Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

[ScarlettUK]

My flatmate and I, got behind on our council tax due to our fault.

In August this year, we got a letter from Newlyn (to my old address in Lancashire, which finally got to me) to say that bailiffs would call in 7 days. I called them as soon as I got the letter to make a payment plan. At this stage we had 2012 and 2013 council tax outstanding and were given two figures.

At that stage we arranged to pay it off at £490.00 a month - which we have done for August, September, October and November. By the time October came, we had paid off the 'first amount' and were on to our second set of repayments.

My flat mate is pregnant (32 weeks) and has been ill throughout most of the pregnancy. As a result she has been off work since September with pregnancy related illnesses. She is now only on half pay, so our financial situation has changed massively.

I called Newlyn today to explain this and they said that there was nothing they could do, they could not discuss a repayment plan of a different amount with us.

I have spoken to our council and they have said there is nothing they can do.... Apparently the payments we have made so far have paid off 2013 council tax in full and not 2012 (although £245 has now gone towards 2012)... I assumed we would have paid of 2012 and would now be paying off 2013 but apparently that is not the case at all.

As it stands we own £1200 which we do want to pay off, but just not at the rate of £490.00 a month as we have been doing... But Newlyn won't accept this and the council say they can not help. We want to pay it off at £200 a month, so it will be cleared at a reasonable rate.

Is there anything anyone can suggest?

Thanks in advance!

S

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Which council has told you the untruth that they "cannot" intervene?

How much CT was owed for 2012 ?

How much CT is payable for 2013 ?

Did Newlyn levy distress on any of your goods?

Did Newlyn tell you what charges and fees they have taken from your payments?

[ScarlettUK]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Barnet Council

2012 - £1370
2013 - £1200 left to pay

We have paid them £1595 since August


Newlyn never came to my property (only an old address & not the one which relates to council tax - where I live)

They haven't told me what charges are on the account, but I have never asked

Thanks

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Use Letter 1 from http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...Useful-Letters to get a breakdown of fees. Does the Bailiff have your current address?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Barnet Council

2012 - £1370
2013 - £1200 left to pay

We have paid them £1595 since August

Are you sure?

4 x £490 = £ 1,960 - or it did when I was still at school. :nerd:

There's a £ 375 discrepancy which could be due to various and sundry, invented fees.

[ScarlettUK]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Sorry that might be my bad maths...I have logged into my Newlyn account to check the details properly


We paid them £490 per month for 4 months... Last month by flatmate couldn't pay, but I did and I called them to explain but they didn't really say much just to call back this month. I have called back today as she is still unable to pay, and we would like to propose a lower monthly repayment fee due to the circumstances.


So I have paid them £495 X 4 and one payment of £245 for November.


When I called them to start the payments, the letter said we owed £1398 for council tax from 2012. When I called them they said that 2013 was also sent to them so to sort out payments to cover both... Which we set at £490.00 a month. We had two references numbers for the payments, one for each of the years. One of those accounts is now closed and we have one account left.


The original outstanding for this was £1,515.00 which will be for a full years council tax plus their fees. The £245 I paid in Novmber has been taken off of this so we now have an outstanding balance of £1270 outstanding. I assumed that this was for 2013s outstanding, but apparently the payments we have made have been put against 2013 first and 2012 is still outstanding and see as urgent because it as been so long... The fact that we have paid them since August a large amount doesn't come into account because that paid off 2013 apparently. They said that is just the way it is.


They do have my current address (I have lived here 2 years) but they havent sent anything through recently. The last written correspondence was to my old address in August, when I called them to set up the payment plan.


I was hoping to pay off the £1270 over 6 months either via them or the council but they are all unable/unwiling to help


Thanks for all your help


S

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Providing they have not gained entry and levied on any goods or done so on anything outside there fees are capped at £42-50 and no matter how many visits they make they can charge no more. Howeveras it is Newlyn we are talking about, they are very inventive with their fees - so much so that I believe a new Famous Five story will be invented around them.

Of course there is nothing to stop you paying the Council direct at a level you can afford via online banking, Council website or automated phone. Will it upset the Bailiff - yes it will but so what, teach them to be more cooperative in the future.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

Sorry that might be my bad maths...I have logged into my Newlyn account to check the details properly

For rather low values of "properly"? :nerd:

(That's a criticism of Newlyn's site, not you!)

We paid them £490 per month for 4 months... Last month by flatmate couldn't pay, but I did ...

So I have paid them £495 X 4 and one payment of £245 for November.

I know the difference only totals £20, but were the payments 4 x £490 or 4 x £495 ?

When I called them to start the payments, the letter said we owed £1398 for council tax from 2012.

Whereas, earlier today, you stated that you owed £1370 for 2012. Is the extra £28 due to council costs?

As for the other calculations, I'd need to know how much CT was payable for 2013.

[ScarlettUK]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

For rather low values of "properly"? :nerd:

(That's a criticism of Newlyn's site, not you!)


I know the difference only totals £20, but were the payments 4 x £490 or 4 x £495 ?


Whereas, earlier today, you stated that you owed £1370 for 2012. Is the extra £28 due to council costs?

As for the other calculations, I'd need to know how much CT was payable for 2013.

I don't think we have ever been given a break down of charges (though I have no ever asked for one)

Sorry for confusing things - we both pay them £245 a month, so we pay them £490.00.

To be honest with you, I have had one letter from them - sent to a wrong address - which paniced me and then we started paying the amount they stated. Looking back I should have asked for more details before I went ahead and paid.

A relative has suggested that we write to them and advise how much we can pay (£200 a month) and the reasons why we can't pay anymore... and then start making those payments as we agree.. But I don't know if this is viable, or something that we can do.

Am I still entitled to write to Newlyn and ask for details of all the payments I have made and the charges they have raised?

Thanks for all your help!

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax - Bailiff Payments - Change Due To Pregnancy?

I don't think we have ever been given a break down of charges (though I have no ever asked for one)

Sorry for confusing things - we both pay them £245 a month, so we pay them £490.00.

To be honest with you, I have had one letter from them - sent to a wrong address - which paniced me and then we started paying the amount they stated. Looking back I should have asked for more details before I went ahead and paid.

A relative has suggested that we write to them and advise how much we can pay (£200 a month) and the reasons why we can't pay anymore... and then start making those payments as we agree.. But I don't know if this is viable, or something that we can do.

Am I still entitled to write to Newlyn and ask for details of all the payments I have made and the charges they have raised?

Thanks for all your help!

Personally I wouldn't bother with them. If you pay the Council direct they in turn will notify the Bailiffs a payment has been made. It is never too late to ask for a breakdown of fees you have been charged.