Today I received a visit from a Horrible woman from Ross and Roberts about outstanding council tax with Birmingham city council. I did have a payment arrangement set up with Ross and Roberts which I had been paying for the roughly the last 6 months but with receiving the current years water and council tax bills I missed Aprils payment. I was hoping to pay make two months payment later this month to catch up but they have sent out the bailiffs. My 6 month baby (Hasn't been well last couple of days) was sleeping when the agent came and starting banging on the door. I wasn't going to open the door but unfortunately she claimed she saw me through the letter box and she started shouting and banging louder and I was worried she would break the glass on the door. She shouted either I open the door or she would come in with the police and a Locksmith. I asked her if we could speak outside or in her van and that I know she can't force entry as she hasn't been inside my house before for this debt. She said she was willing to talk outside but insisted she had a right to gain entry with a Locksmith with the police in attendance. She then went and sat in her van we talked through the window. As I was willing to pay the two months installments I asked her how much was the minimum she was willing to accept to which she replied £500 and she telephoned someone for call for a removal van and told me I had 30 minutes to find a way to make a payment. otherwise she was going to add charges for the removal van. I told her let me call someone to see if I could raise the money but knowing I wouldn't be able to raise that much today I called payplan to clarify if she could gain access (Wasn't sure if the law had changed last year). When she realized who I was talking to she said I now only had 10/15 minutes to make payment and started to call (she claimed) the police and locksmith and shut the window on me. This shook me up but luckily I still had payplan on the phone who reassured me she couldn't get into the house and police wouldn't do anything unless their was a breach of peace. After 15 minutes the bailiff banged on the door and asked if I was "Going to pay" and I replied I can't she said I 5 minutes before the removal van arrived. As she walked off the drive she pointed to the neighbors car and asked if that was my car, I told it was the neighbors. She realised where I worked (I was wearing my uniform as I was getting ready to go to work) and checked the car for signs it may be mine. She then went to my other neighbors house and knocked on their door. I told she has no right to discuss my situation with them due to Data Protection Act but she told me to shut up and stepped into the neighbors house. While she was in There I left my wife and baby home and locked the door went to move my car (parked at end of road) to somewhere else in case the neighbors tell which is my car. On my way back home I phoned Ross and Roberts office and asked to complain about their agent but was told I had to complain in writing. I told them their agent was threatening to break in and was also discussing my case with other people and asked them to call her and tell her to stop but they claimed the couldn't. On returning home I informed the bailiff that I spoke to Ross and Roberts and event they said agent couldn't gain access without a warrant and that I had a right to see the warrant but she just laughed and the office would just have sent me back to her. Couple of minutes later she drove off. I was wondering if someone could advise if the bailiff had a right to talk to my neighbors as I believe I should have been protected by Data Protection Act. Also does anyone have the email address to who I could complain to, in order to get her to back off as I'm worried she may return and harass my wife and children when I'm not at home. I already had to phone in sick as I got late for work dealing with her. (I think I have seen email address of someone at Birmingham city council on the forum before but cant seem to find it today) Any sample letters/emails I could send would be greatly appreciated, as would any other advice. Don't know if it matters but I also can't see her name on Justice . Gov Thank you in advance.

Hi all. I parked within a parking bay opposite Birmingham city hospital, it was a 1 hour parking place. I am a blue badger holder and when I returned to my car I saw that I got a parking ticket. I thought blue badge holders could park up to three hours. Furthermore as stated I am a blue badge holder which means I am disabled and takes me long to get back to the car and on top of this I went to go see my sister who has only weeks to live as she has terminal cancer.do u think its worth challenging the parking ticket? I was only 20 mins over. There were other cars with blue badges on who hadn't received a parking ticket.

Today my parents received a letter at their London address (where i dont live since Feb 2011) regarding council tax which i owed of £1003.81 for a Birmingham address. I had a monthly direct debit set-up for some reason ended up failing and being removed, since then this is the first time i have heard from Equita. The letter is under my wife's and my name she is out of work since Feb 2011 til present and i have just started last week. None of us have the funds to pay the amount. The letter posted THROUGH THE DOOR on the 10th Oct 2011 stated: "Payment due in full in 24 hours.....i have attended today with the intention of removing goods and chattels as are necessary to discharge the outstanding council tax liability order and additional enforcement charges cost.....Please note no further arrangements are acceptable and payment is now required in full......i will attend your address to remove goods even in your absence....should you wish to avoid this contact me immediately....no contact will be taken as your refusal to pay" I rang them (before reading that i shouldnt ) to say my parents received this letter but i dont live there anymore. I told him i have been out of work for 2 years and only started working this week. He replied saying it doesn't matter he needs full payment or a court order would be issued, i said it doesnt matter even if i go to court as i cant pay and will still arrange a monthly plan. Obviously more fees would be occurred so i would rather deal with this matter ASAP. The bailiff told me he'll give me til Thursday (4 days) to try and get the money but said i doubt i can. The only method for me will be to get a monthly plan sorted again but im not sure they will....or is there any way i can? Please do help me

Earlier today I tried setting up a payment plan with Equita to pay off my Birmingham city council Tax bill off £1,086.24. I offered to pay £100 a month to them which they said was acceptable but I had to make my first payment today. Unfortunately I told them I could make a payment till Wednesday so they refused to put payments on hold till then and told me that I would still be liable for extra charges till I make first payment. Is there any one I can contact to try to get them to wait till Wednesday without commencing any extra action. I am worried as I have previously had them turn up on my door step and levy vehicles on my drive before I have even received letters from them (previous debt) and I currently have a car parked on my drive which I've declared SORN as I'm attempting to sell it to try to raise money to pay of my debts. Unfortunately as car is not insured or taxed I can't move it to different location. Any advice greatly appreciated

Hi, Wonder if anyone has any advice on this rather annoying situation. I've been made liable (apparently) for council tax debts relating to a property I lived in over 5 years ago. This would be fine apart from the fact the property was shared between 5 people and I was claiming council tax benefit while I lived there (to complicate matters). Somehow my name was left on the bill (I thought the bill had been paid when I moved out and didn't realise it was in my name) and bills were being sent to the old address which I never received. Eventually baliffs were brought in, found my new address and sent me letters relating to the old address. I spoke to the council and explained but they weren't much help but suggested I wrote to them and obtained tenancy contracts etc. Luckily I managed to get hold of the contracts from the estate agents we rented from and I sent them to the council explaining the situation (it was one contract for the whole house). They still weren't much help and said they wanted forwarding addresses. I only have the address of one person I shared with so I sent them that but they are still sending me bills in my name! Now it's got to a magistrate's letter. What should I do? Can I defend myself in court and get it thrown out? Should I contact the council before the court appearance and try (yet again) to get them to do the right thing? I can't afford to pay other people's debts and refuse to do so on principle. If anyone has any advice about what to do or what legal position I'm in I'd be extremely grateful. Very angry with Bham City Council over this, outrageous behaviour! Thanks.