Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true?

[Diane16]

I found a post on Reddit on how to deal with enforcement officers for council tax. I am current facing a similar issue and owe them £712. I want to know if there is any truth to this? https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingd...ficers_taking/

I have not opened the door to them yet but the company are telling me I have to go through the officer to make repayments. The advice on the post suggests writing them a letter. Is it worth it?

[Kati]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

tagging [MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION] [MENTION=9189]bizzybob[/MENTION] [MENTION=30402]Milo[/MENTION]

[Debt Camel]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

Well there are bits of it that are fine - and never open the door to a bailiff for council tax arrears is sound advice.

But other bits are really unhelpful:

They [the creditor] do this because they want you to believe that you have to deal directly with the enforcement officer. Their goal is for him to gain access to your property so they can start taking your goods either on the day, or if you default on payments

That is pretty much nonsense. Everyone's aim is to get money out of you, not to take your things which is a hassle and probably won't sell for much anyway.

There is also a long list of things that they can't take if they do come into your house. The "That's game over they can take everything" is scare-mongering and not helpful at all.

I suggest you stop reading reddit and go to more reputable websites.

You say you owe "them" £712. is this your local council? Do you agree you owe this money or are there any ongoing disputes eg about benefits that may mean you owe less?
How much can you afford to pay a month to this debt?
Do you have other debts?
Do you own a car, if so where is it parked?

[Diane16]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

The letter I have says: "At this time your goods are bound. You can not remove, sell or otherwise dispose of them". This to me makes it sound like they are coming for my goods. And if they are not they are lying and scaremongering themselves. That post doesnt mention taking everything either they are obviously going to take the most valuable items to cover the debt so long as it belongs to me right? Also the post says they might not take the stuff but they will mark it so if you default they can come and collect it and this time they can use force. Is that correct? I wasnt reading reddit but it came onto my feed because I subscribe to /r/unitedkingdom.

I owe the money to the council yes. I also agree that I owe it to them. I am on ESA and a single mother. I think its related to a law change in 2014 because I was exempt from council tax for a long time. I have no other debts and dont own a car. I can pay £80 a month which would be a push but if I can get the debt cleared quickly I dont mind. Just a shame it came so close to christmas but its my own fault I guess.

Thanks for the information. Whats the best way to deal with this without dealing with the officer?

[Diane16]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

It also says "If you can not pay in full I need to take control of your goods". Im really not understand what you mean @DebtCamel because what you've said about "They're not coming to take your goods" seems incorrect. I too have tried to call the office directly and they are telling me I have to deal with the enforcement officer.

I can scan the document if you like? Nobody has entered my home so I am not sure how they can claim my goods have been taken control of.

[Diane16]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

Also, a bailiff will earn commission. I know this because my mothers ex partner used to work for Marstons. If they are able to settle a debt they get paid commission ontop. No lies it's even on their website. Here's one https://marstongroup.co.uk/our-team/...ent-vacancies/ ... It states: "A self-employed role with realistic OTE and uncapped commission opportunities;". So yeah, when it comes to settling debts I believe they will go to any lengths to get their commission on top.

Anyway thanks for your time. I don't mean to sound horrible but the advice you offered is pretty generic and useless. I'm going with the guy on reddit it seems to make more sense. I'll take my chances ignoring the door and writing directly. Seemed to work for that guys aunt.

[Debt Camel]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

Goods which are exempt from being taken are listed here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/de...liff-can-take/.

It is legally correct that you should not sell or give away your goods, see https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/de...ople-bailiffs/.

If you let them in once, then the next time they can use force, that is why "don't let them in" is the best simple summary of bailiffs and council tax arrears for someone who does not have a car.

£80 a month if you are on ESA sounds too much to me - you need this arrangement to be sustainable.

I suggest you go to your local Citizens Advice and ask for their help to get this recalled from the bailiffs and for the debt to be collected by deduction from your ESA which would be at a rate of £3.70 a week.

[ploddertom]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

If you go with the advice from Reddit I can guarantee you will end up in more debt than you are now.

The Council should have written to you several times about what you owed & should also have told you they were going to Court for a Liability Order. Not having paid it they have now handed it to Bailiffs to enforce, At this stage you should have received a letter entitled Notice of Enforcement giving you a period of time to make contact to pay in full or reach a payment arrangement - what you were offering was more than generous. For this they will have added £75 to what you owed.

If this period of time has passed then you will be subject to a visit from a Bailiff for which you will then be charged £235 and the chances they will now want the debt paid in full. Regardless of anything they say they have no right to enter your home & it would be a seriously bad idea to let them in but be aware they can Take Control of any Goods lying about outside - favourite items may include, a car, motor bike, caravan, bicycles, garden furniture or bbqs. If they then decide to remove any items you can be charged a £110 sale fee + any transport, storage & auction costs.

[leclerc]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

I have a question about the above thread on reddit. What is the 12 month rule ie not answering the door for 12 months to an enforcement officer?(which is also on the Citizen's Advice thread).....

[Debt Camel]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

I can't see a reference to a "12 month rule" in the reddit thread? Which CitA page is it on?

In my experience bailiffs will return a debt to the creditors long before 12 months, they aren't going to waste their time calling every day for a year. They don't get more fees every time they call.

[des8]

Re: Found a reddit post on dealing with enforcement officers. Is the information true

I have a question about the above thread on reddit. What is the 12 month rule ie not answering the door for 12 months to an enforcement officer?(which is also on the Citizen's Advice thread).....

Possibly a (misunderstood) reference to the necessity to renew the warrant if, after12 months there is no payment plan in force and the debtor wants HCEO to continue enforcement.