Council Tax Debt & Bristow & Sutor - Help!!!

[nikontog2011]

Brief history....

About 5 years ago had my house repossessed due to huge financial difficulty, mainly due to my own naivety, and eventually handed keys back to local county court and moved out of the area due to change in job.

Having since moved back to my local area, I received a letter from the council, in January, connected with my old house regarding outstanding council tax of approximately £2000, and that a Liability Order had been made against me. I subsequently emailed the council to ask for details of any payments made to them on the account, and to point out that I could not in anyway pay the amount outstanding in full, and requested an expenditure sheet to provide them with details of incomings and outgoings, as proof as to what I would like to pay them monthly to pay the amount back.


I'm not disputing the fact that the amount is owed, due to having found out that when in the house, my now ex, was supposed to be paying the council tax but never paid a penny, and unfortunately the house was in my name only.
The only letter I've had back since from the council is the amounts owed and the years they appertain too, along with the payments they would like to see made over a 3 month period (over £900 for 2 months, and just over £300 for the last month).

Since that letter I have been working away, came back, had been broken into so had to use what savings I had to replace stolen items, and have now received a letter from Bristow & Sutor regarding a notification of visit.

I have contacted the council today regarding this but they are refusing to help, and told me to contact Bristol & Suter directly to arrange a payment plan, that realistically I know they probably won't accept as at the moment I can only afford £100 a month. So have just filled in the contact form on B&S website as I refuse to ring a premium rate phone number.

I would appreciate some help and guidance in what I could possibly do to stop future visits from B&S and ensure that my offer of paying £100 monthly can be accepted.

Many thanks.

[outlawlgo]

Re: Council Tax Debt & Bristow & Sutor - Help!!!

You don't have to deal with the bailiff firm. You can pay the council regardless of what they say. Ask for them to give you it in writing if, for example, they refuse payment.

Payment direct (agreement or no agreement) through internet banking or the councils website always trumps their refusal to accept payment once with the bailiff. However, be cautious as this relates to an old account/address so must be specified which account your payment is allocated.

If you can prevent the bailiff levying goods, i.e., refusing him entry to your home, and, moving anything he can levy outside (a car comes to mind) the bailiff's fees can be limited to £42.50, comprising a first visit £24.50 and second visit £18. Of course, any dispute over these fees would be between you and the bailiff firm and could not be enforced with the council's liability order.

[bluebottle]

Re: Council Tax Debt & Bristow & Sutor - Help!!!

Pay the council direct using their automated payment system. That way, you build up a payment history and make it difficult for the council to justify further enforcement. If you can afford to pay, say, £25 per week, do so on the same day each week. You should also inform Bristow & Sutor once you have made the first payment. If they try the "We need to visit," ploy, it is blindingly obvious, even to someone of limited intellectual ability, that it is an excuse, simply, to gain a fee. Don't fall for it and be firm with them. There is nothing in law that requires you to engage with or deal with bailiffs. Also, the council cannot legally refuse to accept any payments.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax Debt & Bristow & Sutor - Help!!!

When - not if - the droids at the council state that they cannot stop the bailiffs, you can tell them that they're wrong.

Read Regulation 70 (link) of the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Tax Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 1996. All the local authority has to do is to tell Bristols & Hooters to back off.

[nikontog2011]

Re: Council Tax Debt & Bristow & Sutor - Help!!!

Thanks for all your replies and advice.

I received an email from B&S with a form to fill in, and they were wanting all sorts of information, including details of my landlord (brother's father in-law owns the house I'm currently renting). Needless to say I haven't filled this in, and refuse to give out such information, certainly to bailiffs. My car that sits at the front of the house is basically a shed, worth about £300 at the most so not sure whether they would levy that due to not really getting any value from seizing it, but will move it just to be on the safe side, and I will certainly be refusing them entry, and wondering whether it's worth sending them a letter stating that I will be refusing them entry into the property.I have started to make payments direct to the council via their online payment site, and also print out confirmation of payments. So will await to see what happens next.