liability order help

[Milo]

Re: liability order help

Hi, I'm looking for some help with a Rundles liability order on council tax arrears if somebody can help please.

What else can I do? And what will happen now? They say my account is on hold for two weeks but then they will come round.

I'm only 21 and my daughter is 10 months and I'm absolutely terrified of being at home alone and they turn up. I have crippling anxiety as it is which I was trying to work through until this happened and now I'm back at square one.
Sorry for the long post, I wanted to include as much info as possible. Thank you in advance.

What is to happen now is that you need to try to get an appointment with the CAB or alternatively, call Stepchange and they will help you complete a financial statement. I am not sure from your above post whether it is the council or Rundles who have put your account on hold. What is important though is that you use this time to try to get any evidence together regarding the date that you moved out. This is very important as it could help to significantly reduce the debt.

Rundles have a job to do and that is to enforce the debt on behalf of the local council. The council can if they wish take the debt back but in reality, they tend no to do so and instead, wait for Rundles to return the warrant. This normally does not happen for approx 3-4 months and unfortunately, you will not get told when the account is returned.

It is important to write to Rundles to outline your circumstance and if you can wait until the weekend, I will try to get something drafted for you.

If you could answer the following question, I would be grateful:

Are you receiving any medication for your anxiety?

Do you have a car?

If so, is the value below £1,350 (in some cases, a vehicle can be considered 'exempt' but its value cannot exceed £1,350)?

Is the property that you are now living in privately rented or provided by the local authority?

[Snoopy1948]

Re: liability order help

Hi WorriedParent ...

This is a mess, I agree, but one that I have met many times before.

First thing, make a speedy appointment to see a Citizens Advice Bureau advisor and take all the details to that meeting. It is important that you close down the first address correctly ( i.e. with the date that you actually vacated ... did you use a removal firm or man with a van to move? Can they supply a confirmation of moving you on that day? Can the friend with whom you stayed give you a letter of confirmation of the same day? There is no way that you are liable for time outside that date unless you were under a tenancy agreement that had not expired. Get the CAB to contact the council direct and try and resolve the bill correctly first and foremost. Explain to the CAB that you remain vulnerable because you are a single parent, broken relationship ( was his name on the first ctax account? ), mental health problems, benefit income only.

Once that is done, let the Rundles bailiffs call, advise them that you have nothing of value to remove and that you are refusing them legal entry to enter. If they do after that, call the police. Tell them that the matter is being dealt with by the CAB and the council will be advised in due course. Advise them that you have nothing of value and your income is welfare benefits only. If you have a car, make sure it is not declared on near the property. These people cannot force money out of you that you do not have, even if they look to you to contact family and friends to come up with money on your behalf. A family member or friend can indeed pay on your behalf but only if that is available and of course agreeable with you both.

They should then return their papers to the council advising them of being refused legal entry and minimal disposable income to agree repayment on their visit. After that, you can ask the CAB to agree an amount for you to pay ( they will complete an income and expenditure statement and advise you accordingly ) but you must resolve this vacation date issue as not only will your bill reduce, but the landlord correctly picks the tab up at the right time as well.

This is a messy situation that is nevertheless understandable and purely as a result of a bad relationship and poor mental health.

If your ex partner was on the first bill, you can always direct the bailiff to his address if known, but I am sensing that his name did not appear?