Rossendale debt collectors - Council Tax

[Brooksm]

My husband has been out of work for 3 years, we have not claimed any benefits as we are not eligible because I am working part time, earning £598.00 per month. Our children are grown up and left home. We are in quite a lot of financial difficulty, having a court order on our mortgage which we have to pay without fail. My husband is working for a builder now, just working from day to day, just when he's needed. He's been working for 3 weeks up to now.
anyway we fell behind with our council tax payments and owe £1200.00 and the debt has been passed to the above company. We have sent a income and expenditure account and said we could afford £100.00 per month, although it will be difficult. Rossendale will not accept this amount and insist we pay £180.00 per month. Sorry to ramble on but do they have the power to insist with this amount which we cannot afford? They say they will send enforcement officer to our house on 31 March if they do not receive this amount. We are at our wits end not knowing where to turn. If we can get through the next 2 years our mortgage will be paid. My husband is 63 and I am 61.

[Kati]

Re: Rossendale debt collectors - Council Tax

Hi Brooksm, welcome to LB!
I have moved your thread to the bailiff section so that you get the right advice from our knowledgeable Beagles

I take it you've got a Liability Order against you because of the CT debt (and the council have passed it on to Rossendales for payment)? Did you get any letters from the council before this? Did you try and arrange a payment plan etc... ?

[ploddertom]

Re: Rossendale debt collectors - Council Tax

They will be saying they want this amount to ensure the debt is paid quickly. The chances are they will not have looked at your I&E carefully to see what your disposable income would be. The way a lot trip themselves up is by claiming they have a full Sky package, as this is a priority debt the package should be lowered to one of the cheapest options so be wary of this.

I assume Rossendales have sent you a Notice of Enforcement and 31 March is the date they have given to pay or make an arrangement by, you will have been charged £75 for this. If no payment or arrangement is made an Enforcement Agent (Bailiff) will call and for this they will charge another £235. So you can now see why it is not in their interests to let you pay what you can afford, they can charge the extra fees then ensure you break the agreement by not being able to afford it & add more fees, it is a vicious circle.

There are are 2 things to do. Firstly write to the Council advising you do want to pay this but the Bailiff is being unrealistic in his demands. You therefore decline to have anything to do with Rossendales and will save your payments for when the account is taken back into Council control & then continue from there. Secondly engage your local Councillor(s) to act for you with the Council so you get 2 bites of the cherry.

[seduraed]

Re: Rossendale debt collectors - Council Tax

I just hope your councillors re more useful and straight forward than mine. the phrase chocolate fire guard comes to mind.

[ploddertom]

Re: Rossendale debt collectors - Council Tax

I just hope your councillors re more useful and straight forward than mine. the phrase chocolate fire guard comes to mind.

Some are & some aren't. If you get hassles with your Councillors or if they refuse or are reluctant to get involved then go to the Leader of the Council & his/her opposite number. If they are of the same ilk then it is time to let the general elecetorate know.