Tweet
CT arrears that are not owed!!!!
Having moved from one county to another late August 2013, I was shocked when we got a knock on the door on Thursday last week from a bailiff (Rossendales) stating that he was collecting a ‘debt’ from my previous county council for unpaid CT, and leaving me a letter.
While living in the property involved, I was a single mum and claiming JSA and Child Tax Credits – both entitling me to CT benefit, and have bank statements to prove this. I also (somewhere) have a letter/bill from my previous council telling me that I owe no CT as I receive this benefit.
As soon as this man had left I contacted this council who have told me:
“I have looked at your account and spoken to the Benefit Section who have confirmed that there were two gaps in your benefit entitlement while you resided at **********, they were as follows:_
10th June 2013 to 23rd June 2013
19th August 2013 to 1st September 2013
If you disagree with this and need to discuss the matter further, please contact the Benefit Section direct “
Now, while I can accept that I was definitely living at the address for the first dates, I can prove for a fact that I was living in a different county by the second set - and that I had informed the council of this move. I can also prove that I was getting benefits while living at the property. Since leaving, I have had NO contact whatsoever from this council regarding ‘un-paid’ CT. I have had NO letters informing me of a court appearance. I have had NO letters telling me that they were getting a bailiff involved.
Where do I stand with this?? What can I do?? I do not owe this money, and I am worried about being charged bailiff fees while I am trying to sort this out. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE: As I was posting this, my partner answered the door (with chain on) to the bailiff who handed him another letter - almost the same as the last one - with a 10p difference in the debt. I had already informed him on his first visit that I was contacting the council to appeal the debt (which he admitted was the right thing to do). Does this mean we have been charged for 2 visits now?? or that he turned up because the first letter was wrong by 10p??
While living in the property involved, I was a single mum and claiming JSA and Child Tax Credits – both entitling me to CT benefit, and have bank statements to prove this. I also (somewhere) have a letter/bill from my previous council telling me that I owe no CT as I receive this benefit.
As soon as this man had left I contacted this council who have told me:
“I have looked at your account and spoken to the Benefit Section who have confirmed that there were two gaps in your benefit entitlement while you resided at **********, they were as follows:_
10th June 2013 to 23rd June 2013
19th August 2013 to 1st September 2013
If you disagree with this and need to discuss the matter further, please contact the Benefit Section direct “
Now, while I can accept that I was definitely living at the address for the first dates, I can prove for a fact that I was living in a different county by the second set - and that I had informed the council of this move. I can also prove that I was getting benefits while living at the property. Since leaving, I have had NO contact whatsoever from this council regarding ‘un-paid’ CT. I have had NO letters informing me of a court appearance. I have had NO letters telling me that they were getting a bailiff involved.
Where do I stand with this?? What can I do?? I do not owe this money, and I am worried about being charged bailiff fees while I am trying to sort this out. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE: As I was posting this, my partner answered the door (with chain on) to the bailiff who handed him another letter - almost the same as the last one - with a 10p difference in the debt. I had already informed him on his first visit that I was contacting the council to appeal the debt (which he admitted was the right thing to do). Does this mean we have been charged for 2 visits now?? or that he turned up because the first letter was wrong by 10p??
Comment