phoenix baliffs

[pauline 1999]

i owed this years council tax �650 the baliffs want �15oo i feel like ending my life they r bullies who do i complaine to i ring them they horrid too

[ummmm]

In experience, bailiffs dealing with council tax are a lot better then the others. Ignore them and they will send the debt back to the council. Then you will be able make a payment plan. It will take about two months so start saving!!!!!!!!!!!

[dannydingbat]

The reason why they have become involved is because you have ignored all attempts to get the money or even talk about it with your Council. This has led to the original debt, costs, court fees and bailiffs costs being added. Its a last resort when all other attempts have failed. Take some action to help yourself before it gets worse.

[Eve]

Definitely try to sort something out as Danny says.

Try this for general info about bailiffs...

http://www.debtquestions.co.uk/prob_bailiffs.p hpafs

This deals with council tax bailiffs...

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/go/feature/feature _321.html?pkgid=31

If you are being harassed then try this...

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/go/feature/feature _331.html?pkgid=31

[RATTER15]

Get something sorted before the bailiffs come back, they can charge �200.00 per visit I think. and they are legit in charging this, so it does have to be payed, so do not ignore them!!

[jennyp]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/deb t-bailiffs-advi ce/ WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT LET THEM IN. Don't let them bully you, if you know your rights, you will be enpowered to deal with the bullies.

[jennyp]

Baillifs have set tariffs they can charge - nowhere near the �200 mark - but they will certainly try to get that

[RATTER15]

I'm not having a good day, that's the second time I've been wrong today!! Dammit!!

[jennyp]

Sorry Ratter - at the moment my other favourite site, besides this one of course is the one I plugged earlier. I have spent hours reading on their, and it has certainly opened my eyes as to what to do and where to go etc.,

[Mrs_Pegasus]

If it is handed back to the council and you are still not paying they will go for commital (sp?) and as we have seen in the past they will happily lock a pensioner up for not paying so I would try and deal with it as soon as you can. The bailiffs will still charge the council their costs and the council will be even quicker with their action because they have to recover their debt and the added debt of the bailiffs!

[bollie]

Whatever happens dont do anything silly, its not worth letting them get to you to that extent. DO NOT let them in, and try and get to your citizens advice as soon as you can. They will be able to help point you in the right direction.

BTW i was in a v similar situation as you a few years ago, and i know how horrible, and intimidating these bullies are. It seems as though you will never get thruogh it, or ever get it paid off, and then youve got these thugs harassing you. but all you need is someone to sit you down, give you some solid advice, and perhaps work out a payment plan with you.

Hang on in there, you will get it sorted x

[pauline 1999]

thankyou bollie its nice to no others care x

[Andy Boz]

I beleive that if you open the door to speak to them face to face, that is classed as an invitation to enter. I may be wrong, could somebody else confirm this?

[madman06]

baliffs came to my house 4/10/06 for council tax ,its first time since 1989 when i left school ive been un employed,let him in and said heres 5p its silver and u cant refuse it now get out and stay away from my house,he said ok no problem,came back 3 hours later,he said im not working now can we talk i said yes he said put car in garage and say loads of stuff in house were gifts,i did ,and next time they came they left with tails between there legs

[themas]

madman - I think you were very fortunate!

Bailiffs enforcing Council Tax debts cannot break into a property unless they have previously entered it without breaking in. But coming in through an open door or window does not constitute breaking in - so don't leave any open. Opening the door when they knock is not an invitation to enter, and they cannot push past you at the door to get in - but if you step back from the door and leave it open they can walk through unhindered.

If you have a car keep it in a locked garage or somewhere away from the house where they won't find it. Otherwise they can clamp it and take possession of it. They can also take any other possessions you leave outside the house. They can only take the debtor's goods - not those belonging to anyone else who lives in the house, but it can be difficult to prove ownership to them.

As others have said, get advice and get a payment plan agreed with the Council asap.