Council Tax - equita bailiff removal notice

[hackenbush]

We owed council tax of £502 in the latter half of last year, mainly due to the fact that we were paying of credit cards (we now realise we should have done it the other way round).

In Feb 2010 we were issued with a liability order from the council. we got in touch with them and they informed us that they had added summons costs of £115, so the total owed was now £617.31.

In March we paid £335 and were told if we paid the outstanding amount they would stop the summons costs.

Unfortunately we could access the extra costs. The next thing we did, wrongly, was to hide our head in the sand and wait for Council Tax to contact us.
We never heard from them.

Instead we recevied a letter from Equita bailiffs in June demanding payment. the letter wasn't signed by a named bailiff.
We then recieved a letter saying they had been granted a liability order, followed by a letter saying they were sending Recovery Officers.

What are our options. We would prefer to go into a payment plan with the Council directly. Can we do this?
If so how?
If not, what can we be reasonably expected to pay on a monthly basis and what are our rights?

any advice would be greatly appreciated,

thanks

[Amy]

Re: Council Tax - equita bailiff removal notice

What are our options. We would prefer to go into a payment plan with the Council directly. Can we do this? If so how?

Yes, you can and you should do this. As long as you never grant the bailiff peaceful entry, you can pay the council.

Have a read here for further information Bailiff Issues - Legal Beagles Consumer Forum

[hackenbush]

Re: Council Tax - equita bailiff removal notice

Yes, you can and you should do this. As long as you never grant the bailiff peaceful entry, you can pay the council.

Have a read here for further information Bailiff Issues - Legal Beagles Consumer Forum

Thank you very much for the swift reply.
I will call the council and offer a payment plan.

they will obviously ask for quite a lot in one go. could we offer £50 a month and should they legally accept?

thanks

[Amy]

Re: Council Tax - equita bailiff removal notice

No, you shouldn't telephone them.

They will say they will not deal with you as it has been passed over to the bailiffs. Whilst this is untrue, it's also annoying and you won't get anywhere. You'd be much better off writing to them and telling them what you are going to do rather than asking them. They cannot refuse your payments.

[hackenbush]

Re: Council Tax - equita bailiff removal notice

No, you shouldn't telephone them.

They will say they will not deal with you as it has been passed over to the bailiffs. Whilst this is untrue, it's also annoying and you won't get anywhere. You'd be much better off writing to them and telling them what you are going to do rather than asking them. They cannot refuse your payments.

Ok thanks for the great advice!

Should I inform the bailiffs that the council is being paid by us and for them to cease any action otherwise...?

[Amy]

Re: Council Tax - equita bailiff removal notice

Yes, you can write to the bailiff company and tell them that you will not be dealing with them. Ever.