Council Tax Baliffs

[Karen W]

Thanks Chris - yes I do have copies, all of the payments have been done through my online banking, I set them up for regular payments which means you can filter it to show the payments for a specific payee showing the amount and the date that the payment was sent. I also specified on the account reference number the year that the payment relates to.

 

Has anyone ever had the charges reduced by the baliffs??

 

I am sending them another letter today by recorded delivery, enclosing a copy of the original letter and asking them for a breakdown of their charges and stating that if there are any unlawful charges I will be taking further action.

[chris600uk]

Has anyone ever had the charges reduced by the baliffs??

 

Yes, it's not that hard

But you have to be persistent

[miziwizzi]

Hi Karen,

 

I too have had charges taken off, Rossendales really try it on, I had letter from them claiming they had visited and put it through door, however sadly for them they had posted it and I was able to prove it because the envelope and letter had the same mispellings of my name!!!! tehe.

 

Council took a very dim view on that.

 

You will need to be persistant and show them you know your rights.

[chris600uk]

That does mean though that you have sent copies of everything to everyone.

 

I do recommend you send emails to the bailiff, council tax dept and the head of the council tax dept - with hard copies to the bailiff and council tax dept.

 

This is because emails and letters take time to deal with - just reading them takes time and if they are written in a sensible way they take longer to read. Silly letters threatening god knows what are ignored and may even be counterproductive - these are special people and they have to be handled in a special way. Politely, pointing out how wrong they are without being openly offensive is difficult, but it's worth the effort.

[miziwizzi]

That does mean though that you have sent copies of everything to everyone.

 

I do recommend you send emails to the bailiff, council tax dept and the head of the council tax dept - with hard copies to the bailiff and council tax dept.

 

This is because emails and letters take time to deal with - just reading them takes time and if they are written in a sensible way they take longer to read. Silly letters threatening god knows what are ignored and may even be counterproductive - these are special people and they have to be handled in a special way. Politely, pointing out how wrong they are without being openly offensive is difficult, but it's worth the effort.

 

 

 

Exellent advice.

[Karen W]

Just an update, nothing received yet in response to my letters to the council or to the baliffs, however I did find whilst routing in the house the original court summons stating the amount outstanding and the summons costs - I now calculate that they have charged me £292.50 extra which is even worse!!

[chris600uk]

what letters have you sent?

[Karen W]

Hi Chris, the 2nd letter sent to the baliffs is as follows

 

Re: Your Reference ********

Client reference *************

Please understand that I am fully aware of my rights and you will not

gain peaceful entry to my home under any circumstances to levy goods.

I know the fees allowed under statute and when these fees can be applied.

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Further to my letter of 20th November 2008 (a copy of which is enclosed) to which I have had no response, I have received a demand for you that appears to add nearly £272.50 to my original outstanding council tax bill. This is considerably more than you are entitled to charge.

 

Demanding fees for work that you have not done - is an offence under Section 2(1)(b)(i) and Section 4(1)©(i) of the Fraud Act 2006, and grounds for a complaint to the County Court under the Distress for Rent Rules 1988 or Form 4 complaint.

 

This account is in dispute, the amount you are demanding is incorrect as I have been making payments direct to ********* Council since September 2008 and I expect NO FURTHER ACTION to be taken.

I will pay any fees owing to you, but will only do this when I have received and had time to have checked a full breakdown of charges, including what the fee consists of (showing appropriate receipts if applicable), when they visited, the vehicle used, the name of the certified bailiff and the court at which he was certified, otherwise I am entitled to refuse to pay the fees.

 

If I do not receive the information that I have asked for by return of post, I will make a complaint to ************ Council and a regulation 46 complaint to the Magistrates Court which issued the liability order.

 

I am sending a copy of this letter to *********** Council

 

Yours faithfully,

[chris600uk]

good letter, that covers it nicely.

 

All you can do now is wait for a response