Business rates

[Staffiez]

Hi
I received a text message a couple of days ago saying I had until the next day at 3pm to pay £8123.18 or a debt collector will force entry into my business to remove goods.
It didn't say what for so I called them and it's for unpaid business rates that I do not owe.
At the start of the season I was given a bill for £1500 And told if I appeal because I'm a small business it will be reduced to £0 So that's what I did and heard no more until the text message.
Now I'm being hounded by the bailiff saying I must pay in full or they will force entry.
I received another text yesterday saying they will be at my business at 2pm to again force entry. I replied saying they can not force entry to remove goods because not everything in there belongs to me and I'm disputing the bill because as far as I'm aware I owe nothing. I had no reply, so having to keep the shop closed, loosing a days takings.
I went and watched the shop from 1.45pm till 2.30pm and no one turned up.

What are they playing at? I will try to contact the local authority on Monday morning about this, but the way the Bailiff is talking he doesn't care, he either wants payment or will force entry.

Can anyone offer any advice please.

[lgfa92]

Until a decision is made otherwise the last NNDR bill will stand - a lower bill only comes in to effect once it has been applied. The enforcement agent is correct that he can pursue the amount until instructed otherwise however a wise agent will always check with the council before he takes action.

[ploddertom]

You should have received various letters about this from the Council first advising they were going to take action. Even so a Bailiff must send you a Notice of Enforcement first. Something not quite right here, what is the name of the people asking for payment?

[Sir Vere Brayne d'Emmidge]

Ploddertom is right, although it is acceptable to use electronic means to advise a debtor that there is an outstanding amount due for whatever, you should have received at least 2 letters from the Council and at least 2 letters from the Enforcement Agent/Agency, plus a hand delivered letter from them saying that if you don't pay they'll take it away.

Having said that they (EA and LA) do not have to pove that you received such correspondence, as long as they have logged into their system that the above mentioned letters were indeed posted.

When the Enforcement Agent turns up do ask to see his General Certificate (must be carried all the time) and a letter from the LA authorising BayliffRus to act on their behalf. If the EA can't provide such proof you are entitle to call the Police and have the arrested for attempted extortion.