very old council tax bill and current bailiffs threatening letter

[andyinlondon]

Hi all it never rains does it.

 

I just got a threatening letter this morning from a bailiffs company about an a old incorrect paid and settled council tax debt from 1997 with an enforcemant notice from 1999.

 

to cut a long story short we moved into an address in july 1997 and fell behind with our council tax, rosen heimes bailiff was appointed to collect said arrears and we paid it off over the next year or so 2001/2002 it was settled in full including their fees.

 

we then recieved a letter out of the blue earlier this year from Hounslow council regarding what they said was outstanding council tax from april 1997 to june 1997. we replied that we did not live there then and did not owe them anything.

we got another letter saying we owed this money and to pay now, we asked for the supporting documents to show we owed them anything and got this bailiff letter in reply.

 

A little more info, when we moved up here to scotland we recieved a refund for overpaid council tax from hounslow council of £160.00

why would we get a refund if we owed them anything?

 

can they harrass us for a 13 year old debt that we dont owe even though they claim they have a liability order,

not that they have shown us this alledged order,

 

what can i do

 

Andy

[i hate bailiffs]

liability orders never go away and always active until settled

 

you will be best to deal with the council in writing to get things sorted

 

keep bailiffs out deny a levy on anything and not a lot they can do there is no right of entry

 

council should call bailiffs off and investigate fully

[unclebulgaria67]

Hi all it never rains does it.

 

I just got a threatening letter this morning from a bailiffs company about an a old incorrect paid and settled council tax debt from 1997 with an enforcemant notice from 1999.

 

to cut a long story short we moved into an address in july 1997 and fell behind with our council tax, rosen heimes bailiff was appointed to collect said arrears and we paid it off over the next year or so 2001/2002 it was settled in full including their fees.

 

we then recieved a letter out of the blue earlier this year from Hounslow council regarding what they said was outstanding council tax from april 1997 to june 1997. we replied that we did not live there then and did not owe them anything.

we got another letter saying we owed this money and to pay now, we asked for the supporting documents to show we owed them anything and got this bailiff letter in reply.

 

A little more info, when we moved up here to scotland we recieved a refund for overpaid council tax from hounslow council of £160.00

why would we get a refund if we owed them anything?

 

can they harrass us for a 13 year old debt that we dont owe even though they claim they have a liability order,

not that they have shown us this alledged order,

 

what can i do

 

Andy

 

Yes you must make a complaint in writing to the council and threaten to involve the LGO. Send a copy to the bailiff company.

 

There are many councils that are going through their account to try to find money, as the government have cut their funding and have been told that they should not be increasing council taxes. Trouble is that I expect that their account going back 15 years ago are probably not that accurate.

[hallowitch]

no bailiffs in Scotland it sheriff officers so i wouldn't think you Will get a visit from a bailiff

[andyinlondon]

no bailiffs in Scotland it sheriff officers so i wouldn't think you Will get a visit from a bailiff

 

thats one bit of good news

[andyinlondon]

Yes you must make a complaint in writing to the council and threaten to involve the LGO. Send a copy to the bailiff company.

 

There are many councils that are going through their account to try to find money, as the government have cut their funding and have been told that they should not be increasing council taxes. Trouble is that I expect that their account going back 15 years ago are probably not that accurate.

 

thats a good idea

 

also it looks like rosen heims has gone out of business ( a bankrupt bailiff ? ) do you think that may have something to do with it ?

[unclebulgaria67]

thats a good idea

 

also it looks like rosen heims has gone out of business ( a bankrupt bailiff ? ) do you think that may have something to do with it ?

 

The bailiff going bust is not the issue. Obviously the council still have an outstanding amount flagged on the account for that year. But the trouble is that the accounts records may not be correct and that they have not reconciled amounts received at a later date. Tell the information in your post earlier and it is up to them to look into it.

[andyinlondon]

Hi all just a little update.

 

got a Bankruptcy Proceedings letter from newlyn bailiffs this morning threatening Bankruptcy Proceedings or comittal to prison for three months and implying that they will then sell my home to settle the debt of £248.76 that we do not owe.

we live in scotland so anything done would have to be done under scottish law

 

what do you think?

 

cheers

 

Andy

[i hate bailiffs]

sounds like a threat Scotland law may be different

normally for either of those options it would have to go to court

 

others will know more

[ploddertom]

Newlyn don't make the decisions, the Council do. Going back to your original Bailiff I vaguely remember something about Bailiffs having collected but not passed the monies on, whether or not this is the same I do not know. It would be interesting to find out what Newlyn think they can charge for this! The Council must be able to prove this debt and not just say you owe it, after all I could ask for the £100 or so I say I lent you.

[cerberusalert]

Hi all just a little update.

 

got a Bankruptcy Proceedings letter from newlyn bailiffs this morning threatening Bankruptcy Proceedings or comittal to prison for three months and implying that they will then sell my home to settle the debt of £248.76 that we do not owe.

we live in scotland so anything done would have to be done under scottish law

 

what do you think?

 

cheers

 

Andy

 

You cannot be made bankrupt for a debt under £750 & they know it. Time to lodge some complaints for misrepresentation.

[andyinlondon]

You cannot be made bankrupt for a debt under £750 & they know it. Time to lodge some complaints for misrepresentation.

 

that is good to know, it is one worry less.