Council Tax Arrears

[JackDanielsU]

To my horror, I eventually got a letter from the council where I used to live back in 2006, saying I still owed them some council tax (just over �500)..since then Ive moved 3 times..and had no idea I was in arrears..so its come as quite a shock...threats of balliffs, prison etc...they say theyve been chasing me since late 2006...but this is the first letter Ive had..and surely if its been that long, wouldnt I have had a CCJ or something issued...which I would have thought would have been picked up by my work when they did a background check Anyway I have no problem paying the bill over a few months, but theyre asking for my employers details etc....What I dont want them to do is take it straight out of my wages...If I have their bank details surely I can pay the monthly debit in myself after payday??, and not get my work involved (bloody embarrassing) Also Ive worked out after rent etc I can afford a minimum of �100 a month, but Im going to say if I find I have spare at the end of the month, I will add that to the �100 -- Will that be favourable? Any advice will be appreciated

[Ice.Maiden]

I've heard of this sort of thing happening before, and although I don't know how the law works on this one, I'm sure that you WILL have to pay up. If it was me, I'd write a letter of explanation, and then offer whatever you can afford per month, in order to catch up. You could probably pay by payment slips at a bank or Post Office, but it's quite possible that they'll want to see proof or earnings, to help them to work out what they feel you can afford to pay back per month. Don't leave the problem. The sooner you contact them the better.

[ChuckFickens]

The only advice I will give is..

If you do get bailiffs turn up at your house.. DO NOT let them in!

They have no right of entry the first time they turn up, but once you have let them in then they can force their way in on later visits.

Just speak to them from a (preferably upstairs) window and tell them to pass the debt back to the council and to go away.

[JackDanielsU]

Thanks...Im going to pay..but then i;m also worried as to what they think I can afford. is going to be different to what I think....obv Im not going to lie about income or outgoings, or anything like that, but I want to know that come the end of the month, I still have some money put aside for emergencies etc, and its that money if left over would bolster the next months pymt...

[Ice.Maiden]

From what I hear, Chuck's right, so bear that in mind as well.

As for what you can safely afford, set it all out in writing - your income and outgoings, with a footnote telling them exactly what you've just told folk here. I don't think they're going to take every penny that you have.

[ELVIS68]

Explain to them what`s happened and offer to pay them back a monthly sum, ask them first what they want per month, it might be less than what you`re offering

They only get heavy handed when you refuse to pay

[ChuckFickens]

Reading you question again.. then yes speak to them... you say you can afford 100quid a month then offer them 50... they will be happy and you won't be making yourself skint.

[ELVIS68]

Unless it`s Enfield council then they`ll have your house, car, bike, shirt of your back and then still want the arrears lol

[clawrence251]

Have recently had the same problem and believe me it is not true that if you make them an offer they will accept. I offered �50 a month and they turned it down and want �34 a week even though I only receive benefits. Apparently the first thing you have to pay according to the government is your council tax even if you are on benefit.

I do agree though with the advice don't answer the door to the Bailiffs. They have no right to force their way in. I have just been paying them what and when I can afford it and they have not turned up again.

[Ice.Maiden]

I agree with Elvis and Chuck. What you mustn't do, is offer to pay more than you sensibly can, because if you default on these back payments, you're going to land yourself in a lot more trouble than you are now.
Try not to worry Jack. If you find it a headache to sort all this out, ask for an appointment with someone in the Council Tax department, and I'm sure they'd help you to work out a budget that'd be reasonable to both parties. Then once the debt's paid - make sure it doesn't happen again.

[clawrence251]

I wish it were that simple. Haven't they been round knocking on your door and making a list of what they can take? The laughable thing is when they turned at my place they even put on their list a wooden dining table and chairs that I had rescued from the tip.

[Ice.Maiden]

Don't know how you get away with it Ronni - but paying a TV licence for something that I hardly ever watch DOES seem a bit unfair to me. : (

[ELVIS68]

Like the old gag where TV license man knocks at the door and the bloke says "So what If i`ve got an aerial on my roof....I`ve got milk in my fridge doesn`t mean i`ve got a cow in my garden"

[Ice.Maiden]

rofl!!!!!

[clawrence251]

I'm new to this website and thought it was about trying to help each other not just taking the mick!! If you don't know what you are talking about and just think other people' problems are funny why bother replying? Just go and join the morons on the chatterbox.

I only joined this to get away from porno chatlines or moron chatlines. Some of us have real problems.

[ELVIS68]

clawrence..no-one is taking the mick, everyone answered Jacks question so if you find this website unhelpful


fook off!

[daffy654]

This website is about trying to help each other clawrence,so why are you advising the original poster to break the law.We do all have to pay council tax and if we don't we could end up in prison.We may not like paying it but we do have to!

[JackDanielsU]

Thanks for all advice guys...fingers crossed I get a sympathetic person on the phone....probably heard all excuses etc, so hopefully the fact Im paying wont make her/him too condescending