Equita and Council Tax Arrears problem

[jowster]

Hi

 

I received a letter from equita early March this year asking for full payment of £1,500 within 7 days. I fell behind with previous years council tax due to various financial and income problems while being self employed. A liability order was issued and basically I made an agreement but couldn't make the repayments.

 

So contacted Equita who said they could make an arrangement but would have to pay £31.25 per week. i argued that this was too much due to being on a low household income, but was told that was the amount i had to pay regardless of income as i don't claim Jobseekers or income support. i agreed to the amount and started to pay.

 

My partner injured his back and was unable to work for 2 weeks over 15th/22nd april, being self employed = no income. We get some child tax credits and child benefit so lived off that as we have no savings to fall back on. I contacted the council to ask for a reduction in the amount for a couple of weeks until my partner returned to work. They refused to discuss and said i needed to speak to equita. They also refused, despite being told of the drop in income. They told me to pay whatever i could and then return to the 31.25 per week.

 

during these 2 weeks we couldn't afford to pay anything to Equita, so missed 2 payments. My partner returned to work this Monday, although still in considerable pain !, So on Tuesday i used the child benefit money to pay £31.25 to Equita, with a view to paying the missed weeks asap alongside continuing to make the weekly payment.

 

Yesterday i received a letter from Equita (dated 27/04/2014) Saying that further to my recent communication (as i also emailed the offer after speaking to them) the proposed offer of £20 per week was unacceptable and that I must now pay the amount in full within 7 days or ring them immediately with a revised offer.

 

Sorry for the length .......... So today rang them was told i needed to pay the 2 missed weeks £62.50 today and then continue with the weekly £31.25. Ok so, we have no money at all to pay this and was basically told if it's not paid the arrangement will cancel and balifs will be sent and told to either borrow it ! or pay whatever we can.....

 

Today, another letter has arrived (dated 2804/2014) REMOVAL NOTICE saying i have been issued your case so that i can call at your home this weekend with a removal contractor when i may remove your goods to the local auction house. I would prefer that you were in attendance, should another day be more suitable contact me on the number below immediately. if you prefer to pay the balance i require full payment at this office in good time before I call

 

I've borrowed money to pay the missed payments today, but now this last letter has arrived today I'm worried and not sure what to do. The debt is an old debt when I was on my own with 2 children, before my current partner moved in and is in my name only, I have no income of my own, except the child benefits. My partner has a car and i'm worried that they will come and take that now.

 

The repayment amount is too high to be affordable but no-one is interested in listening to our income breakdown and looking at a smaller amount because we don't claim jobseekers or income support. Although we do receive housing benefit and council tax benefit plus child tax credits as self employed income is very low.£31.25 per week will leave us short on food, heating and electricity. And now the balifs are coming. Don't know which way to turn

[ploddertom]

Have they gained access to your home previously? Do you know how many times they have visited previously? As the debt is from time when you were on your your own then it is only your goods that may be seized & if everything belongs to your partner then there is not much they can do. The reason the Council will have been uncooperative is that the chances are they have outsourced their office functions to a firm called Capita. In turn Capita also own 2 enforcement companies one of which happens to be Equita - do you follow what is happening.

[jowster]

Have they gained access to your home previously? Do you know how many times they have visited previously? As the debt is from time when you were on your your own then it is only your goods that may be seized & if everything belongs to your partner then there is not much they can do. The reason the Council will have been uncooperative is that the chances are they have outsourced their office functions to a firm called Capita. In turn Capita also own 2 enforcement companies one of which happens to be Equita - do you follow what is happening.

 

Thank you for your reply. No Equita has not visited or gained access to my home. Just received the 2 lots of letter this week.

 

When the liability order was originally issued I made an arrangement from there with the council tax office for weekly payments, but it was difficult to keep up, they tried to work with me as I was classed as vulnerable at the time, single parent who had just lost a child. Sort of hoped the debt would just disappear (stupid i know now) Then the initial letter came from Equita early May, when the £31.25 weekly payment was arranged.

 

Sheffield Council does outsource to Capita, but of course won't entertain a lower payment arrangement. I'm no longer classed as vulnerable so I've borrowed money to pay the £62.50 for the 2 missed weeks tonight to Equita in the hope that this stops any further enforcement action and baliffs turning up at the door and the arrangement can continue.

 

But... this still leaves me with the weekly payment at the same amount, which I know we can't afford, so if they do the above i'm still left with the possibility of not being able to pay this every week.

 

Apart from the Car, there's not much of value in the house apart from TV, gardening stuff in the shed all of which were paid for by my partner and the children have laptops and ps3 which were xmas pressie from relatives. I personally don't own anything of value that i believe they can take.

Thanks for your help

[ploddertom]

Is one of the Letters you received titled Notice of Enforcement?

[jowster]

Is one of the Letters you received titled Notice of Enforcement?

 

no the latest is a removal notice

 

saying "I have been issued your case so that i can call at your home this weekend with a removal contractor when i may remove your goods to the local auction house. I would prefer that you were in attendance, should another day be more suitable contact me on the number below immediately. if you prefer to pay the balance i require full payment at this office in good time before I call"

signed by

Enforcement Manager

Edited May 2, 2014 by jowster
added to