Phoenix Commercial Collections

[Mattinthehat]

Hi, am new here

I have been contacted by my local council recently, saying I owe £172 on a flat I rented briefly in 2009 when splitting with my wife.

I now (today) received a visit from these bailiffs saying on the letter they want £495.30

I had a terrible year last year, nursing my mother in my 1 bed flat with liver cancer, she passed away on Jan 9 2012. My ex wife became difficult with contact to my 2 small children both aged under 5 (I left her due to ongoing abuse)

I was not working for most of last year, and was receiving SSP, am now back at work, working 15 hours a week, and in receipt of housing benefit and council tax relief.

I have not received any final notice, and as such am surprised that they have visited.
I live in a block of 4 flats, the postman often leaves letters by the front door, rather than post into my letterbox upstairs.

My mother left me her car, and is parked outside, which I use to get to work and collect my children during contact times (contact issues now resolved)

Do I need to move my car straight away, and I am guessing they have took note of the car and registration, it generally is parked off road on a concrete standing, directly outside my flat. If I move it a few roads away, am guessing they will drive around nearby streets until they find it. I have no garage to park it in.

I have not spoken to the bailiffs, I did try to call the council, but they are closed at 4:45 on a Friday! I wanted to tell them to stop the bailiffs and to arrange repayment options.

Can anyone advise please, am dead worried.

Thankyou

Matt

[bluebottle]

Re: Phoenix Commercial Collections

Hi and welcome to Legal Beagles.

From what you have said in your post, it sounds very much to me that the local authority (LA) involved have not provided you with any reminder, summons to court or a copy of the Liability Order (LO). This makes me wonder if Phoenix actually have any lawful authority to be acting on the LA's behalf and demanding CT arrears from you. It is imperative that you speak to the LA first thing Monday morning and find out what is going on. Ask which magistrates court they applied to for the LO and then check with that court if an LO was granted to the LA against your name on the date the LA claim they obtained it.

As for the amount being demanded by the Phoenix, I would certainly like to know where they get £323.30 in fees from. Send Phoenix Letter 1 from this link http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...Useful-Letters which will - or should - provide you with a breakdown of the amount they are demanding.

With regard to the letter from the bailiff, can you scan and post this up, removing or blanking out personal details before doing so, please? We can then see what further advice you need.