Rossendales

[bluebottle]

Re: Rossendales

If your OH is on High Rate Care and Mobility components of DLA, then the Council should be put on notice as this puts you in the vulnerable category. Also, remind the Council of the LGO's damning report involving Rossendales and Blaby Council. It would be interesting to see if they changed their attitude and how quickly.

[Bensmum]

Re: Rossendales

Thank you every one for your posts and advice. Not been able to do a lot today as hubby has had rather a bad day health wise however I did try and go on the Rossendale payment system to try and make a part payment as I am concerned that if I pay on the council one it will be allocated to the current year. There is no section on there for council tax arrears and when I enter our details it is only the current years figure that comes up. On the Rossendales site I put the account numbers in and it confirmed the name and address but when I clicked 'next' to make payment there was a message in red print that appears saying that there was no longer the option pay online as the matter was now in the hands of their 'representative' and that we would have to contact him. They didn't give any name or number. I intend to go to the council offices in person as I never get anywhere on the phone with them 'only that there is nothing they can do'. However I need to arrange for someone to come and look after him as he can no longer be left alone for any length of time. Half an hour while I walk the dogs is about the limit and I should imagine that this visit will take some time.The council and the bailiffs are aware of his vulnerability they have all the details of our income in front of them when they worked out our Council Tax benefit and it was even their human welfare officer who came to the house to help him fill in his claim form for DLA. Rossendales had the same information sent to them when I made the offer of £15, to which they never responded, and when the bailiff came to the door he could see my husband's wheelchair in the hall behind me. I cannot say though that he acted aggressively in anyway. I cannot undertand though why the company send the letter out demanding the the information be returned to them and then state that it is out of their hands on their website. Again thanks to all.

[labman]

Re: Rossendales

I would be inclined to ask your councillor to go to the desk with you and be prepared to make a fuss when told the council can do nothing. This is utter rubbish! The council can recall the debt from Rossendales whenever they wish.

I would consider writing to the Head of your local council with a copy to your MP.

Have the bailiffs ever actually levied on any of your property (apologies - I've only quickly scanned the post)? Have they ever gained peaceful entry?

If the answer to both the above is no, then you have absolutely no obligation to deal with Rossendales at all. I would however try to pay what you can reasonably afford using the council's automated phone system or online payment system. Try to pay them an affordable amount each week, same day each week religiously as clockwork, whether this be £50 or £5, try to establish a payment history so you are showing willing to pay.

[Bensmum]

Re: Rossendales

In answer to your questions no. Although I have had no experience of dealing with bailiffs before after watching recent programmes on television I was aware enough to know not to let anyone in so, unless they can levy without entering then there can be no levy and nothing has been signed apart from the financial statement I sent them when I made the offer of £15 per week towards the end of last year of which I kept a photocopy. I have no problem with making a regular payment online or by telephone so long as I can be sure this is being offset against the arrears. This is the way I am paying the current year's bill and as far as I can make out all payments made on there are deducted from this.

[labman]

Re: Rossendales

No, you should have the option to allocate to the appropriate year. If for any reason you can't find a way to do this, go to the council offices and demand they take payment against that year's CT. They are not allowed to refuse, and if they do ask them to sign saying they are refusing an offer of payment. This is why I suggested taking the councillor along with you - they pull quite a punch with this type of thing. I've not known anyone have problems with the automated systems previously though, and it is important that you establish a regular repayment against the debt so you show you're willing to pay it. Sadly, if you don't succeed in making a payment you will be labelled as a 'won't pay' not a 'can't pay' and there is a big difference in the way the two are handled.

[IanM]

Re: Rossendales

In answer to your questions no. Although I have had no experience of dealing with bailiffs before after watching recent programmes on television I was aware enough to know not to let anyone in so, unless they can levy without entering then there can be no levy and nothing has been signed apart from the financial statement I sent them when I made the offer of £15 per week towards the end of last year of which I kept a photocopy. I have no problem with making a regular payment online or by telephone so long as I can be sure this is being offset against the arrears. This is the way I am paying the current year's bill and as far as I can make out all payments made on there are deducted from this.

Check the account number on the CT bill for this year and compare it to the account number on the last bill, if they are the same your current bill should show the arrears from the previous bill at the bottom. If the numbers are the same then make 2 separate payments to the account, when these amounts are credited to the account they will show a payment history for the arrears as well as the current bill on the statements or payment card. If they are different numbers then when you go to the council to pay the bills pay the current one first and then tell them you want to pay £15 to the other account number, they cannot refuse a payment. If you just make one payment they normally credit the whole payment against the arrears first so although your arrears get paid off you end up in arrears on the current bill then they get to send the bailiffs out again so they can make some money. Don't give any money to the bailiffs and don't let them in.

[Bensmum]

Re: Rossendales

There is definitely no option to allocate years on this system which is a pity.

[Bensmum]

Re: Rossendales

I shall go through all the paperwork again tomorrow and don't worry I have no intention of letting them in. Thank you.

[salsmoss]

Re: Rossendales

Bensum, remove the bailiffs right to enter your home/land they cannot even take your car, they have no power whatsoever just threats on paper written from microsoft word, i hate them with a passion and they now hate me. removing the bailiffs right alone is useless but if you show that you will charge them a fee if they trespass then they will not come near your property due to the fact that they know they can be charged. Dont be afraid of the bailiff go directly to the council.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS

I am removing any right you think you have to enter any part of my property (your address here) if you or any bailiff dca enter my property/land i will be charging you £££ and make no mistake that should you now enter my property you will be committing the offence of agrevated trespass which is criminal, be warned.

You can charge them what you want but what i do is charge them a little higher than what the whole debt they are attempting to collect inc their fees so if they are after £1200 i will charge them £2000, get rid of them, you can also place your possessions into a family trust best thing i ever did.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Rossendales

I cannot undertand though why the company send the letter out demanding the the information be returned to them and then state that it is out of their hands on their website.

I can.

1. They are liars
2. They have set up their system to refuse payments, so their bailiff may garner fees.

[bizzybob]

Re: Rossendales

You MUST now send a Formal Complaint to the Head of Revenues, the council CEO, Elected Leader, and your MP regarding this matter, remind the council that it is unlawful for them to refuse a tendered payment, in the complaint indicate that their agent Rossendales, for which they are wholly liable are preventing you from paying and demanding payments that you cannot afford. Indicate that if this is not sorted you will progress this through the complaint system up to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Remind them that you are vulnerable under the National Standards, and that you are minded to report the council and the bailiffs to the HSE for breaches of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, for their failure to carry out a risk assessment on the impact of their continued aggressive enforcement on your vulnerable OH's deteriorating health, and their continued ignoring of the vulnerability. make sure your MP knows of this.

[bluebottle]

Re: Rossendales

I can.

1. They are liars What's new?
2. They have set up their system to refuse payments, so their bailiff may garner fees. That may well amount to fraud.

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