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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be freaking out right now?

118 replies

extremepie · 14/11/2011 11:16

I've just received about 6 letters from the council asking me to pay back council tax which I owe.

Fair enough, I didn't pay it at the time and I do technically owe them money but these letters are for every property we lived in dating back to 2006! Why now all of a sudden are they on my case asking for the money back after 5 years?!

Also, I have no idea how much I owe as every single letter is for a different amount!

We currently have no income, other than benefits, as I am a full-time student and my husband is a carer for our autistic son so there is no way we can pay the money back.

Have also had a letter from a bailiff saying that in the next week they will be coming round to remove goods to pay for it - I don't think even if they take everything we own is would cover the amount!

What do I do?!

Help!!

OP posts:

RachelHRD · 15/11/2011 15:49

Extremepie whilst I feel sorry for your situation you knew that you owed this money and should really have addressed the problem before it got to this point. That said, we all make mistakes and as other PP's have recommended the CAB is the best place to start.

I noticed in one of your posts that you have 2 Great Danes - as an ex dog owner I know how expensive the average sized dog is to keep so how on earth do you manage with 2 pony sized dogs? I would imagine they cost a lot to keep and TBH if it is a choice between food and heat for your family and keeping 2 massive dogs maybe you need to rethink your choices......however hard that might be.

TroublesomeEx · 15/11/2011 15:54

But Rachel, isn't owning two large, hungry dogs the OP's right?

RachelHRD · 15/11/2011 18:08

Yes FolkGirl but if you can't afford to keep them and have to choose between feeding/heating your DC's then you have to prioritise. Also having pets is a luxury in my book and if you are in debt and cannot pay your debts but can fork out for 2 huge dogs then those priorities maybe misplaced. Tough I know but that is what I would do in the OP's situation...

themildmanneredjanitor · 15/11/2011 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sandalwood · 15/11/2011 20:24

2 great danes?! oh bloody hell, I believed all that 'choosing between feeding the children and paying the bills' stuff too. They must cost 1-2 hundred ££s just to feed.

Moominsarescary · 15/11/2011 21:07

Where does it say anything about dogs?

Op make an arrangement with them, they take your income and outgoings into consideration.

Don't give up college, if you only have 7 months left and it well lead to a better job

scaryteacher · 15/11/2011 21:09

It depends where she is in the recovery process Moomin - I'd be attaching to benefits if I could at this stage, or if an arrangement was made monitoring it very carefully, and keeping the Liability Order in place.

RachelHRD · 15/11/2011 21:27

In another thread Moomin

HairyBeaver · 15/11/2011 21:35

I'm confused, you say you're going to home school in Jan but get a FT job when you finish college in 7months time? So your DP will have to HE and look after a SN child

HedleyLamarr · 15/11/2011 22:47

A tip I heard is "don't let the bailiffs in!" If you let them in to list the objects they can take you give them carte blanche to return. If you don't let them in, and despite what they will tell you, you do not have to give them access, should they try to force acces then or at any time remind them that they are committing burglary and you will have them arrested. Once you tell them this they will back off, as they will lose their license.

Good luck with the council, get them onside then deal with the bailiffs. But do not let them in your house.

Original poster

extremepie · 16/11/2011 10:31

Thanks for the advice, am trying to get down to see the CAB but is a bit difficult at the moment as I have to leave for college soon!

Yes, I do have 2 great danes but they are not as expensive to keep and/or feed as everyone imagines. We didn't have the dogs when were struggling the most for money (and consequently got into debt), we've only had them about 6 months - from the time when our money situation started to improve otherwise I would not have got them. Also one of them is being trained to be an assistance dog for our SN son. They were both rescue dogs so we didn't have to pay much for them in case anyone is wondering.

We are not in the situation where we are having to choose between feeding ourselves and heating our home or paying bills NOW but we WERE in that position a few years ago, hence the debt - I thought I made made that clear but apparently not!

As I have said many times, I am not saying that I shouldn't have to pay what I owe and I have admitted I have made mistakes - not sure how that equates to 'not taking responsibility' but hey.

I have been over my reasons for not CURRENTLY working, why my DH doesn't work, not accepting the school place, etc etc so I'm not going to do it again. Mildmannered if you can't be bothered to read my previous posts I'm not sure there is any point in commenting to be honest!

Hairy - you're right, it is an awkward situation but what else can I do? Either I finish college and get a full time job and leave my DH to (co-) home school our DS1 and look after SN DS2, or I finish college, home school DS1 myself, don't get a job and live off benefits. I would probably get slated by some people either way so I can't really win!

OP posts:

RachelHRD · 16/11/2011 11:00

To be fair extremepie you repeatedly say through this thread that you cannot afford to pay your overdraft debt and the council tax debt but then say in your last post that you only got the dogs when your money situation improved. I know from experience that insurance for 2 large dogs would be at least #50-60 per month, your dog food bills must be fairly substantial and what about vets bills etc if one of them needs treatment?? Great Danes tend to have health issues due to their size. How can you afford to keep these dogs but not afford to pay your debts? I hear what you are saying about an assistance dog but again if you cant afford them it is irresponsible to buy 2 huge dogs. Pay your debts, get yourself a job and then once everything is stable then look into getting a small assistance dog for your DS,

You get very defensive in this thread and list all of the reasons why you can't pay your debts but it seems to me that you want to 'have your cake and eat it' without taking responsibility for your actions....

Original poster

extremepie · 18/11/2011 08:54

Word

OP posts:

TroublesomeEx · 18/11/2011 09:02

RachelHRD Sorry, I was being firmly tongue in cheek with the dog bit! I don't get at all how anyone can claim poverty at any level whilst they are paying for dogs. Especially big ones. Especially when there is more than one of them.

RachelHRD · 18/11/2011 13:44

I did wonder Folkgirl and normally I am the queen of sarcasm - doh!!

Word extrempie OK whatever - just hope you have seen the CAB and got yourself on track - some good advice on here...

knockkneedandknackered · 18/11/2011 13:49

im gobsmacked someone close my mouth.

GinSlinger · 18/11/2011 14:00

knockkneedandknackered - close your mouth, it's not polite!

knockkneedandknackered · 18/11/2011 14:24

thanks ginslinger.

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