Bailliff - Unpaid Council Tax

[Angela1970]

I'm struggling coming to some sort of agreement with a Bailiff, I have an unpaid Council Tax debt that took me a year to get the company the debt was sold to, to agree a monthly amount I could afford. After 4 monthly payments my partner lost his job and the payments stopped, now they want to come and take goods from my home because I can't come up with the full amount. How long can I keep them out of my house for.

[lou 26]

Bailiffs, i believe, have to give you 7 days notice of them coming to "visit" and they cannot, by law, enter your property by breaking down any doors etc. On saying that if you leave a window open or suchlike they can gain access this way legally. So you can go out for the day and make sure all doors are locked and windows shut!!!! I was in financial difficulty some time ago and went to the Citizens Advice Bureau, they are fantastic and will sort this for you on your behalf. My advice would be to pay them something, anything if its only �1 per week or per month, then at least they can see that you are attempting to sort the debt. That way if it goes to court they probably wont get very far as you have been seen to be trying your best. I would definately call the CAB first thing in the morning Angela, honestly they are great. Hope this helps, Good Luck xxx

[Angela1970]

thanks for that Lou, unfortunately the CAB in my area are stretched to the limit, before arranging the last monthly payment I called the CAB constantly for a whole week and when eventually I got a reply I was told I would have to turn up and wait to be seen, which I did, and wouldn't you know it 3 hrs later when it got to my turn I was told to return the next day!

[lou 26]

oh no Angela, thats awful. Im sorry to hear that. The advice they gave me when i went was that the things you have to make sure you pay are your rent (in my case) and your council tax as these are the only things they can lock you up for! Everything else can be sorted after that. Maybe you could try calling the council tax office and trying to arrange something with them direct? They have to agree something with you in your situation. I have got the link to the CAB's website, im not sure if there is anything that can help you on there but its worth taking a look.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index.htm

I would still try to call them though tomorrow. Anything is worth a try. Sorry I cant be of more help, but hopefully someone will come up with some better advice for you. xxx

[Carol Anne]

If the debt has been sold to a collector as you said then it would appear that the debt to the council has now been satisfied, meaning that you are not in any danger of being locked up. I agree with lou, you can keep the bailiffs out of your house indefinately simply by having no dealing with them. You don't have to speak to them or even answer the door to them if you don't want to. They cannot help you in any way, no matter how much bluff they put about, they will only take your stuff away (if you let them!) and sell it for peanuts, leaving you even worse off.

Try again with the CAB, to see if they can strike a deal with the debt collectors themselves, and don't whatever you do let the bailiff con you into entering your home.

I don't believe in defaulting, but there comes a time when they have to realise they can,t take blood from a stone. Good luck Angela, and all the best from Carol Anne.

[trulli]

You could always try the consumer credit counselling service - www.cccs.co.uk. I

[tim2969]

Be very very careful I rented out my flat and the tenant did a runner aftter 9 months of very little rent he also failed to pay his council tax on my property and it transpired as he was a friend of a friend our tenancy agrrement wasn't demmed legal hence I was Liable for outstanding CTAX .I resited the council and debt agency and also the bailiffs attmepts to secure payment paying equivelent of one month to him I moved back in to the flat and around 2 months later recieved notice the Bailiff had reffered my alledged debt back to the council I thought I had got away with it until about 3 week later I recieved commital papers ordering me to court for tax evasion it was only cos I blubbed I got away with a 6 week suspended sentance on the proviso I pay in full over six months NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE COUNCIL

[themas]

Bailiffs can only get in by force if you have let them in on a previous visit (or they got in through an open door or window). But they can take things that are outside the house - e.g. in an unlocked garage. So if you have a car keep it somewhere else or always lock the garage.

Are you sure the Council sold the debt and didn't just use a debt collector as an agent? If it was the latter you can go back to the Council and try to get an agreement with them.

[Angela1970]

I've tried going back to the Council and virually writing a begging letter, to no avail, their reply was, it's been passed on! Seems the only place these people with is the CAB!