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A family member is being chased by Bailiffs for a council tax debt, less than £20. They moved out of a rental property three days before the official end of the tenancy, by mutual agreement, via text messages with the landlord, and informed the council. The landlord was billed for the three days and disputed it, quoting the date on the tenancy. Unaware of any of this, the individual had moved into premises with no council tax liability and a year later moved again, this time registering for council tax (the same council).
About a month later, they received a notice of enforcement from Bristow and Sutor Bailiffs, saying he owed £94 and some odd pence. On calling them, they said it was council tax and he had to pay it or bailiffs would call and remove his goods and add fees. It was made clear that he did not know about the debt until getting their letter, but got the usual pay or else reply and refused to hold action whilst the council was contacted.
When the council did eventually reply to the many emails requesting information about the debt, it was "Speak to the Bailiff". By that time, the bailiffs had visited and left a letter, adding fees. More fees followed in spite of repeated requests for information, the councils stock reply was to deal with the bailiffs.
They have now found out that the council issued a liability order for the amount of £19 odd and had sent all correspondence to the last known address - even though they had been informed the person was no longer there. The response to an official complaint and offer to pay the council tax to close the matter was to the effect that we have not done anything wrong, we don't have time to trace debtors, you owe all the fees and the Council tax, so speak to the bailiffs about settling the debt.
Basic reading of regulations seems to indicate that, as the person did not receive any notices and can provide evidence, the council should cancel the liability order and re-bill them. Is that right? Meantime, every few days texts nd letters from the bailiffs arrive demanding the best part of £500 from someone on a low income, on a DRO and living from pay day to pay day, all over a bill less than £20. That defintely cant be right.
A family member is being chased by Bailiffs for a council tax debt, less than £20. They moved out of a rental property three days before the official end of the tenancy, by mutual agreement, via text messages with the landlord, and informed the council. The landlord was billed for the three days and disputed it, quoting the date on the tenancy. Unaware of any of this, the individual had moved into premises with no council tax liability and a year later moved again, this time registering for council tax (the same council).
About a month later, they received a notice of enforcement from Bristow and Sutor Bailiffs, saying he owed £94 and some odd pence. On calling them, they said it was council tax and he had to pay it or bailiffs would call and remove his goods and add fees. It was made clear that he did not know about the debt until getting their letter, but got the usual pay or else reply and refused to hold action whilst the council was contacted.
When the council did eventually reply to the many emails requesting information about the debt, it was "Speak to the Bailiff". By that time, the bailiffs had visited and left a letter, adding fees. More fees followed in spite of repeated requests for information, the councils stock reply was to deal with the bailiffs.
They have now found out that the council issued a liability order for the amount of £19 odd and had sent all correspondence to the last known address - even though they had been informed the person was no longer there. The response to an official complaint and offer to pay the council tax to close the matter was to the effect that we have not done anything wrong, we don't have time to trace debtors, you owe all the fees and the Council tax, so speak to the bailiffs about settling the debt.
Basic reading of regulations seems to indicate that, as the person did not receive any notices and can provide evidence, the council should cancel the liability order and re-bill them. Is that right? Meantime, every few days texts nd letters from the bailiffs arrive demanding the best part of £500 from someone on a low income, on a DRO and living from pay day to pay day, all over a bill less than £20. That defintely cant be right.
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