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My mum has only just found out within the last few months she has council tax arrears from two of her previous addresses in Bracknell.
Her ex partner did not pay the bill, which she didn’t realise.
She remarried, gave up her council property and moved in with her new husband this year.
My mum doesn’t work as she has a numerous physical and mental health issues, namely clinical depression, therefore husband supports her financially.
The marriage has not been going well despite her best efforts, since she gave up her own home, he is constantly threatening her with homelessness and has stopped paying the council tax debt off to Rundles which he set up himself and agreed to pay £100 per month. What’s annoying is while she had her own property in Bracknell, the only reason she had the second lot of council tax and rent arrears is because she was a foster carer and only incurred these arrears as the social services (from the same local authority) took months to collect the foster child’s belongings and she didn’t have the heart to get rid of them.
Today, once again, her husband told her to go, so she has come over to me. Whilst packing, a bailiff knocked the door to hand deliver a letter stating that he will return within 48 hours with transport and police to remove her goods.
She has NOTHING that belongs to her of any worth when the bailiff comes back. She gave away all of her possessions when she moved into her husband’s home as he already had everything, and since he has kicked her out, she won’t be there anyway.
A few questions I’d like some advice on please:
Now she is staying with me and has no income (until she claims jobseeker’s allowance or sickness benefit) how can they possibly ask her to pay when she has absolutely nothing? Her husband gave her the train fare to get here and she has just pounds in change, nothing more.
Will her husband (as they are married) be made responsible for this debt i.e. remove his property to cover the debt. My mum feels this is unfair on him, it’s his possessions and he relies on his car for his businesses. . My mum is worried sick about this. Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Her ex partner did not pay the bill, which she didn’t realise.
She remarried, gave up her council property and moved in with her new husband this year.
My mum doesn’t work as she has a numerous physical and mental health issues, namely clinical depression, therefore husband supports her financially.
The marriage has not been going well despite her best efforts, since she gave up her own home, he is constantly threatening her with homelessness and has stopped paying the council tax debt off to Rundles which he set up himself and agreed to pay £100 per month. What’s annoying is while she had her own property in Bracknell, the only reason she had the second lot of council tax and rent arrears is because she was a foster carer and only incurred these arrears as the social services (from the same local authority) took months to collect the foster child’s belongings and she didn’t have the heart to get rid of them.
Today, once again, her husband told her to go, so she has come over to me. Whilst packing, a bailiff knocked the door to hand deliver a letter stating that he will return within 48 hours with transport and police to remove her goods.
She has NOTHING that belongs to her of any worth when the bailiff comes back. She gave away all of her possessions when she moved into her husband’s home as he already had everything, and since he has kicked her out, she won’t be there anyway.
A few questions I’d like some advice on please:
Now she is staying with me and has no income (until she claims jobseeker’s allowance or sickness benefit) how can they possibly ask her to pay when she has absolutely nothing? Her husband gave her the train fare to get here and she has just pounds in change, nothing more.
Will her husband (as they are married) be made responsible for this debt i.e. remove his property to cover the debt. My mum feels this is unfair on him, it’s his possessions and he relies on his car for his businesses. . My mum is worried sick about this. Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Rundles behaving like numpties, as usual. Firstly, you mum is classed as vulnerable, as defined by the MoJ's National Standards for Enforcement Agents. Rundles should inform the local authority involved of this. Secondly, Rundles cannot seize goods that belong to third parties. If they do, they commit and offence or a number of offences under the Criminal Law. The police will not get involved with certificated bailiffs unless there is a genuine risk of violence. As this is unlikely, it is doubtful the police will get involved. I would be very surprised if they did.
I think the thing she is most frightened about is that they said she could be arrested and go to prison, she would not handle prison! She's never broken the law in her life plus it does seem rather extreme to me, I suppose it's their scare tactics, but when she says she'd rather go to prison and save everyone the hassle it breaks my heart, she's so soft she actually would! :/
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