Council Tax Debt

[Tee06]

Hi,

I am really grateful for this site and all the free advice they give.
I owe quite alot on council tax. Loss of job, single parent situation has set me back a lot. The debt agency's letter wont stop coming. Please can anyone offer advice as to where I can start from? Can it be reduced at all? Thank you

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax Debt

You need to find out how many Liability Orders the Council have against you & for how much. What periods of time they cover. Ask also how many have been sent for enforcement.

[Tee06]

Re: Council Tax Debt

[MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION], thanks for replying. Please how do I get the information, can I call them to aak or is there another way of finding out.

[warwick65]

Re: Council Tax Debt

I would call the council and ask.

[Tee06]

Re: Council Tax Debt

Will do and update. Thank you.

[Tee06]

Re: Council Tax Debt

Hi, [MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION] [MENTION=98117]warwick65[/MENTION], I called and was told they have 4 Liability Orders on me, 2 of the accounts has been sent to Enforcement agencies, with a total amount of £2060.43, and remaining account with Council
at £1405.99. Period covers 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018

thanks

[warwick65]

Re: Council Tax Debt

Are the council aware that you are a loan parent and also possibly eligible for the single persons discount.

It may be worth talking to them and if you hot a brick wall where they clearly are being either jobsworths or do not know what they are talking about a nice email to the CEO of the council.

I am afraid I can not help on the technicalities of enforcement but I am sure [MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION] can

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax Debt

Hi, @ploddertom @warwick65, I called and was told they have 4 Liability Orders on me, 2 of the accounts has been sent to Enforcement agencies, with a total amount of £2060.43, and remaining account with Council
at £1405.99. Period covers 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018

thanks

Thanks for that. The 2017/2018 is for the present year - are you up to date with this?

[Tee06]

Re: Council Tax Debt

[MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION], unfortunately I am not. I am hoping to start somewhere with the payment, hence I am asking for advice. Thank you

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax Debt

As Warwick says above are the Council aware of your circumstances & do you or have you claimed Single Person Discount or any other Council Tax Benefit. Have you ever had to provide Income/Expenditure to anyone or do you have other debts as well?

[Tee06]

Re: Council Tax Debt

[MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION] Yes, I get a single person discount, but this got taken off when I stopped making payments. No, I do not receive any other council tax Benefit, and Yes I have other debts (Credit Card and outstanding bills)

[Kati]

Re: Council Tax Debt

I'll tag [MENTION=48934]Debt Camel[/MENTION] for you too Tee06 ... she may be able to advise on your other debts xx

[ploddertom]

Re: Council Tax Debt

Thanks for that Kati. Tee06 you have to remember that CT is classed as a priority debt whereas Credit Cards can be reduced to the absolute minimum.

[Debt Camel]

Re: Council Tax Debt

I called and was told they have 4 Liability Orders on me, 2 of the accounts has been sent to Enforcement agencies, with a total amount of £2060.43, and remaining account with Council

at £1405.99. Period covers 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018

This doesn't sound right. You need to know which year each liability order relates to. It would be very rare to get 2 liability orders for the same year.

You need to phone them up again and establish:

for each Liability order - LO date, CT year debt relates to, amount owed, with which bailiff (if any)

I get a single person discount, but this got taken off when I stopped making payments.

This doesn't sound right either - the single person discount reduces what your bill is. It isn't a reward for paying on time. When you phone up, ask them to send you a statement for each CT year to show how the balance owing has been calculated.

No, I do not receive any other council tax Benefit

have you applied?

and Yes I have other debts (Credit Card and outstanding bills)

Council tax is a priority debt. Check here if any of your other debts are also priority debts: https://debtcamel.co.uk/start/priority-debts/. If you stop making ANY payments to the credit cards, catalogues, loans etc that aren't priority debts, how much money will you have left each month to offer to settle the council tax arrears?

You need some urgent debt advice. I suggest you get to your local Citizens Advice asap. They can look at benefits and council tax arrears and your other debts.

PS if you are contacted by bailiffs re these council tax debts, do not open the door! See https://debtcamel.co.uk/bailiffs-dont-open-door/

[Tee06]

Re: Council Tax Debt

Thank you [MENTION=49370]Kati[/MENTION]