our poll tax has been given to civil enforcement agents and we cannot pay their weekly instalments. What can w

Question

They want us to pay £120 a week, which we cannot do but can pay £260 a month and finish the debt before Christmas 2006. They want the money before the council have given us the service. Will they accept our instalment plan or take our furniture

Answer 1

Hi..I believe you mean your Council Tax

Now first please do not worry about this.

If the pay back order is just coming from civil enforcement agents, then, you definately 'can' submit your own re payment plan...which under the rules and regulations laid down by the Deputy Prime Ministers Office (which 'all' civil enforcement agencies 'must' follow)...because...if you do this in writing, signed and dated and if possible a witness signature, then their only recourse by 'not' accepting your plan is to take it back to the offending District/County Council.

What would happen then is your District/County Council would have to take it back to court for repayment...'but' as you could then show you 'had' every intention in paying with a repayment plan of your own, then the court would throw the case out in 'your' favour...therefore 'your' payment plan would be most valid...therefore you pay as you can, and it gets rid of those civil enforcement agents...plus, your credit is not effected in any way...plus, the Council or any other body will have second thoughts about doing this sort of thing to you again.

Hope this all helps...'Good Luck and Dont Worry'.

Answer 2

By civil enforcement agents I presume you mean bailiffs. The law on bailiffs is as follows.
1, A bailiff has no legal right to force entry into your property, however he can gain entry by climbing through an open window or walking through an open door.
2, If you invite them in they can make what is called a walking order which basically means they can take note of what you own and come back at a later date to claim this if you have not kept to an agreement made with them previously. This agreement must be in writing and you must sign to say you agree with it. They are allowed by law to force entry after being originally invited into your house.
3, The Police, if they are asked to attend can only do so to stop a possible breach of the peace and are only there for that reason. They are not allowed to assist the bailiff in his work or assist you in keeping the bailiff out.
4, Bailiffs are not allowed to take certain items such as a cooker, a washing machine or a fridge but they can take a dishwasher, a microwave or a TV. There are other things they can and can't take but the list is too long for on here. Check with CAB on this.

My advice to you would be to keep all windows and doors locked till you can resolve this matter and put your proposal in writing to the bailiff company, send this by registered or recorded mail and keep a copy of the letter. They will try to make you believe they have unlimited powers whereas in actual fact they have no more powers than the average citizen.

Answer 3

The C.A.B. are good but when I went through the same thing and the agents got snotty I contacted the council tax office, let them know what was being said/done and worked it out with them. As the council told me they want the money back but They employ the bayliffs not the other way round as I said that the bayliffs were getting aggressive and wouildn't accept payment agreement from me. As long as its a reasonable amount but don't hang around with this. Also keep contact with council tax office, tell them everything bayliffs are doing. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

They will probably not accept because they are parasites best thing to do it either go onto the c.a.b wesite or visit your local office. Then go to your local council and pick up a means form and fill it in and post it to the civil enforcement agents. Bailiffs are extremely crafty people when they threaten you with comming back with the police to smash your door in phone your local police station not 999 and ask them their position on this its likely they will tell you they don't get involved. Cover your bases find out what they can and can't do they will try every trick in the book to get into your property. There are many sites you can get info from but make sure they are backed by the government

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Go see the citizens advice bureau, if you can show you are on a low income then it may be possible to decrease those payments, unless you are paying less priority debts first. The less priority debts i.e. credit cards, loans etc are the ones that the citizens advice will look at and maybe contact to cease or defer payments. Good luck, do go they are very helpful and they will help keep the vultures at bay.

Answer 7

having been in a similar situation recently, I went back to the council by passing the sherrif officer and they swore blind that they could not do anything but i was a thorn in their side and agreed a deal that we agree on. it is worth keeping up the offer and dont be pressured into anything else, if it goes to court you can address the court and state your case to them who will decide best advice, seek advice from cit, advice ppl, mean time pay what you can, send it to them regardless keep a letter with your account number and ref number and if you have a cheque book or other ways to pay it but if you show willing it will help you.

worst case is they can seize your assets but please get advice because they are limited to what they can sell, I have some info here i can scan and mail to you if you forward your e mail address. I know it is easy but try not to worry. i did but it not worth it. go this week and talk to someone. take proof of your earnings, and out goings, and it will sort itself out.

good luck

Answer 8

Have you spoken to them about making that arrangement? They don't have to accept it, they can insist that you pay it their way and unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it if they do insist. But try talking to them, don't leave it til they are knocking on your door for you furniture, phone them first thing. And if you are lucky you may just get the one agent who has a soul and listens to you!!

Answer 9

Poll tax, I thought that scapped in the early 90s? do you mean council tax? they cant take your goods with out a court order

Answer 10

You have one of two choices: either negotiate some other deal with them or lose the furniture.

Are you saying that you can't afford it, or do you have sort of documentation, such as a Giro receipt that shows what you receive, utility bills that show how much you have to pay, etc.