Thanks guys, I know some of these threads seem to just fizzle out but I start my OU Law Degree in October and I am going as far as possible with all options open to me. I will keep you updated on all responses.

Any advice grateful guys. I am raging at the bullying tactics of these absolute ****, the council were barely more helpful.

Letter to Council

Letter to Bailiff

Hey guys - can someone double check my paperwork prior to sending it? A quick breakdown of events is as followed. My gf lives alone and pays council tax monthly. Jan 2011: Registered as missed CT payment but record check confirms it was paid 30 Jan 2011 (Trigger 1st automatic letter from Corby Borough Council) May 2011: Missed Payment (Trigger 2nd automatic letter) June 2011: Missed Payment PAID July 2011: Council tax account fully up to date. Confirmed Nov 2011: Council tax account fully up to date. Confirmed May 2012: Bailiff arrives at the home of my gf demanding payment of outstanding Council Tax, Court Fees and Associated Costs. GF is shocked. She was not aware of any Court proceedings or outstanding debt. Bailiff is NOT allowed into the house but can view a small portion of her living room from the main door. Bailiff looks through her kitchen window. GF informs bailiff she has no idea what this is regarding or why he is there. Bailiff shows ID and says the Court sent him to recover unpaid council tax and he will remove her possessions from the house to cover the costs. Bailiff requests £442. GF phones Corby Borough Council who advise her to pay the bailiff directly as they cannot accept a payment and no payment plan can be instigated at this late stage. GF pays the Bailiff the full amount requested via Credit Card (panicking she will lose her stuff). GF is THEN handed a seizure of goods notice which he requests she signs. She signs. The Notice details the following costs - £153.0 Council Tax / Court Costs £24.50 Attendance to Levy Fees £28.00 Levy Fee £12.00 Walking Possession Fee £24.00 Redemption of Goods Fee £200.0 Van The Notice of Seizure is annotated 'Paid in Full' but no inventory of items is included. I arrived at the property a few minutes after the Bailiff left and contacted Bristow & Sutor to query the events. I did a quick bit of research before the call and the admin assistant maintained that the Bailiff had entered the home and made an inventory. I asked why a Van Fee had been added when no goods were removed from the property. Admin Assistant maintained all fees were lawful. I told her to expect paperwork in the next few days. My next call was to the council to enquire why NO correspondence had been received by my girlfriend including the Court Summons, the Liability Order, the Personal Statement of Payment or the Final Notice. They explained that proof of postage is adequate in the eyes of a Magistrate. However, when queried upon which payments were outstanding the Council assistant informed me that because 2 reminders had been sent for a previous unpaid Council Tax payment (which was settled within 1 calendar month) when a second unpaid council tax month arose the system did not send a reminder but instead moved to immediately request a Court Summons as if the original Council Tax payment had been missed. Once I have this information then I will file a Form 4: Complaint Against a Bailiff. At this stage Corby Borough Council cannot even confirm which Council Tax Payment is in arrears... Am I right in assuming that the Bailiff has asked for unlawful charges for actions which did not take place? What would the Court considerable 'reasonable costs' for the time needed to recover this money?