Birstow & Sutor - Council Tax arrears

[ladyh0]

I have Council tax arrears of just on £1,200 and B&S now have the account from the Council.

The attended a few weeks ago and as there was nobody home they pushed a letter through my door.  i contacted them to try and make arrangements to pay in instalments but they were having none of it.  kept saying had to be paid all at once and the usual threats to come and remove items etc.  

I contacted the Council and they told me to make a payment with B&S so i logged into my account and made a payment which is a recurring monthly payment. they have continued to text and email me 

i have just taken a call from them saying they are not accepting instalment payments and demanding the whole amount. 

I said tough this is what the council told me to do and he said the council had told him to come and remove items (doubt this is true) and they will be round in the next few days.  not sure what to do so i would really appreciate some guidance.

 

 

[dx100uk]

all they can ever do is add £75 for sending a notice of enforcement and the add £235 = a total of £310  fess. thats it they can't add/get anything else.

 

simply ignore them,

if you wish to, switch to paying the council directly, you have the details on last year ctax bill to do so.

 

ofcourse the £310 is added and needs to be paid, but the council will simply do that from the funds you send them.

 

how are you paying this years ctax?

 

dx

 

[ladyh0]

thank you very much for that.  I will pay the Council direct so I dont have to deal with them

 

i am paying by DD.  the arrears accrued because they took away my 25% single person discount without notice or reason and I argued with them for over 2 years and just paid the amount less the 25%.. 

[London1971]

whoaahh. hold on there... Run that past your local councillor via email and mobile phone, This will take you 2 minutes and likely settle the matter, and take B & S off your back. You will be able to find their details on Google. An email along these lines ...

 

Dear xyz

 

Unfortunately I have accrued a council tax arrears of X amount.  I only have a disposal income of £x per month, and cannot pay the full amount as B And S have requested, and certainly can't afford the £375 extra they have demanded.  However, I realise the importance of paying my council tax and am able to afford to give the council x amount per month , paid directly.

 

I would also be great if you could remove the bailiff charge,

 

Kind Regard

 

xyz

[dx100uk]

Use Bacs to the council.

 

If the Bailiff turns up 

Simply ignore them do not engage.

 

Nothing they can do. If they ring don't engage simply state writing only put the phone down or simply don't answer it 

 

Dx

[Homer67]

No right of entry for Bailiffs on CTAX debts either.

[London1971]

Unless of course you have a car parked outside or close by, they can clamp or take away.

 

That's why contacting your local council representative is always the quickest way to 

 

A: Get the bailiffs off the case

B: Come to an easy payment arrangement direct with the council

C; Remove Bailiff Fees

 

Often local councillors hate using bailiffs, they also have power over the council Revenue department, and can cancel or change a lot of things. 

[ladyh0]

not been back for a while as I thought I had it sorted.  Set up a recurring monthly payment. 

A week ago got a call from them saying not happy with payment and want full payment etc. 

Said they would be coming to remove goods in 48 hours. 

Today they have been and put a notice of enforcement visit through my door saying my goods are now bound

No knock on door. 

Can anyone advise. 

They have not entered my property. 

[dx100uk]

who did you set up the payment too?

probably thinks you have an imaginary car in your name?

already told you about NOE/fees above earlier.

 

dx

 

[ladyh0]

With B&S. It is a recurring payment and it is being taken.  I do have a car but it is on HP and is always kept in my locked garage.  The part on the notice where it refers to fees charged has been crossed through.  

[London1971]

On 20/04/2023 at 13:00, London1971 said:

Unless of course you have a car parked outside or close by, they can clamp or take away.

 

That's why contacting your local council representative is always the quickest way to 

 

A: Get the bailiffs off the case

B: Come to an easy payment arrangement direct with the council

C; Remove Bailiff Fees

 

Often local councillors hate using bailiffs, they also have power over the council Revenue department, and can cancel or change a lot of things. 

You wasted your time speaking directly to Bristow & Suitor, this was always going to happen. The only interest they have is charging you fees. The advice I gave you a month ago gets you directly through to the only people who can take them off your case. 

This is quite literally a 5 minute email, to your local councillor and I recommend copying your elected head of council in also. Their contact details are freely available on Google.

I understand that maybe you ignored it, or it seemed like too much effort, but I assure you I have been in far higher arrears than you and know exactly how to deal with this situation.

 

[dx100uk]

52 minutes ago, ladyh0 said:

With B&S.

[London1971]

Also be aware that if your vehicle is on HP, although they can't take it, they can clamp it, with menaces.  

[Homer67]

Why are you paying B&S?

You were told to pay the Council direct and ignore B&S, they cannot do anything.