Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

[cards down]

Someone has asked me for advice. Last week a bailiff posted a letter through a friends door (1st visit). I suggested he pay the outstanding balance to the council, which he did on line and has a receipt. I also told him to phone the bailiff as early as possible in the morning and inform the bailiff that the debt is now paid so he need not re attend, and then to contact the bailiff company and get them to send a bill for the single visit. Would anyone add or alter the above information?

Many thanks

[ploddertom]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Did he pay the amount of the outstanding CT or did he pay that sum +£24-50 which would be the 1st Visit Fee?

[cards down]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

It was the LO sum only. There was no fee showing on the account at the time

[ploddertom]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Collection of Council Tax allows for the Bailiffs fees to be paid before anything else. For arguments sake we'll say the amount on the Liability Order is £500, as you say the Bailiff has made 1 Visit and is allowed to charge £24-50. Your friend has paid £500 but the Bailiff fees come out first meaning that only £475-50 will be paid against the Liability Order, this means £24-50 is still outstanding and the Bailiff can & will attend for this sum incurring more costs. Your friend may be better off paying the extra £24-50 PDQ.

[cards down]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Thank you PT that's a very valuable piece of information, I will pass it on

[ploddertom]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

May I also suggest that if they do this, they then ask straightaway for a breakdown of the fees that have been charged. Reason being to make sure they are not trying to add extraneous fees to the account - phantom 2nd Visit, levy on a car in the street etc.

[cards down]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

can they levy on a car on a first visit?

[ploddertom]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Yes - the object of a visit by a Bailiff is for him to seize goods to satisfy the debt, if he fails to meet the debtor - you are out - or otherwise levy on goods he is allowed to charge a 1st Visit Fee of £24-50 instead.

[cards down]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Thanks again PT i will pass all the info on. Last time I give out advice :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

[labman]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Thanks again PT i will pass all the info on. Last time I give out advice :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

I hope not! The more people who take an interest and learn about this area of law, the better. The more you help people, the more you learn. One of the benefits of this forum is that we can make mistakes without fear of being judged or attacked for them. As long as we're prepared for someone more knowledgeable to come along and politely correct us, then all is well.

Your help will have been invaluable, and the account was showing as settled at the council's end. One of the big downsides (but possibly the only real downside) of taking the view this forum does of keep the bailiffs out and settle with the council is the fact that if you pay the bailiffs first, they actually take their fees before paying the council.

Most people would think if there had been one visit and they paid £500 to the bailiffs, the bailiffs would pass on the full £500 and then bill you for their fees, but that is not how it works. Thus, it works the same way when you pay the council that any legitimate fees outstanding still need to be paid.

One of the reasons this forum takes the stance it does is that word 'legitimate.' At least by paying the council first, your friend only pays the £24.50 due. Bailiffs will often inflate these visit fees, so he could have been faced with paying over the odds,and then face an uphill battle trying to reclaim unlawful fees.

[cards down]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Friend recorded call to bailiff this morning, He was told that the only monies owed was the LO and his 1st visit fee of £24.50. He then called the bailiff back to inform him it had all been paid to the council. Bailiff questioned only why friend had paid the council and not himself, but accepted the debt was clear.

Thanks for your input

[labman]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Excellent - I told you your help would have been invaluable, only one little step short of perfection!

Glad it's sorted.

[ploddertom]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

I can only echo what labman has said in his last 2 posts and conclude job well done + it looks as if the Bailiff has been reasonable - most unusual.

[cards down]

Re: Council tax paid after 1st visit bailiff

Maybe he was in good spirits after his long weekend break. :tinysmile_grin_t: