Newlyn advice regarding council tax

[rsp85]

Hi

I am new to this site. I need a bit of advice in regards to baliffs Newlyn. I am behind on my council tax which resulted in Newlyn getting involved on their behalf back in September. Firstly they were asking for the whole amount, about £1.K, i advised them that i could not afford the total amount as i only work part time. I had to get in touch with the council who then advised that i should pay £100 a month to Newlyn which i had to agree to. The council told Newlyn not to go any further and to accept my £100 monthly payment.

I have kept up to date until this month where i am struggling after xmas, as well as my cooker has packed up and car needing repairs, which i need to get to work and uni. I missed one payment of £100 and have paid them £50 as that is all i had. I received a text stating i had defaulted and the bailiff will attend the following day, which they have not. I rang and advised Newlyn of the reason i was behind and that we urgently need to buy a cooker but their response is that as i have defaulted so i have been charged £216 and that i should pay the whole £900.

I am not sure what to do as i don't have the money for them. I dont have much they can take apart from my car which i have parked away from my house. If my car was taken i would not be able to get to work or my uni which are quite far from my home.

I dont understand the charges and when i queried, Newlyn just said they can legally charge me. I asked for a breakdown but the lady didnt seem to know. They have not attended my property at all yet just a text message.

My farther dealt with them some years ago and carried on paying the council and ignored Newlyn which in the end they just passed it all back to the council. I dont know if i should do this as i am scared of getting charged £200 again and again. I am a single parent with three dependents and work part time.

Any help and advise will be greatly appreciated as i cant sleep!

Thank you

[CleverClogs]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

Which council is it?

[rsp85]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

It's Watford Borough Council.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

And Watford Borough Council may collect as much as 8% commission from Screwlyn.

The first thing to do is to read the site notes - link - on Council Tax enforcement by bästärd bailiffs.

Send Screwlyns letter #1 from here - link - as their "charge" of £216 seems to have no legal basis whatever. At a guess. though, it suggests they did an improper or invalid, "drive-by" levy on a random motor car that may have been parked near your residence, not bothered with a Form 7 Notice of Seizure and then slapped on "removal costs" when, in fact, they had removed bugger all.

This is what some bailiffs do.

When other people do it, it's called fraud.

[rsp85]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

Thank you for your advice. I have never dealt with bailiff's before now so don't know what i should pay or not. It just seems extremely unfair how high the charge is and puts me right back up with my debt. They have not informed me before now of their charges and when and how they will apply them to my account.

If they did in fact levy on my car they should inform me, right? And would that mean they done it even though at the time my payments were up to date? I can't believe this sort of thing goes on, especially when people are already struggling financially, how is anyone meant to work to get out of debt when this sort of thing goes on? I have spoken to the CAB and they advised my payment of £100 per month was too high and advised to move my car and locked my doors as well until i can sort a better payment plan! Not a great way to live for anyone lol.

Anyway, i shall send them the 1st letter for the breakdown, once that is returned then move onto the council. In the mean time, shall i continue to pay Newlyn or pay the council directly?

Thanks again.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

If they did in fact levy on my car they should inform me, right?

They should do more than merely inform you - they should have left a Form 7 Notice of Seizure.

And would that mean they done it even though at the time my payments were up to date?

Yes. They do this sort of thing because the council lets them.

I can't believe this sort of thing goes on, especially when people are already struggling financially, how is anyone meant to work to get out of debt when this sort of thing goes on?

They're not, but the present kakistocracy doesn't care. Later this year will see the introduction of the new system of "taking control of goods", whereby what amounts to a global levy is rubber-stamped by a magistrate or district judge and the "enforcement officer" will be not only allowed to charge a lot more, he'll also be allowed to kick down doors if he pleases.

And remember - when Scameron wangled his way into power, he declared that he would not implement that regime.

Do not believe another word that bugger utters!

Anyway, i shall send them the 1st letter for the breakdown, once that is returned then move onto the council.

Good.

In the mean time, shall i continue to pay Newlyn or pay the council directly?

If you pay the council directly, the money paid should be deducted from your Council Tax debt.

If you pay Screwlyns, the money will first be used to pay their "fees" and "charges", whether or not they are quite lawful; only after those have been paid and Screwlyns have run out of ideas for more "fees" would any money be paid to the council to reduce your Council Tax debt.

[bizzybob]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

"They're not, but the present kakistocracy doesn't care. Later this year will see the introduction of the new system of "taking control of goods", whereby what amounts to a global levy is rubber-stamped by a magistrate or district judge and the "enforcement officer" will be not only allowed to charge a lot more, he'll also be allowed to kick down doors if he pleases."

There will be quite a few bailiffs in A&E and their Berlingo gutted and ablaze on bricks if they use that tactic in some of the areas they frequent and regard as happy fleecing land at the moment. The underclass that IDS is kicking will be pushed over the edge especially as they didn't need to pay council tax before this year.

[rsp85]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

I have heard a little about the new system of recovering goods, but i thought this was something that was going help people with financial difficulties! Obviously i need to do more reading on it.

I posted the letter recorded delivery to Newlyn's yesterday, so will wait their response. I was wondering though, when they receive my letter will it cause a stir with them? I mean, will they start actually coming round and post a form 7 notice to cover themselves? How can i prove that they never bothered turning up or done an improper drive by without making it known to me? Will it just be my word against theirs?

I am really hoping i have grounds for the council taking back the debt.

[rsp85]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

Hi
I rang Newlyn again for a breakdown of costs which i was given as follows:

22nd July visit fee £24.50
22nd Aug visit fee £18.00
6th Jan Visit with van to collect goods £163

July and August account was up to date so not sure why a Bailiff would attend. I also did not receive anything via post or phone to say anyone would be attending. Actually, when paying over the phone in Oct these charges were not on there then!

Now i know for a fact no one has turned up on 6th Jan to remove goods as i was at home. I told the lady from Newlyn that no one has actually visited and her response was that i would need to prove with CCTV evidence. I went on to ask what the bailiff had levied on and she said a household levy, again i asked what, she said a vehicle parked outside my home probably. I asked to confirm the reg and she couldn't but did go on to say i will have to prove with dvla evidence it is not mine. I asked her to confirm the name of the bailiff, which again she couldn't and would be someone assigned to my area. I also said i had not received the form 7 notice or anything apart from texts which she said i should have. Speaking of texts, There is none saying a bailiff will attend on the dates given. Texts received:

3rd Oct "Bailiff to attend the next day" no one turned up. Account was also up to date. I did call them which they said my payment was late but sorted it with them after which they confirmed in writing.
7th Jan "Bailiff to attend the next day" again no one turned up, this is when i rang Newlyn who already said i had charges applied to my account but couldn't give me a breakdown at the time.
And a text yesterday, 9th Jan, "Bailiff to visit to remove goods". If they visited 6th Jan to remove goods wouldn't i have received the text then? I will wait and see if they bother to actually turn up tomorrow!

Hopefully Newyn will send me a proper break down with details of the car or whatever has been levied on along with the name of the bailiff. I think i will call the council on Monday to get details from them with regards to the dates they past it over and date of any orders from court.

[TVJonesClassic]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

I am really hoping i have grounds for the council taking back the debt.

It certainly sounds like it but someone more knowledgeable than me will be along to advise.

[rsp85]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

****

[bizzybob]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

"6th Jan Visit with van to collect goods £163" Old Screwlyin makee falsifold statemntol, no levybole so no have moolah

They have no valid levy and cannot charge a van fee before they have a levy. About time Screwlyn were hauled up for their fraudulent methods.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

****

Shït or fûck? msl:

[bizzybob]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

Shït or fûck? msl:

crapilode maximole as Professor Unwin may have opined

[rsp85]

Re: Newlyn advice regarding council tax

Shït or fûck? msl:

Haha! Would suit Newlyn very well! I somehow sent the same message twice and couldn't find how to delete it!