Council tax template letter?

Question

hi unfortunately due to lack of money i owe a h**l of a lot of council tax i cant relax until i send a letter to them asking to pay monthly

does anyone how to word a letter to my council to try and persuade them to accept my monthly payments?

my case is gone quite far now and i think is with bailiffs now. ive been summoned to court. i havent dealt with any bailiffs as yet but im hoping the council will accept a cheque in the post for £50 (as a first monthly payment) and an offer to pay monthly.

whats the best way of persuading them in a letter? i need to send them a recorded letter. but am not sure who at council to send it to. council tax department, council tax manager?

surely they'd accept rather than pass the money to a bailiff?

i would rather pay the council than bailiffs as ive heard they can take some money for their own services.

can anyone pleaase give me a template of what to write? im not sure what to say? would appreciate very much thanks

Answer 1

Contact Citizens Advice, they can help you either write a letter or will speak to the council on your behalf.

Answer 2

Firstly ensure you are at least in the process of applying for any benefits or help with council tax (for example if you live alone there is normally a 25% discount anyway, and further help if your income is low, etc).

If the bill is with bailiffs then the council will not correspond with you about the arrears. Get them to help you set up a plan to pay your existing council tax bill which will stop your arrears mounting and will avoid them chasing you in the future. They should do their best to help you manage your debt. Be honest with them and don't try to make promises that you know you won't be able to meet.

Next  get some professional advice about the arrears and the bailiffs - the Citizens Advice Bureau will advise you free of charge. I suggest you visit during their opening hours because they are difficult to get on the phone - there are not many volunteers you see. The CAB will help you contact the council (or a creditor such as a loan company, etc).

Bailiffs will almost always tell you "that there is nothing they can do" and that it's "gone too far" now, but they are legally bound to get payment, not to ruin your life. The CAB will tell you your legal rights and what the bailiffs are NOT allowed to do. Trust me, some will try anything to get a quick payment from you, including scaring you into making a rushed decision. The main thing is that you don't have to let them in - try to reason with them. Be warned - if they place one foot inside your door they have legally gained a peaceful entry and have power to do things that you might not like. They are allowed to walk in through an unlocked door, or climb through a window, so be aware.

Get in touch with the CAB urgently. They are experts in this and will be able to help.

Answer 3

Follow David M advise as above

Also contact your councillor, although with the baliff the council can recall it, this will benefit the council and you, your councillor's involvement will force council tax to think again

To Manager Council Tax Section

Your Council

Dear Sir/madam

Council Tax Reference:

I write in connection to my arrears of council tax and wish to advise you of my plan for repaying the debt.

I understand that I have liability for council tax and I am in a position to offer you a repayment plan which is sustainable over the long term and will reduce the amount of arrears.

I would like to suggest a repayment of #50 per month which I will arrange by direct debit. I would be grateful if you would supply me with details of the account to pay this to.

I am currently out of work and have calculated my income and expenditure appropriately to ensure that I will be able to meet this amount every week. Once I find a new job I will be happy to revisit the amount with you.

I would respectfully request that this amount be paid directly by myself to the local authority rather than involving any third party agencies. This would be off benefit to both of us as it will mean that the council will recoup the money owed quicker, while I will not incur any extra expense. The involvement of a third party collection agency would increase my debts and take longer to pay, this would cause me further hardship.

I trust this arrangement will be acceptable to you and I await your reply. I would ask that as a result of this offer you now forestall any diligence against me and allow me the opportunity to begin to repay this debt.

Yours faithfully,

CC your local councillor

ignore any council tax or DWP processor who is repsonding as, although it is their job, their knoweldge of the law is appalling and indeed most of them are not decsion makers any way.

Answer 4

On a large debt there is no way you get away with £50 per month, especially once its it with a bailiff.

If debt is sorted from an early stage then the bailiff can usually be avoided. The dept I work for uses bailiffs as a last resort, before it goes people have had a bill, at least one reminder, a summons and a liability order . This takes time and gives plenty of chances, most people with large debts have had several liability orders issued.

Once a bailiff has been  been in contact with you then that mean there are charges - if the council has to then withdraw it means someone has to pay and it usually means that the rest of the taxpayers end up footing the bill.

If you pay the council direct then the bailiffs will pursue for any costs they have accrued in trying to recover the debt.

Why go to the councillor ?, the council have done nothing wrong in recovering tax that is due. They have a duty to recovery the money owed in a cost effective and efficient manner - spreading large debt is not efficient or cost effective.

Answer 5

if its with the bailiffs already your in the sh#t. this is how bailiffs make their money,they can and will charge excessive amounts in charges and if a substantial amount of your debt is not repaid quickly they may (legally) start to remove your property in order to recover your debt. first you should confirm with the council tax dept weather its been passed on to the bailiffs already ,if so like i say your in the sh#t but if it has not get some money (not a cheque - real money ) paid off the debt and plead for more time to repay the outstanding balance a.s.a.p. .Try to speak to the council tax staff in person and make notes /get receipts of any agreements

Answer 6

I would do two things.

1. write and tell them that you have no way of paying the full amount and make your offer. it must be a sensible offer not a try on. Having dome that i would also have a word with your local council memeber for your ward at the next "Surgery" You shouild be able to finfd that out from the council itself or the local library. Don't let it worry you if you did not or would not vote for him, he is your councillor and he will help if he can

Answer 7

I don't think local councils do any bargaining; they're not banks. It's not like paying back a loan, it's more like paying your tax. It IS paying your tax. There's an amount you have to pay, and if you can't pay it then it will be handed over to bailiffs. And as it's paid monthly anyway (unless you specifically request it to be quarterly), I don't think offering to pay monthly will sweeten the deal.

I would recommend getting in touch with a debt advice agency, as well as phoning the council to tell them your situation. Ask them if you qualify for any benefits, and in some cases they can cut your council tax. Make sure to inform them if you're living on your own / have dependants under 18 / are in education and such.