The council have said that apparently this is the 5th bailiff company they've given the job to, and that if this bailiff company failed to collect, then they'd just move onto the next rather than deal with me themselves.

The issue she had was they were erratic with taking payments, and started threatening her with non payment after a direct debit was returned unpaid. This was down to them copying the bank details from the paperwork to their system incorrectly. When she then asked them to re-set up the direct debit, they did so too late for the second month's payment, but didn't inform her of this, and started harassing her again re: payment. She was on holiday and came home to about 3 letters and a load of voicemails. She didn't get so much as an apology, and so said she wanted to speak to a CS manager. She was told "we'll pass on your details but it's up to the manager if they feel like calling you." They didn't. She called back and said she would be stopping payments until a manager spoke to her to which the reply was "we have noted your refusal to pay". She then clarified it was not a refusal to pay, but a payment hold until she could be sure all payments were going to come out as and when agreed etc. as the erratic payments were inconveniencing her. She has no paperwork as she has lost it. She has requested a copy of this. Also, after giving them her phone number today, the agent rang and hung up just after she closed the door to verify the number, which she found irritating. Then, 2 minutes later, after having explained her willingness to pay if a manager speaks to her, she's sent that text. She also said the laptop was at her mother's house as she had left it there yesterday, not just "elsewhere", so not like she was vague etc. I will mention to her about reporting the threats as she is classed as a vulnerable person due to mental health issues, and she came round in tears after that text message thinking she was going to be arrested. It took me quite some time to calm her down and explain that it wasn't a police matter.

Hi, hoping for some advice please. My next door neighbour has one item with dial a TV. She had some issues with them and stopped paying and said she would resume payments when a manager called and sorted out the issue as she was fed up of being passed from pillar to post. I know she's had the items for less than a year as she went with them shortly after I went with BAYV, and I've only been with them for 11 months, so she won't have paid 1/3. She also isn't sure if it's a rental or HP agreement she has as she hasn't got a record of her paperwork (I've advised her to ask for this) today a guy from DATV turns up to collect the item. She refused and said it was elsewhere (whereas she just didn't want them taking it away as it's full of her data, and she wants to back it all up.) She advised that she was happy to pay if she just got the original issue solved, and was still waiting for contact from management. She provided her contact details again, 5 minutes later received a text message which said "This is DialaTV re: The 1968 Theft Act. This advises you your rental account will be passed to police for theft due to non payment with the intent to permanently deprive DialaTV of their equipment. You must call us urgently to arrange collection of our goods whereby police action will be cancelled. Phone 01487 773515" Now, this got me angry, as I'm fairly certain that this is a civil matter, and they're clearly trying to terrify her, but I just wanted to clarify I was correct in my assumption? Also, it was obvious from what she had said to the guy that turned up that she was not trying to steal the item but was merely withholding payment until issues were sorted. Also, can anyone offer any other advice? I have already advised her as mentioned above, but have I missed anything? Thanks

Thank you for all the advice. I have again tried to speak to Rundles who are just saying 6 months to clear or nothing. This also includes their extortionate fees on top, like fees for hand posting a letter when Royal Mail would suffice (as they didn't knock the door or anything, just posted a letter) I'm going to try writing directly to the council saying I won't let the bailiffs in and will also be making a complaint about Rundles' threats to remove my property whilst I'm not home.

That came from Rundles who said they would need to see what valuables we have before coming to any agreements. I have today offered to pay them £10 per fortnight (as that is all that circumstances will allow at the moment). They have refused and will continue to refuse anything other than £250 per month (total owed is £1,333.69) Instead they have threatened to take our vehicle. This is a vehicle worth £160 and used for business purposes. What can I do?

Hi, Apologies, I had trouble locating my post again. I have spoken to the council involved who have frozen bailiff action and sent me a copy of the liability order. I received no contact from the council or the bailiffs whilst at the property, and all council tax letter were sent to my landlord, so we're forwarded to him. The council have admitted they didn't attempt to contact me at all with regards to council tax until after I had left the property. I offered to come to a payment arrangement with the council but they refused and insist I must go through Rundles, but I was informed that Rundles will not make a payment arrangement unless I allow them to put a levy on my goods. I have been on the electoral roll at all addresses and my landlord had a forwarding address, so there's really no excuse for them to have sent letters to my old address. They also claim that they were fully aware that, when they started writing to me at the old address, I was no longer living there. I am more than happy to come to an arrangement with them, although I am annoyed as the landlord clearly didn't notify them until after I had left as he knew I would have pulled him up on it with a copy of the tenancy agreement at the time stating he would pay. Had he just been honest from the outset then I could have applied for CT benefit at the time, which would have maybe halved the amount we owed as we were both working but on a low wage. As I say, I'd happily make an arrangement with the countil, but I do not want the bailiffs involved as I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them, and do NOT want a levy on my goods. Had the council contacted me directly I would have sorted something out, I think it's unfair they've gone in all guns blazing rather than going "oh, we have an address now, let's contact the debtors directly".

Thank you

Hi all. 3 weeks ago Rundles sent me a "notice of enforcement". They said I owed council tax from 2010/11. We had been under the impression our landlord was paying it, which was incorrect. I cannot find a copy of my tenancy from this date to prove this, however, so accept I must pay it. However, this is the first contact I have had in 5 years. Rundles refuse to provide me with a copy of the liability order or any relevant documents showing what we owe etc. Rather than provide a copy they have just proceeded to threaten a removal of goods , "with or without" us present. Am I right in thinking I have a right to proof of the debt etc. from them? Also, had we been aware the LL wasn't paying, we would have applied for council tax benefit for which we would have been entitled. Is there anything we can do about this now? Thanks in advance for all help