 2002 / 2003. It is very possible they may not even be liable for one and may have moved during the period but have not yet clarified this for sure as I am struggling to get hold of the actual date period which the liability orders were issued for. (Got copies of both the orders from the council at the end of last week but only states date of issue not period covered) Basically long story short; they wanted to come in to make a list of our goods for removal, the notice he left us with (as if we were not home/did not answer) said he was at our address with the intention of removing goods that day and would be back with police within 24hrs to remove the goods. (Is it right that they cannot takes good without the list of goods to levy and he did not in fact have any rights of entry unless gained peaceful entry on visit and therefore was making an illegal threat?) We did not let them in; pleaded our case on the basis that we had been given no opportunity to repay the debt (He said a letter had been sent to our address but I can guarantee there has been no such letter!) and said that our child was home and we would not allow them while they are home. We (partner and I) under pressure agreed to payments, beyond our means, starting tomorrow 13/08/12 (they were not willing to accept a date later in the month) and I have been doing some research but would be really very grateful of any advice.. Some clarity! I know when it comes to Council Tax the rules can be different. I have no formal breakdown of the debt/fees only what the guy wrote by hand alongside the two case numbers. Bailiff said maybe £200 in fees... I read they can only charge a modest fixed amount for 1st visit no matter how many cases in regard to or they are committing fee fraud? The figures on the liability orders are not congruent (more) than the two case figures provided by bailiff. Keeping all doors windows shut/locked as have been worried about other uninvited calls / in case he trys to get 'peaceful entry'. Have looked in to a statutory declaration of ownership as obviously if I can protect the very few things we do have (mostly mine) then I will... Really I personally shouldn't be paying for this.... Not sure if we should deal with bailiffs? Send a letter with the first agreed payment as a goodwill gesture which they accept on the agreement to terms: that they provide us with a full breakdown of costs and repayment schedule? And future payments will be at x amount which is affordable to us? No more visits? Is there a letter that can be used to stop visits? Or make a payment to council and tell the bailiff to see the council at the risk of more hassle from them as I read they cannot claim fees if they have not recovered funds? Sorry I honestly tried to keep it short but somehow feel I have only scratched the surface and am a bit confused...! Kind regards..

Thanks Dx will do when I have some hopefully inspiring news for everyone Becky, dx and silverfox are right , go for the claim, lots of luck with it. Regards to all.

My apologies Taylorit I cannot yet PM, thank you so much for your help I politely declined their first 3 offers, the least being £111 odd but for a non priority debt, (whether or not i can afford this, which i cannot) it is an awful lot, I was paying £70pcm (i had agreed £53 with SHD originally) so and I will likely just keep making regular, more affordable payments. I have just issued them with SAR for all 3, it has not arrived with them yet.. In your opinion, should I wait to compile my charges + compounded + statutory when the docs arrive from them or maybe email them a copy of my SAR alongside a statement of my intentions? I understand you had all your statements at hand which I do not have currently... I have passed the panic (re: the snowballing debt) and now i am set firm to reclaim what is mine, seems the only way I can reduce and then clear the balance with them as they never responded to my earlier calls for assistance with the problem! I will happily go to court if necessary. Thanks again for all your help

I am so pleased for you! Well done! It is so very encouraging to hear of your sucess! SHD have been nothing but trouble for me too. I have cleared 2 accounts (with difficulty) and have a 3rd with a large balance £2.4k possibly 40+% charges and interest which I have no chance of clearing while it continues to be interest and charges bearing. This account has just been passed to their in house collections NDR. I am new to the site today as a registered member, but, have been reading lots and lots in the open forums. Taylorit, would be so kind as to forward me the email address you had sucess with? I would be truly grateful, many thanks in advance I willl be claiming back unfair charges on all 3 accounts and will happily go to court if necessary. All accounts opened online, sending off for list of charges for all 3 accounts and CCA too for the one with the balance. (Hoped they would stop hassling me while they have a shuffle round...) I have been paying them so much each month and from now my payment does not even cover the interest! I have been more than honest and forthcoming when in comes to offering them a payment plan, they have not acted responsably in meeting me anywhere near half way (stop the ongoing charges and/or freeze or reduce interest?) I will gladly settle for the goods that I have recieved, however, I have no chance of doing this while the account is snowballing. This forum is such a wonderful resource and it puts strength in my legs to feel I am not alone, to all who contribute - Thank you I look forward to recieving any comments, opinions or advice.... once again.. many thanks