Council Tax Arrears / AEO

[klassykitty]

Myself and my hubby were quite young when we moved out of home and got ourselves into some debt problems, one of them was owing council tax.

We owe thousands of pounds in council tax arrears, we have kept up with current CT payments for about the past 4 years, and have paid bits and bobs off the arrears as and when we could as my hubby does temporary work which can last anything from days to years.

He started a new job last month after being unemployed for a couple of months and so the council asked us to set up a payment arrangement for one of our old accounts, money is very tight at the moment and our 1st baby is due next month, so we sent them a financial statement which showed we were left with £5 a week and asked if we could pay £5 a fortnight. Well today we recieved a letter saying that they couldnt accept that, but we could pay £5 a week until 3rd june when it will increase to £12.50 a week. I thought ok fair enough as by then baby will be here and were entitled to tax credits and child benefit so we will have a bit more money.

Then in a seperate letter/envelope was an attachment of earnings order for another account from 06/07, my hubby takes home £320 a week and they want to take 12% of that = £38.40.

This is completely unrealistic, so they want £30 a week normal council tax, £38.40 in a AEO and £12.50 a week off another account (from june).

Im honestly beginning to wonder what the point in my hubby going to work is! We will end up falling behind with the current council tax if we are to pay out the other amounts, maybe £20 off arrears but over £50 a week!

Rent = £126 PW

Council Tax = £30 PW

Electricity = £40 PW (no gas) less in summer

Food = £70 PW

Car Ins = £8.50 PW

Pet Ins = £6.70 PW

House Ins = £3 PW

Petrol/Car Tax £20 PW

Phone/Broadband = £9 PW

 

= £313.20 This is without dog food any clothing etc, etc.. Car tax due end of the month £148.50 and baby due next month

So how will we afford £38.40 from his wages

[klassykitty]

Maybe i should add on 26/07/2006 the court made a liability order £539.32 is outstanding, we were paying £10 a week until hubby became unemployed.

[Ell-enn]

You need to write to the head of revenue at your local council explaining your circumstances and enclosing a budget sheet (I have affixed the one we normally use - it calculates automatically as you enter the figures). If you need help with the letter please let me know and I'll draft one for you. You need to stress that if they take the amount out of your husbands wages you will be left in the position of not being able to pay your rent.

 

How much are the total arrears they want to recover ?

 

You say you have been up to date with your council payments for the last 4 years ?

[klassykitty]

The arrears they want to recover from the AEO is £539.32 for Council Tax arrears dating back to 2005, it was at £1000

The payment arrangement we have just agreed on £5 a week is for £3506.88 - i believe this is overpaid housing benefit, but i really dont understand where they get their figures from, im sure they make them up as they go along.

Some other outstanding arrears have been cleared, these are the 2 accounts left.

Council tax payments have been upto date since 2009

What will happen if we just ignore the AEO and continue with the payment arrangement previously set up?

[klassykitty]

Yes just found an invoice the £3506.88 is overpaid housing benefit dating back to 2002, different properties, several different years

[Ell-enn]

You can't ignore the AOE - your husbands employer has to make the deductions or face being taken to court. You need to let them know that you can't pay any extra while the AOE is in place.

 

You need to ask them for a breakdown of the £3508.88 .

 

Do you need help with a letter ?

 

Have you done the budget sheet yet?

[klassykitty]

We have been sent the AOE to pass on to his employer.

The invoice does have a breakdown of the £3506.88

Help with the letter would be appreciated thanks

Just doing the budget sheet

[klassykitty]

The budget sheet is the same thing i sent them last week, it showed we have £5 left a week, they said they had received our 'financial statement'

[Ell-enn]

We have been sent the AOE to pass on to his employer. Did they? I've not heard of that before, do they not know who his employer is ?

The invoice does have a breakdown of the £3506.88

Help with the letter would be appreciated thanks

Just doing the budget sheet

 

OK will draft a letter

[klassykitty]

Baby Brain! - Have read it again and at the bottom it says this is a copy of an Attachment of Earnings Order served on your employer.

The payroll number and NI number is left blank and starts To any person who has in his employment the person named above - its dated 6/2/13 - took them long enough, only got it today!

Thanks for your help

[Ell-enn]

The employer will have to start deducting the amount on the order, they have no option.

[klassykitty]

How long will it take them to get that started do you think?

[Ell-enn]

depends when the receive it - is your husband paid weekly ? if so, on what day ?

[klassykitty]

Yes weekly on fridays

We cant fall behind with the rent payments as we already owe arrears which we are slowly paying back, so the only options we are left with is to not pay the current council tax or not eat!

Really upset now i know it's been sent to his work

[Ell-enn]

If they only got it today it they might not apply this week - depends on what day of the week they run their payroll. I would imagine the first deduction would be next week.

[Ell-enn]

Hi, affixed is a draft letter to send to the council - take photocopies of the AEO and attach (staple) to the letter along with your budget sheet. Send by recorded delivery and make sure you keep the receipt from the post office so you can check on the royalmail website a few days after posting to print off the signature receipt.

[klassykitty]

Thank you!

[klassykitty]

When my husband came home from work on wednesday i was really upset and he was fuming, so he called the council yesterday and spoke to the person who sent the AOE letter to us, she has said the 12% they will take from his wages covers the current council tax as well as arrears and we wont be paying anything else? Does anyone know if this is true? As i dont see that written anywhere. We have a meeting with the recovery team at the council on monday.

[Ell-enn]

When the employer deducts the 12% they will only do so until the amount stated on the AOE is cleared then they will stop deducting as that is the content of the court order.

 

I can't see how the council could deduct from earnings for this year's council tax if you are already paying it and they don't have a court order for it.

[klassykitty]

Yesterday she kept saying we would be better off paying the AOE and he couldnt really hear/understand what she was saying as he was calling from work (noisy environment). So he called her again this morning and arranged the meeting but once again she said the 12% they take will be the only amount they take and will cover the current council tax. She was asking my hubby if he was saying he is not paying anything, to which he explained that paying the current council tax is fine, but not £38 a week on top off arrears, she has said several times that it will be £38 and nothing else. But it doesnt say anything like that in the letter.

[klassykitty]

Thought i would update, my hubby had the meeting at the council today, and no the 12% doesnt include the current council tax, the woman who said that clearly cant do her job.

Anyway the AEO hasnt been sent to his employer yet and that is going to be cancelled, we are going to pay £10 a week off the arrears and obviously keep up with the curent council tax. So a good outcome!

Thank you for your support.

[Ell-enn]

That's good news -hope things work out for you now