Council Tax - Swift Credit

[plkdelta]

Hi all, quick question, which i kind of know the answer to, but would just like clarification.

 

While I was away working, my partner had a letter from a bailffs office demanding council tax arrears.

 

She called them and offered to set up a payment plan

 

They said, that they would have to call at the house for that to be arranged.

 

I know this is Rubbish!!! Just trying to add more fees to the account.

 

I have since spoken to the council and have arranged to pay them, but apparently I have to pay swift credit £39 as these are the fees already incurred from passing the debt to them.

 

Any help would be much appreciated,

 

PLK

[hallowitch]

I have to pay swift credit £39 as these are the fees already incurred from passing the debt to them.

 

 

There is nothing in The Council tax (administration and enforcement regulations) 1992(amended) that says you have to pay a fee for the debt being passed to the bailiff therefore it should not be charged

 

I have since spoken to the council and have arranged to pay them

 

 

 

are you sure this was council staff you spoke to often when phoning the council in connection with council tax arrears you are NOT dealing with the council a lot of councils use agency's to collect council tax

[plkdelta]

yes, I was talking to the council direct, who then called swift while i was on the phone, to check it out.

[dx100uk]

aren't swift a dca..so can they charge anything?

they are not court bailiffs.

might be wrong

 

dx

[hallowitch]

yes, I was talking to the council direct, who then called swift while i was on the phone, to check it out.

 

 

your council had to phone swift to confirm this is shocking your council should be fully aware of the regulations

 

bailiffs can only charge for visits made £24.50 1st visit £18 2nd visit

no visits mean no charges

 

perhaps you should send them a copy of this and ask them to point out where this fee is within the regulations

 

The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992

 

http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/docs/Enforcement_Agent_Charges.pdf

[plkdelta]

Sorry, didn't calrify in the post, there was a letter hand delivered through the door.

[hallowitch]

aren't swift a dca..so can they charge anything?

they are not court bailiffs.

might be wrong

 

dx

 

 

swift are also bailiffs

 

 

if they were working as dca for council tax they would not be able to charge anything

[hallowitch]

Sorry, didn't clarify in the post, there was a letter hand delivered through the door.

 

 

then you owe swift £24.50