I NEED SOME HELP, URGENTLY PLEASE

[wendylady]

I'm a regular poster, but its too sensitive to say who I really am.

I've had a letter, hand delivered from a debt agency saying that unless I pay my outstanding council tac in full by tomorrow they are going to force entry and take my things. ITs a lot of money, but I sent a letter last week to them saying that I would make arrangements to re-pay this, but they've sent this anyway. I don't know what to do - I haven't got that sort of money to give them it all now and I can't borrow from anyone. My dh is going to go balistic, he doesn't know. I don't know what to do.

Have you had previous letters from the debt collection agency?

phone them it was probably sent before they got your letter!

have they made an inventory thing? that is like a holding list of your possessions 9not anyone elses) they will take payments on a schedule

yes i did and it was that letter i responded to. I sent them a letter axplaining that I couldn't pay it all and I had no response. We have been at my grandads who is very ill and possibily won't see the next few weeks. I know its so wong of me to not chase it up, but Ive had so much onmy mind with my grandad. They just aren't going to be sympathetic are they.

Get on the phone now.
Explain that you have written but the letter has not reached them yet.

Get yourself down your CAB office NOW. They will have people who can mediate professionally and forcefully to get the debt collection agency to accept payment in installments. This happened to my mum when she was threatened with legal action for non-payment of car tax. The CAB woman was really good and got all the 'dogs' called off straight away.

Do you mean they wont take anything as long aas I have a schedule in place?

I thought it was illegal to force entry to seize possessions anyway. AFAIK, bailiffs are only allowed to enter if you let them in.

no but you need to phone them or go cab! with all the letters they have sent you!
and PLEASE PLEASE tell your dh he needs to know having balifs hammering on your door is very very scary (i have been there)

Wendylady - I feel for you hon, council debt is a nightmare because they don't open their mail for months no matter how often you write to them. If I were you, I would call the number on the debt agency notice and explain that you have tried to make arrangements but that things have clearly progressed before those had a chance to be considered and ask them who the best person for you to contact at the Council is to progress that. I am sure they will accept your proposal x

once the council hand it to bailiffs there is no on the council will take it back you have to deal with the bailiffs

OK, thankyou for just being there really. I'm shaking with fear. I've phoned the company who were less than helpful and said 'no, no letter, its too late, you have to speak tothe baliff himself. I phoend him and he WAS undertanding. He has given me until next friday to make 'some' payment, not all. I've given him my mobile number, so that it shows I'm willing and he can get me whenever he likes. Hopefully, just this much more time will be enough.

Thank you for talking to me

but don't the bailiffs need a court order ? Have you been summonsed, if not then you can present your offer to repay in court and they can be forced to accept anything reasonable . CAB will know how to deal with this.

I'm phoning the CAB now to see what they can do for me.

wendy most bailliffs are happy to accept a from of payment. However only pay what you can and stick to your repayments and they will be fine.
Good idea to get advice form CAB though. It can be very frightening.

Wendy,
How far down the line are you?
Basically, we missed about three tax payments, and we agreed to paying an amount a month. It is a court order but everything is fine.

Afaik, it takes a long time for council tax to go to bailifs.

Tbh, mine never even went to a debt collecting agency.

Please go to the CAB, and tell your dh.

Hth

How did you get on with the CAB Wendy?