proud walker
|
It's like this. You've lost the RIGHT to pay by instalments, but the council can still agree. The chances are that if you go to court they will order you to pay by reasonable instalments as long as you pay your current bills as they come in.
There is no way of saying what is a reasonable amount to pay. First you must pay your bills as they come due, then you can only pay what you can afford. It's no good at all agreeing to something you know you can't manage or things will just get worse.
I suggest you contact your local Citizens' Advice Bureau and get them to sort it for you, if you decide to do it yourself, be sure to get it in writing. |
|
Happy
|
Take all the paperwork and go to your local CAB office they will help you and help you work out what is a reasonable repayment plan. If you do ring the council it should be their collections department and hopefully they are politer than the people you have so far spoken to. |
|
bob m
 |
Go to citizens advice straight away. They are good at this sort of thing. |
|
lolly
|
Give them a call. They CANNOT refuse your offer of a reasonable monthly payback amount.
I would say £50-80 a month would be sufficiant, but this depends on your pay. As it has gone to this stage, they may request a breakdown of your incomings and outgoings, to assess what amount you are able to pay.
Get it over and done with, today. You will feel much better. |
|
Earth Angel
|
You will not have to pay the full amount & by law if you make a reasonable offer (say £25 per month) they have to accept it - a judge would be very annoyed if you weren't given the oppotunity to spare his time. Call them back & remember they are not the law they are there to give good customer service to you the same as anyone else they just work there. - local councils use scare tactics but if you know the law they can't touch you. Insist on speaking to their superior if you have trouble. |
|
l h
|
They would be happy to accept the payment if it would be paid by the end of the working year - ie by April 09. This would mean payments of around £155 per month. This would be ideal if you can afford it, if you can't, ring them and come to an arrangement. They'll go through your income and expenditure to check how much you can/can't afford.
If you're too scared to ring them, go to the Citizen's Advice Bureau. You can give them permission to speak on your behalf. But you need to sort this out as if you ignore the summons things will get worse. Good on you for wanting to sort it out though, and just remember they're only people. Nothing can be made worse by phoning up so you've nothing at all to lose. |
|
jeanimus
|
You will need to make an offer of about £173 a month to pay it up before the end of the financial year.
The court hearing is most likely a liability hearing - there is little point going to this as you cant make representation at this hearing. there is no judge there.
the council will send you a letter shortly after the hearing for you to make an offer,. It is important that you answer this (theres £100 fine for not doing) and get it back to them within 14 days. If you dont they will send in the bailiffs.
You should make your offer preferably to finish up the debt by the end of next March, but if you cant do that you need to set an amount that will pay it off in a 'reasonable' time.
Everyone is right. the CAB can negotiate an amount you can afford taking into account all your other bills etc. So pay them a visit. |
|
Mel's Irish Eye is ? xx
 |
write them a letter and get it recorded delivery today, explain what you can pay&make a formal complaint, I know what they can be like as tried to talk to someone before & not helpful at all&downright rude&hung up on me also.
Also go to Citizens Advice and will help you out, take the support there and don't turn a blind eye as will be worse.
Hope you get it sorted and also make an appointment, go into the office & demand to see somebody, even if they are horrible smile and try and be nice, or else they won't do nothing. Wish you well. |
|
DAVID M
 |
I am really unclear why people think that Council Tax have to accept instalments. Legally they do not have to accept them. If they have withdrawn the instalment option you can ask for it be reinstated .
If they refuse you have to pay in full to avoid a Liability Order (issued by the Magistrates Court). You do not have to attend Court unless you have a defence (like you dont actually owe the money)
When they have the Liability Order, this allows them to enforce the debt and then they will probably accept reasonable instalments, but he debt is bigger with court costs. Please note the Court has NO role in setting repayment terms.
I would suggest you get advice from a local CAB to help you with this problem and to work out a reasonable payment.
If you dont do anything the hearing will take place and likely bailiffs will call. It is important to keep in contact with the Council. If you feel they have been rude, then complain either directly or through your local councillor
Source 10 years as a CAB Money/Debt adviser
You cannot contact the bailiff yet anyway as the matter has not been dealt with via the court.
To be honest I would be suprised if they will not negotiate after the Liability Order and insist on using bailiffs. My advice is if the Council refuse to play ball now and you cant pay it off you will have to wait until the order is made and the immediartely contact them again |
|
Mouse
|
you poor thing ring the council ask who your speaking to when they answer it get first name and last name if possible, definitely get first name then arrange for an appointment to see them then explain exactly what you have just posted but in a calm manner. Remember i always found with the council there expecting you to shout and carry on when they get anyone who doesn't there so amazed you usually get better results.
Anyone who is decent and works for the council sorry but that's what i have always found. Dont use the word bitchy use something like rude anything that can be seen as confrontational change it |
|
akuini
|
try to call national debtline freephone 08080 808 4000. and ask them to send you leaflets about dealing with debts.( they are really helpful accdg. to my experience... ) |
|
Missy C
|
Give them a call and tell them if they are snotty with you that you want to speak to a supervisor.
If all else fails and it goes to court, don't panic. The court should accept your offer and if not, as ironic as it sounds, the baliffs should before they take any goods away.
But first of all, give them a call and explain the situation again - if they are nasty stand your ground and tell them you don't expect to be spoken to like that. |
|
| |
|
Homepage 
Financial
Forum 
Taxes 
No Spam
Adult 
Gambling
Unfinished
Deception
Plagiarism
Not English
