Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

[beldarren]

Hi,

Hoping someone can give me advice.

The story so far is the usual

Firstly I receive a letter through my door (the door bell was never rung nor was the door knocked) saying I owed this amount it stated on this letter that office staff would be unable to speak to me about it but I could ring a 0871 (charged at a BT rate of 7p per minute) to pay the full amount.

So a few days later the same thing happens again, this time more money added to the amount I owe. This letter states if I can not pay the full amount I can fill in a questionaire & pay in installments of £84 per week. Now clearly not many people (including myself) have a spare £84 lying around & there was no questionaire included.

I contacted their office on 15/02/13 & while the lady I spoke to was very nice she would not accept my offer of £20 per week. I have been told that unless I can pay £112 per week, I must wait for a Bailiff to come to the house (was told this would be the following week). Now as a person who suffers from various mental health issues including post traumatic stress disorder & anixety this is a very scary thought.

I have so far not received a bailiff vist yet but yesterday I received another letter from this company it now states I have 5 days in which to pay the whole sum or they will be visiting to remove goods & that if I have insufficent goods available a report will be sent to the council who may make an application for my committal to prison. This letter makes no mention of the fact I have made a offer to pay.

After reading this site, I called the City Council asked them to take the debt back again offered £15 per week rising to £25 in 5 months (when another debt is payed off) this was refused. As per advice given I asked under which legislation were they refusing she stated because they had obtained a liabilty order that I could only deal with the debt collectors. I tried explaining Bristow & Sutor will only take payments above my means & that I believe I should be classed as a vunerable person but she would not budge.

I would be so grateful for advice you could give me.

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Have you read this http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...67-Council-Tax , it should explain how it works.

There is no law that says you have to deal with or speak to a Bailiff and providing you deny him entry to your home or otherwise prevent him levying on goods outside, there is little he can do.Providing you do this the maximum he can charge is £42-50 no mater how many times he calls. If on the other hand you let him in or he makes a levy then in some cases you can add substantially to what you owe.

How do you think you class yourself as vulnerable? Have you confirmed what you owe with the Council? Any offer of payment you make to the Council should be done in writing. In the meantime you can of course pay the Council direct via online banking, Council website or automated phone, you may also pay in cash and if that is refused you need the name & position of the person who refuses.

[beldarren]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Hello Ploddertom,

Thank you for taking the time to reply... I have read the link you provided yesterday, hence I called the council & asked them to take the debt back but was told I had to deal with the debt collectors asked under which legislation she was refusing but as I said above she told me because they have a liabilty order against me that meant they could not take the debt back.
I believe I am a vunerable person due to my mental health issues.
Since posting I have been in contact with a debt service & have a appointment with them on the 21st March.. They have contacted the council on my behalf & put a hold on action until after the 21st on the condition I make a payment to the debt collectors of £25 tomorrow.

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Hello Ploddertom,

Thank you for taking the time to reply... I have read the link you provided yesterday, hence I called the council & asked them to take the debt back but was told I had to deal with the debt collectors asked under which legislation she was refusing but as I said above she told me because they have a liabilty order against me that meant they could not take the debt back. Problem with a lot of Councils is that they just don't understand how things work. The Council are always in charge and can take it back at any time but usually choose not to.
I believe I am a vunerable person due to my mental health issues. Are you under a medical professional - GP or CPN? Are you on medication?
Since posting I have been in contact with a debt service & have a appointment with them on the 21st March.. They have contacted the council on my behalf & put a hold on action until after the 21st on the condition I make a payment to the debt collectors of £25 tomorrow.

There is no law that says you have to speak to or deal with a Bailiff. You may pay the Council direct using online banking, Council website or automated phone, you may also payin cash at the Council office and if refused this must ask for the name of the person & their position.

You need to speak to someone at the Council and ask the following questions:
1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you
2 - the dates they were obtained
3 - the addresses they were for
4 - the period of time each covers
5 - how much each one was for
6 - how much is still outstanding
7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement
8 - the dates & amounts of any payments

[beldarren]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Yes I am under GP care but not on medication at the moment.

1- I have 1 liabilty order against me
2- December 2012
3- My home address
4- Council tax bill 2011-2012
5- Was £800 poundish now stands at £929
6- Not sure when it passed to debt collectors but letters start from January 2013
7- No payments have been made yet because the amount they want is above what I can afford.

when I spoke to the gentleman at the Debt Advice service he said I must pay the debt collectors & not the council for them (Debt Advice) to be able to help me.

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Yes I am under GP care but not on medication at the moment. - You would have to ask your GP whether this has made you worse or not and if he would write to the Council & Bailiffs outlining things. I suspect he may not as I think you may struggle to prove vulnerability on this alone.



when I spoke to the gentleman at the Debt Advice service he said I must pay the debt collectors & not the council for them (Debt Advice) to be able to help me.

If this is CAB then I have to tell you that although they do a good job generally it is also variable. What I have said before about paying the Council direct is spot on. With you not paying anything then there is the potential for the Council to class you as deliberately witholding payment.

Do you work or are you on Benefits? For either scenario do you claim Housing or Council Tax benefit?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

4- Council tax bill 2011-2012
5- Was £800 poundish now stands at £929

What charges have Bristols & Hooters added to the bill - and why?

when I spoke to the gentleman at the Debt Advice service he said I must pay the debt collectors & not the council for them (Debt Advice) to be able to help me.

caput suum in ano est.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

If this is CAB then I have to tell you that although they do a good job generally it is also variable. What I have said before about paying the Council direct is spot on. With you not paying anything then there is the potential for the Council to class you as deliberately withholding payment.

Were someone to pay small amounts to a bailiff, those would first pay the bailiff's fees and thus the council would believe that payment was being deliberately withheld.

[beldarren]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

It isnt the CAB its a local service.

I havent just been not paying as I have tried to reach a agreement with the DCA but unless I agreed to pay £187 per week they would not budge.

I do not work but my partner does (he takes home approx £300 per week).. the only benefits we are in reciept of is Child Benefit together with Child Tax Credits & Working Tax Credits.

Thank you for taking time to reply Plodder

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Sorry but I cannot but help repeating myself. Pay the Council direct, pay at the same time each week - £10 every Thursday for example - this quickly builds a payment history that proves you are willing to pay. Ignore the Bailiff and he will eventually move on.

I can guarantee if you pay the Bailiff they will ask for impossible sums from you, then engineer a default and extra fees. Take the time and have a good read of other threads on the Bailiff Forum here and on other sites and you'll soon get the picture.

[beldarren]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Hi CleverCloggs

sorry I cross posted with you.

£100 approx was added by the council to obtain the liabilty order.. Bristow & Sutor have added £24.50 for the first visit & £18.00 the 2nd visit to hand deliver 2 letter without actually ringing the doorbell or knocking.

[beldarren]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Thank you Plodder... I do totally get what you are trying to say with regards to paying the council directly but I am scared to do this now because of what the bloke for the debt advice said with regards to following his advice so he could help me.

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Thank you Plodder... I do totally get what you are trying to say with regards to paying the council directly but I am scared to do this now because of what the bloke for the debt advice said with regards to following his advice so he could help me.

You will get as much help - or even more - here than you will get with whoever you see. Also it is another fortnight before your appointment and I would be surprised if the Bailiffs waited that long despite being told otherwise.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Thank you Plodder... I do totally get what you are trying to say with regards to paying the council directly but I am scared to do this now because of what the bloke for the debt advice said with regards to following his advice so he could help me.

I'll illustrate what he told you:

[beldarren]

Re: Council Tax problems Bristow & Suitor

Ok so you are saying I should pay the £25 to the council tomorrow... What do you think I should do after then?