Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

[jdpm]

My council decided to go through court etc for non payment of council tax.

My partner lives with me is not named on the property with the council.

The non payment of council tax relates to this years council tax.

The bailiff is due to come next Wednesday to list valuables and accept payment plan (thats what i have been told)

as the debt relates to this years council tax, could i contact my council and state i have moved out end of july and that i should only be charged between april and july and ake the payment direct to them rather than worry about the full amount (£1400) and then have my partner ring up and say he has taken over the property?

Please help urgently

What happens if you move out of a property half way through the tax year of which they are trying to claim the full amount?

[wales01man]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

Have you moved out can you prove you have a new address where Council tax is paid

[jdpm]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

No i havent moved out. I cant prove but wouldn't need to necessarily if i was moving in with friends as a stop gap? Could my partner not just say he has recently moved in as a new tenant?

[wales01man]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

Perjury Bailiff is not going tom wear that or the Council you are goona be charged fees up to a total of over 300 quid when he calls.

Time to wait for some advice on here

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

For CT debt, the bailiff cannot force entry - they are only allowed to enter a property peaceably! You need to contact the council and ask:
1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you
2 - the dates they were obtained
3 - the addresses they were for
4 - the period of time each covers
5 - how much each one was for
6 - how much is still outstanding
7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement
8 - the dates & amounts of any payments

Have a look through the attachment too


If you get back to us when you have the answers to the questions above, we will be able to help you more.

Kati

[jdpm]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you 1
2 - the dates they were obtained June
3 - the addresses they were for current
4 - the period of time each covers current financial year April 14 - April 15
5 - how much each one was for £1439.36 (Including 75 fee)
6 - how much is still outstanding £1439.36
7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement July
8 - the dates & amounts of any payments none yet

Basically the chap said he is going to come next Wednesday to take note of items and arrange payments - im concerned that they will be taken there and then. I cannot afford the full amount and can afford to pay over the next 7 months @ 205 per month but dont know if they will agree to that.

The other alternative was for my partner to say i dont live there and contact council to pay whats owed between april and august. Is the council likely to take back my debt if i arrange monthly payments? i cant believe all this for this financial year!

Thanks for your help though

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

Do NOT lie to the council or the EA!!!!

1 Contact your council offering monthly payments by standing order ... They can recall the debt from the bailiffs (meaning that you will not get any more charges added).Make sure you keep up with repayments.
2 If the EA (bailiff) has not been in your property up to now, do not let them in! If they gain entry, then they can levy against goods - which means extra charges will be added to the debt.
3 Insist on written correspondance - no telephone calls unless you can record them.

[jdpm]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

OK. How likely is the council to recall the debt. is there anything i can do to sway them back?

Also, if the bailiff visits and i do not let them in, they will charge me additional £235 or whatever it is. Can this be charged each time they come? How many times do they visit before they give debt back?

Thanks

[wales01man]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

If you cannot make an arrangement with the Council and the Bailff calls another fat fee is payable

[jdpm]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

But how many times can they charge - ie can the visit as many times as they want and charge 235 each time? how many times would a bailiff visit before giving back the debt?

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

OK. How likely is the council to recall the debt. is there anything i can do to sway them back? All you can do is ask - if they feel you are likely to pay (standing order) then they might be more willing to recall/suspend bailiff action.

Also, if the bailiff visits and i do not let them in, they will charge me additional £235 or whatever it is. Can this be charged each time they come? How many times do they visit before they give debt back? New regulations mean that EAs can only charge each fee once for a LO - £75 compliance fee when they get the 'contract', £235 enforcement fee for the first visit (no 'extra' visits can be charged for) and £110 for removal/disposal of goods.

Thanks

Hope this helps

[jdpm]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

Kati, thanks

I have emailed the council effectively begging them and also stated the exact amount i wish to pay on what date and also stated that i would setup a standing order.

So just to be clear - if/when the bailiff visits, £235 will be added but any further visits cannot be charged. £110 for disposal/removal only if they get in. Need to make sure my door stays locked! I have a car which is parked out the front although its a lease car. i take it they would check this before arranging removal if they tried?

[jdpm]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

One last question: my bill stands at £1439.36 - if the bailiff visits and adds the £235 to the bill, does that mean they can then charge the 7.5% because its over £1500?

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

That's right - £235 for the first visit, no other charges can be applied until the £110 for disposal/removal (if they can levy/get in)

Personally, I would park the car away from your property so that there is no chance of the bailiff taking control of your vehicle :tinysmile_grin_t:

For CT debts, the bailiff can only enter your property peacefully (so not through an open window or a locked/chained door) through a door. Keep your door locked, and if they do return insist on talking to them either outside (lock your door behind you) or through a window.

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax Debt - Bailiff Action URGENT HELP

One last question: my bill stands at £1439.36 - if the bailiff visits and adds the £235 to the bill, does that mean they can then charge the 7.5% because its over £1500?

unfortunately I do not know the answer to this one :tinysmile_hmm_t2: but I am, sure someone else will know ....