Rossendales regarding council tax

[qwedsa]

hi hope you can help on any suggestions with this case ,


a friend of mine had failed to pay council tax for the last tax year because of a break up with husband who used to carry out all the tax payments, she is aware that she should of paid that money and it was her mistake that resulted in it not being paid, she is on a income support benefit which the council is now aware of and has this years to pay, the council had refered this to rossendales ltd who sent out a person who spoke to my friend and issued a notice of distress, because she was shocked and most probably frightened she singed the sheet with a list of goods which they were going to take if payment was not made to the company.

the female involved is a single parent and like i said is on income support, she gets a discount from the council for being a single parent of 25%, i stress at no point has she refused to pay the council involved any money, but she cannot afford to pay the amount up front and would like to set up a payment plan with the council NOT rossendales.

she has already paid rossendales the sum of £100 so that she has an extra 7days to sort the issue


after a phone call yesterday the council said they would not take any payment it has to go through rossendales ltd.

what we need to establish is what can we do regarding rossendales and the notice of distress

and is there a way to set up some sort of payment plan directly with the council for the outstanding debt ?


please help

thanks

[ploddertom]

Re: Rossendales regarding council tax

Payment may be made direct to the Council via online banking, Council website or automated phone. You say she has signed a Walking Possession - does this mean the bailiff has gained access to the home? Is it possible to list the goods seized exactly as described on the Notice of Seizure? If she is on Benefits then it might be the household is classed as "vulnerable" according to the National Standards for Enforcement Agents - meaning the debt should be returned to the Council whereby minimum payments of £5 a week can be deducted direct from her Benefit. She needs to write to both Council & Bailiffs about this enclosing some form of proof. As it is the weekend she should contact her local Councillor(s) and ask they intervene first thing Monday on her behalf - best initial contact is by phone & in my view they are available 7 days per week up until 9pm.

[ostell]

Re: Rossendales regarding council tax

If she is on income support surely she must be entitled to a reduction in council tax? Has she applied? The 25% figure is just the normal discount for single occupancy, nothing to do with being single mother.

[bizzybob]

Re: Rossendales regarding council tax

Has she claimed Council Tax benefit, this would cover around 80% of the bill in England, and for this tax year at least 100% in Wales, taking the discount and benefit should wipe out the biull . She should put in a backdated claim for HB and argue the toss with the council. keep Dossendales out and deny them a levy.

As a single parent on IS Rossendales should not even be involved, and she should NOT pay the greedy gits another bean.