Bristow & Sutor demanding 100 a week

[nickxx2873]

Yesterday morning my Mrs had a visit from a enforcement agent demanding payment of a council tax debt.

 

They have included a enforcement stage fee of £235.. no van turned up just an old man who is demanding she pays £99 pound a week and giving her till Monday to make a first payment.

 

She is classed as a single parent and paying £100 a week will stop her from putting food on the table.

 

Luckily she didnt let them in and he has handed her a notification of enforcement visit given her til 6 pm monday to make payment.

 

 

what she can do is pay about 35 a week to clear the debt not sure how to tackle this

 

so your help needed where to start please.. hope you got enough informatiion

[Conniff]

I think you will be advised to pay the council direct Nick. If you send them a budget sheet and tell them the most you can afford, but whatever you offer will be extra to the current tax payment.

[tomtubby]

How much is the Liability Order?

 

Did she receive a Notice of Enforcement (this should have been posted to her BEFORE the visit from the bailiff?

 

You say that she is your 'Mrs' but is classed as a single parent. Are you living at the property and is the council tax debt a joint one?

 

Does she receive any benefits and if so...which ones?

 

Does she work?

 

Does she have a car outside of her property? If so, this is at risk?

 

If you can respond it will assist with giving an accurate response.

[nickxx2873]

The Liability order is for £834

 

Council tax is not a joint one as she is living with her 3 kids

 

She recieves working tax credit and housing benefit.

 

Car she has out side is only scrap value lucky if the 200 quid in it

[ploddertom]

Does she receive Single Person Discount?

Did she have any prior notice she was being taken to Court for non-payment?

Did she receive a Notice of Enforcement before the Enforcement Agent turned up & if so did she respond to it?

[nickxx2873]

yes she recieves single person discount

yes she recieve notice of court and yes to the notice

[ploddertom]

In that case the reason she has received a visit is that I assume she ignored the Notice of Enforcement and failed to contact them to make an arrangement to pay. Being charged £235 for a visit is unfortunately correct. As for making payment then she is going to have to supply proof of I&E which hopefully will prove she cannot afford the sum demanded.

 

Is there anyone within the household who is ill or disabled?

[nickxx2873]

no one in the house who is disabled

 

i can do i & E what the best approach for either the council or bristow and sutor

[ploddertom]

The following is a good tool to use for I&E http://moneysmart.nedcab.org.uk/budgetsheet.asp you may need to close the spaces as the site software sometimes doesn't allow links. When completed send copies to both Bailiffs & Council. The chances are the Council will not want to know as everything to date has been ignored. Instead it may pay to contact the local Councillor(s) and ask them for help if only to reinforce a suitable repayment plan. As she is a single parent there is a possibility that she could claim to be potentially vulnerable but think this may fall on deaf ears. Whatever happens then it would be a seriously bad idea to allow the EA into the home.