Bailiff council
tax arrears
and Poll Tax are usually collected by private firms of bailiffs on behalf of
your local council. They try to take your goods away and sell them, usually at
auction, to raise money to pay the debt. The process they have to follow to say
they want your goods is called ‘distraining’ or ‘levying’.
If the bailiffs are distraining for Poll Tax or council
tax arrears, there are certain procedures that they have to follow.
They must have with them:-
1.
Written
authorization from the council for them to call. They should show you this if
you ask.
2.
They
must leave you a copy of: - The law setting out their powers and what they can
and cannot do. These are the "Enforcement
Regulations".
Regulations".
3.
The
charges the bailiffs are allowed to make for each visit. You should check they
have not added too much on to your debt. See the schedule at the end of this
fact sheet.
4.
Any
agreement you have actually signed. This will be called a "Walking
Possession" agreement and includes a list of goods the bailiffs have
warned you they may take.
You
can try to make an arrangement to pay the debt back at a rate that you can
afford. You can offer the money directly to the bailiffs, although it is easier
to get them to accept your offer if they have never been into your home. Always
get a receipt for any money you pay. Bailiffs
cannot send you to prison. If the bailiffs have never been into your home and
they will not accept your offer, all they can do is to pass your debt back to
the council. It is important to make an arrangement to pay the council, or they
may try other ways of recovering the money, such as taking money out of your
wages or your benefit.
If you have missed
your council tax payments or have frequently paid late we highly recommend you
consult professional council tax advisors,
such as the My Bailiff Advice in UK.
