JACOBS demanding large minimum payment

[s4mcr0]

Hi, can someone give me some advise please. I received these two notice of enforcement letters from Jacobs, today. I have phoned them to agree some sort of payment plan and offered to pay £10 a month on each . This was immediately rejected and I was told I have to clear the debt within 6 months. I continued to stress that I couldnt afford this due to other debts and my financial situation. The operator then informed me the least the would take is £50 a month on each and that is with a financial statement. He has emailed me the financial statement and has also requested 3 months bank statements. The account is now on hold for 14 days. Where do I stand with this? I cannot afford £50 a month.

[ploddertom]

Is this for Council Tax? Did you know the outstanding was owing and did you get notice of the Council's intention to see a Liability Order for each - I assume they are for different years.

[s4mcr0]

yes I was aware it was owing but stupidly buried my head in the sand so to speak. It is for two separate years yes

[ploddertom]

OK be back later.

[s4mcr0]

Ok any help would be greatfully recieved as im getting the threats and forcefull manner from them.

[ploddertom]

You have some grace yet as they should not be doing much before about 29 September and even then they have no rights of entry - but will charge an enforcement fee of £235 (which they can only charge once for both debts together). However anything of value outside may be at risk - particularly a car - so best to hide it or put it on a neighbours drive.

[s4mcr0]

Im more than happy to make payment but I just cant afford £50 a month. Do they have to accept what I offer?

[ploddertom]

You certainly can't get blood out of a stone. Council Tax is classed as a priority debt and you will be expected to reduce some other payments to compensate. Things like credit cards, store cards should be reduced to minimum payments, going on holiday may be seen as an extravagance as may a top of the range subscription to the likes of Sky when there are other plans available. It is for these reasons that they ask for your Income & Expentiture and see if these can be backed up by your bank statements. If you wre on Benefits then they could make an attachment to these whereby payments are deducted at source and this is one of the reasons they turned down your £10 a month offer as that is less than the approx £5 a week they would alternatively get. If you work then they could seek an Attachment of Earnings which depending on how much take home pay you have could be subject to a large payment each week/month.

It isn't easy but I was hoping someone else would look in who may be able to sort something out with Jacobs for you but as yet have not heard back.