They do indeed use the word 'may'. We will be getting the statutory declaration as suggested - Many thanks!

Just a big thank you to all who have read our posting and have replied. The last letter we received from the bailiffs said they were planning to remove goods within one week and would be coming with a contractor to do so but they haven't even sought a court order, we we understand they would be obliged to do. I think they act on the assumption that intimidation works. Thank you.

Our daughter hasn't lived with us for over two years and apparently clocked up around £150 of council tax debt while in Manchester. The first we knew about it was when a bailiffs letter arrived followed by a visit followed by letters threatening court orders and the removal of property within a week. We have complained to Manchester City Council that our daughter hasn't been resident here for a long time but they say a search has shown she still has several live accounts registered to our address. How can we make the council contact the bailiffs to remove our address from this process? The council insist this is sufficient proof of residency. We are also worried the council has linked our address with a bad debt causing a poor credit history to be attached to it though they say this will not happen. Our daughter is in temporary accommodation working in another part of the country and as far as we know hasn't given the the council her current address. We are not in regular contact with her at the moment as she doesn't have a phone at present.