Bailiff removal notice for council tax i wasnt aware i had to pay

[laurajayne439]

I have received 'Removal Notice' from equita yesterday. This is the first letter i have received regarding council tax from my previous address which i haven't lived at for over 5 months. I was claiming full housing benefit and council tax benefit as i am on JSA and was on JSA when i lived at my previous address, and wasn't aware that at any time that i lived at my previous address i was 'supposed' to pay council tax.

 

On the letter is states that if i wish to make a full payment (which it doesn't tell me how much is owed) than i have to ring them. If failing to do so the bailiffs will be round to my new address in two weeks to remove my goods

 

Is there any advice you can give me please?

Im going out my mind with worry

[seanamarts]

I suggest you get on to your council asap monday morning. Ask for the Benefits and revenues department.

[ashmk]

The bailiffs cannot force entry unless you have let them in previously. They cannot remove goods unless they can get it. They can however take a car or whatever is in your garden.

Just remember to keep your doors and windows locked and there is very little they can do. They will most likely try to collect 2-3 times before passing it back.

 

Worst case scenario assuming they cannot get in is they will huff and puff with threats about locksmiths and police through your letterbox for 30 mins or so then leave.

 

Locksmiths are ONLY to gain entry if they have been in before but they like to use this threat to un-aware people and police are ONLY to keep the peace and they are not supposed to get involved but some police are very thick when it comes to bailiffs and what powers they dont have. Just politly ignor the police.

 

But if you do what seanamarts has said and go talk to the council then its very possible the bailiff action will cease anyway.

[tomtubby]

I have received 'Removal Notice' from equita yesterday. This is the first letter i have received regarding council tax from my previous address which i haven't lived at for over 5 months. I was claiming full housing benefit and council tax benefit as i am on JSA and was on JSA when i lived at my previous address, and wasn't aware that at any time that i lived at my previous address i was 'supposed' to pay council tax.

 

On the letter is states that if i wish to make a full payment (which it doesn't tell me how much is owed) than i have to ring them. If failing to do so the bailiffs will be round to my new address in two weeks to remove my goods

 

Is there any advice you can give me please?

Im going out my mind with worry

 

It is about time that the public really started making complaints to the relevant bodies if they are unhappy with letters received from bailiffs.

 

There can be NO OTHER type of business that could be possibly be allowed to get away with sending a letter to demand money and not provide the amount but instead, but instead lead to you ringing a MOBILE TELEPHONE to discover what you owe.

 

I am aware of many recent complaints that have been made on this point to the Office of Fair Trading or Trading Standards.

 

Another point that I will make is that almost everyone receiving such letters BELIEVES that when the bailiff says that he will attend and remove goods "IN YOUR ABSENCE" this means that he is going to BREAK INTO THE HOUSE. This is NOT the case.

 

If you are silly enough to leave a door or window open then yes, he could gain "peaceful entry" but what the bailiff REALLY means is that he can remove goods from OUTSIDE of the house. This could be a lawnmower. garden table etc from the garden or goods in an unlocked garage.

[popperdom]

Who are the appropriate bodies to complain to? The local councils appear to work hand in hand with bailiffs and condone much of what they do and charge. If there is a list of people to complain to would someone advise please. I have contacted consumer direct who inturn informed trading standards and the OFT they say bailiffs do not come under their remit.

[ploddertom]

Who are the appropriate bodies to complain to? The local councils appear to work hand in hand with bailiffs and condone much of what they do and charge. If there is a list of people to complain to would someone advise please. I have contacted consumer direct who inturn informed trading standards and the OFT they say bailiffs do not come under their remit.

 

Unfortunately there is no one to complain to who will take your complaint seriously. The Bailiffs and Council will have you believe that the ESA will listen but they are a trade body paid for by Bailiffs.

 

To find out where you are at you need to ring the Council in the morning and ask:

How much the Liability Order was for

How much is still outstanding

For what period of time it is for

When it was passed to the bailiffs

 

If you ask them to take it back they will refuse but you should impress upon them the fact you had moved so never received any prior notification. If you are with the same Council did you tell them you were moving. It may be they are trying to charge you for a period of time after you moved. You should also contact your local Councillor for help ASAP.

 

PT

[laurajayne439]

Thank you for all your information,

I have looked through all my letters i received regarding my housing benefit and council tax benefit, and i have come across a letter saying from the 1.06.2009 (which was the date i moved into the property) to the 31.3.2010, i didnt have any council tax to pay. I left the property in Jan 2010 and informed the council that i moved, and also that i moved out of the area, that is how they have my address now.

Would that letter be any benefit for me to help fight this case?

[hallowitch]

get in touch with council and find out the dates this debt relates to

 

its possible that you are being charged for council tax after you moved out of your old home because

[laurajayne439]

got in touch with the council and they said that the bill is from after i moved out. but there problems with what they are saying, which dont seem to be right, i.e, saying they sent out a letter on the 19th Jan to the address i am at now, although i didnt start renting this property on the 22nd Jan.

- spoke to the bailiff on the phone to sort out payment, i was asked what i would like to pay monthly so i told him, and he said it wasnt good enough they wanted more. Will be going to the citizens advice for any info i can get

[hallowitch]

got in touch with the council and they said that the bill is from after i moved out. but there problems with what they are saying, which dont seem to be right, i.e, saying they sent out a letter on the 19th Jan to the address i am at now, although i didnt start renting this property on the 22nd Jan.

- spoke to the bailiff on the phone to sort out payment, i was asked what i would like to pay monthly so i told him, and he said it wasnt good enough they wanted more. Will be going to the citizens advice for any info i can get

 

if the date the council tax relates to is for after you moved out of the property then you owe the council nothing