Equita Bailiffs. Urgent Help Needed

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I have recieved a Final Notice demanding money for unpaid council tax from Equita Bailiffs while I was on holiday. My Dad has rang the bailiff who says its for unpaid council tax at my previous address. I moved from this address 2 years ago and paid up my council tax when I moved out. The bailiff told my dad he has sent 12 letters in total but only 1 has ever come to this address and was delivered by hand on 8th July demanding final payment. I have only just got back in the country and cant contact anyone at this time but thought id get some advice first.

 

I dont have any reciept for the moneis paid because I shredded them about 2 months ago during a clear out. What seems weird though is that he has only got part of my address and my surname is wrong on the letter.

 

What should I do?

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Just spoken with Oxford Council. My previous address was in joint names with my partner who died and when I sent in the death certificate they put me on a new account into one name and frose the old account. However I paid my final months council tax on an old slip with both our names on it. Now they are saying that they cannot switch money from the old account to the new one without permission from the executors to prove it was me who paid the money. And since I have no reciept to prove I paid the cash I am stuck. They said they may be able to refund half of the money to my account, however will I still have to pay the bailiffs fees?

[PGH7447]

No you wont have to pay pay bailiffs fees, this is a cock up by the council, write in and complain to them, how did you pay the final bill was it through a bank account?

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I paid it cash like I always have, but I paid it before my partner died, thats whats causing all the mess

[PGH7447]

thenit is up to the council to sort it out, if they cant keep their records in place how do they expect everyone else to.

 

the easy way is to send a sar to them and demand all evidence of this alledged debt

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They have confirmed that the old account in joint names is in credit by one month but they wont transfer the money into the overdue account because half the money belongs to my parner who is now deceased and I am not the executor. I will happily pay anything extra but I just dont want to pay anything to a Bailiff coz hes charging me an extra £250 for his service. Whats annoying is that they told me I wouldnt need to pay anything else 24 months ago and untill now I have heard nothing. They should be contacting me to work something out but I am not holding my breath.

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All sorted, I have paid a grand total of £23.80 for their mistake and the account is settled. I didnt have to pay the bailiff anything and my credit rating has not been affected. Thanks.

[PGH7447]

good well done