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Question one: Equita is pursuing me aggressively for Council Tax with South Oxfordshire District Council relating to 2011. I contacted SODC to ask when the Liability Order was created & was told it was made on 21st March 2012 for £184.91 for the address in their county. I've moved several times since then, to a completely different region and split with my husband who is shown as joint liability on their paperwork. The amount Equita is chasing is £317.88 plus £235.00 'Enforcement Stage Fee'.
Equita has not provided any paperwork or breakdown of the fees. I do not have paperwork that shows when this 'debt' was passed or assigned to Equita. In 2014, they'd tried to pursue us & I'd written to SODC by email (several emails) to request information, as I did not believe we owed Council Tax. I also had cause to complain about Equita's activities back then, so I'd complained to the head of council tax at SODC and written to the MD of Equita (a Mr Smith at the time). SODC put a hold on Equita at that time, in order to investigate further and then I heard no more until this recent aggressive lot of threats from Equita at my current property.
Can Equita pursue me for a liability order that dates from 2012?
Question two: The enforcement agent that visited the other day has certification, as I checked the register BUT it's not for Equita - it's for another company called LRAM - is he allowed to act of Equita's behalf?
Question three: This agent got a clamp out & was, I think intending to clamp my car. I told him it was on finance & showed him an email from my finance company that showed my name, address & the reg number (its on a Hire Purchase agreement with some time to run) & he got back into his car to make phone calls to his office. So I got into the car & drove it away, as I had to do the school run. He left a 'Controlled Goods Agreement' with my son, that was standing outside my property as he was going to catch the bus. I have not signed this agreement.
At no stage has any agent from Equita entered my property. I have never made an appointment with them that could constitute a 'visit' for a visit fee to be charged. The property is rented & goods in it like TVs belong to the landlord.
So, I understood that Equita cannot take my car if it's on finance/HP as it belongs to the finance company - is that correct? Its also valued at £3000 where this 'debt' is £627.88, so how can they possibly take my car when it's worth more?
Question 4: As stated previously, I am a single mum trying to support three children (I do not get any child support payments from their father), currently receiving Housing Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance and Child Tax credits. I suffer from Malignant Hypertension & my blood pressure is severely high plus I get migraines, as it is so high. I am concerned about my health as these Equita 'visits' & letters are extremely stressful & my pulse escalates to a frightening rate when they are outside my property - I'm actually concerned that I might have a stroke or a heart attack.. I find it threatening and frightening as I'm at home in the day alone. Is there anything that I can do, given my health issues?
Question 5: My husband did leave the country for some years & he did not receive any paperwork for this SODC debt, as he was living in hotels. He is shown on the paperwork as a joint name & he used to pay the council tax, before he left the family in 2016, when we separated. He is jointly liable & though I know his current address, I do fear that by giving that to Equita or SODC, I will face repercussions from him, as he is sociopathic & has been abusive. And yet I am the one being pursued for this 'debt', even though he has left me in dire financial circumstances, with 3 children to support, that he doesn't pay for. I find this very unfair & would like to know if there is anything I can do? He has in the past bombarded me with abuse & he is the reason that my health is impacted, due to year of stress & abuse. He has left me with other debts that I am fighting to deal with, that have affected my credit score - whilst he happily hides at a new address that no one has..
(I did receive an initial kind response to some of the above by 'Ploddertom' but I'm new to forums & could not see a way to reply. Plus I was asked to provide date liability order was made - thanks & apologies for any repetition)
Equita has not provided any paperwork or breakdown of the fees. I do not have paperwork that shows when this 'debt' was passed or assigned to Equita. In 2014, they'd tried to pursue us & I'd written to SODC by email (several emails) to request information, as I did not believe we owed Council Tax. I also had cause to complain about Equita's activities back then, so I'd complained to the head of council tax at SODC and written to the MD of Equita (a Mr Smith at the time). SODC put a hold on Equita at that time, in order to investigate further and then I heard no more until this recent aggressive lot of threats from Equita at my current property.
Can Equita pursue me for a liability order that dates from 2012?
Question two: The enforcement agent that visited the other day has certification, as I checked the register BUT it's not for Equita - it's for another company called LRAM - is he allowed to act of Equita's behalf?
Question three: This agent got a clamp out & was, I think intending to clamp my car. I told him it was on finance & showed him an email from my finance company that showed my name, address & the reg number (its on a Hire Purchase agreement with some time to run) & he got back into his car to make phone calls to his office. So I got into the car & drove it away, as I had to do the school run. He left a 'Controlled Goods Agreement' with my son, that was standing outside my property as he was going to catch the bus. I have not signed this agreement.
At no stage has any agent from Equita entered my property. I have never made an appointment with them that could constitute a 'visit' for a visit fee to be charged. The property is rented & goods in it like TVs belong to the landlord.
So, I understood that Equita cannot take my car if it's on finance/HP as it belongs to the finance company - is that correct? Its also valued at £3000 where this 'debt' is £627.88, so how can they possibly take my car when it's worth more?
Question 4: As stated previously, I am a single mum trying to support three children (I do not get any child support payments from their father), currently receiving Housing Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance and Child Tax credits. I suffer from Malignant Hypertension & my blood pressure is severely high plus I get migraines, as it is so high. I am concerned about my health as these Equita 'visits' & letters are extremely stressful & my pulse escalates to a frightening rate when they are outside my property - I'm actually concerned that I might have a stroke or a heart attack.. I find it threatening and frightening as I'm at home in the day alone. Is there anything that I can do, given my health issues?
Question 5: My husband did leave the country for some years & he did not receive any paperwork for this SODC debt, as he was living in hotels. He is shown on the paperwork as a joint name & he used to pay the council tax, before he left the family in 2016, when we separated. He is jointly liable & though I know his current address, I do fear that by giving that to Equita or SODC, I will face repercussions from him, as he is sociopathic & has been abusive. And yet I am the one being pursued for this 'debt', even though he has left me in dire financial circumstances, with 3 children to support, that he doesn't pay for. I find this very unfair & would like to know if there is anything I can do? He has in the past bombarded me with abuse & he is the reason that my health is impacted, due to year of stress & abuse. He has left me with other debts that I am fighting to deal with, that have affected my credit score - whilst he happily hides at a new address that no one has..
(I did receive an initial kind response to some of the above by 'Ploddertom' but I'm new to forums & could not see a way to reply. Plus I was asked to provide date liability order was made - thanks & apologies for any repetition)