Council Tax and Jacobs

[KC1]

My son has serious mental health problems,and while we were sorting out his ESA as opposed to JSA he got in to debt. His landlords, a housing association have been perfectly reasonable and helpful and accepted £30 per fortnight off his rent arrears.

However the council have been very difficult over the council tax debt and it has ended up with Jacobs. The reason for this is very simple,the housing association will deal with me whereas the council and now Jacobs will not. I understand that I have no power of attorney and I cannot afford one so that will not change and a letter of authorisation is not enough for them.

I finally got to the bottom of the debt which has spiralled due to court costs and Jacobs fees and it is over £1400. However I accept there is little to be done about this, and commenced payments out of his benefit at £20 per fortnight direct to the council. I wrote to the council and explained but never got a reply. As far as I know neither did my son.

Jacobs continue to bombard him with letters. I have written to them and explained he lives in social housing,on benefits, has no car or anything of value and it is pointless to carry on with this campaign! they have achieved what they presumably set out to do in getting payments made so what is the issue?

How can I make them stop as the letters are really upsetting my son to the degree he is now saying he is going to abandon his property. They have called but never gained access as he does not answer the door to anyone.

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax and Jacobs

tagging [MENTION=30402]Milo[/MENTION] [MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION] [MENTION=9189]bizzybob[/MENTION] for help
[MENTION=81068]KC1[/MENTION] ... wasn't your son entitled to CT benefit while on JSA? Would his local MP be willing to assist in getting it returned to the council??

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax and Jacobs

Does he live on his own? If so does he get Single Person Discount? How many Liability Orders does he have against him? With having MH issues has he got a case worker who could act on his behalf? Has he informed the Council himself he wants you to speak for him?

[bizzybob]

Re: Council Tax and Jacobs

Ploddertom has nailed the questions you need to ask, Were the arrears of council tax built up when DWP were faffing him about with ESAand JSA? Aletter from a MH worker dealing with him to Jacobs and council might help ground him as vulnerable.

[Milo]

Re: Council Tax and Jacobs

My son has serious mental health problems,and while we were sorting out his ESA as opposed to JSA he got in to debt. His landlords, a housing association have been perfectly reasonable and helpful and accepted £30 per fortnight off his rent arrears.

However the council have been very difficult over the council tax debt and it has ended up with Jacobs. The reason for this is very simple,the housing association will deal with me whereas the council and now Jacobs will not. I understand that I have no power of attorney and I cannot afford one so that will not change and a letter of authorisation is not enough for them.

I finally got to the bottom of the debt which has spiralled due to court costs and Jacobs fees and it is over £1400. However I accept there is little to be done about this, and commenced payments out of his benefit at £20 per fortnight direct to the council. I wrote to the council and explained but never got a reply. As far as I know neither did my son.

Jacobs continue to bombard him with letters. I have written to them and explained he lives in social housing,on benefits, has no car or anything of value and it is pointless to carry on with this campaign! they have achieved what they presumably set out to do in getting payments made so what is the issue?

How can I make them stop as the letters are really upsetting my son to the degree he is now saying he is going to abandon his property. They have called but never gained access as he does not answer the door to anyone.

Has evidence been provided to the council or Jacobs regarding your sons mental health problems?

Jacobs has an excellent Welfare Department where cases such as your son's are managed without the need for bailiff attendance.

If you can respond to the questions raised by Ploddertom, that would greatly assist in determining the way forward.