Jacobs Bailiffs

A question about : Jacobs Bailiffs

Hi everyone,

I have gotmyself into trouble with my council tax for years 11-12 and 12-13.

For the year11-12 my actual balance outstanding is around Ј280.00 and for this year it’saround Ј1000.00 (I’ll check the exact figures when I get home from work)

Jacobsbailiffs are chasing me for the older debt, another bailiff is checking me forthe more recent.

The main problemI have (for now!) is with the first one.

I received aletter from Jacobs dated 01.11.12 asking for Ј338.00. The letter also said thatI had 7 days to pay the debt, and if I could not pay then I should contact themimmediately. Unfortunately I againburied my head in the sand for a week, but then decided on 09.11.12 that it wouldn’tgo away and I should deal with it. Icalled the number on the letter, only to be told that it had been passed on toone of their bailiffs and I needed to contact him directly. I was given his name and phone number, and I calledhim immediately. He didn’t answer, and Ileft him a message asking him to call me back. He called me on 12.11.12 and left me a message just saying he wasreturning my call.

I meant tocall him back that day, but again kept putting it off telling myself I would doit within the next few days. I had fullintentions of calling him when I got back from work yesterday (14.11) but when Iarrived home (5.45pm) there was a hand delivered letter from them saying “Removal5pm today”!! It also said that the balance now outstanding is Ј565.50.

I have noidea where they have come up with this figure, adding an extra Ј227.50 on surely cant be right!? I really don’tknow what to do about it and am at my wits end with the stress of it all, I managedabout 3 hours sleep last night!

Really hopesomeone can help

Thanks

Best answers:

• was the first letter from Jacobs hand delivered of sent by post
  the hand delivered letter was it a notice of distress/seizure
  If you own a car that is not on HP finance please move it away from your house now and for the foreseeable future
• get a pen and paper and phone your council today and ask
  1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you
  2 - the dates they were obtained
  3 - the addresses they were for
  4 - the period of time each covers
  5 - how much each one was for
  6 - how much is still outstanding
  7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement
• Oh and as for our car, I have it with me today, its not worth alot, but if they take it it will mean that my husband won't be able get to work as he has to travel 40 miles each way and at 6am there is no public transport! I will park it away from the house though until it is all dealt with! What times are they allowed to come to the house? (as mentioned previously my husband leaves for work at 6am and doesn't get home until 8.15pm. Thanks
• when you get home and open the letter let us know if its a notice of seizure this can make a significant difference to the fees the bailiff can charge
  I cant say this enough Please please please keep you car away from the house
  DO NOT invite the bailiff into your home they will tell you they need to levy goods to set a payment agreement NOT TRUE they will come with police and a locksmith what they wont tell you is this can happen ONLY IF THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN YOUR HOME TO LEVY
  GOODS
  They will get you committed to prison ONLY THE COUNCIL CAN DO THIS if you wilfully refuse to your council tax
  Try not to speak to the bailiff unless you can record the call /conversation if you are in when they call don't answer the door speak through the letterbox keep your door locked bailiff can walk into your home and your windows closed
• bailiffs can come between AM and PM but its not unusual for a bailiff to do a drive past levy
  they drive past a debtors house in the middle of the night note down the reg no of a car on the dive or parked outside the house and post a notice of of seizure though th door the following day
  Most Bailiff fees are set by legislation if they dont get a levy the most you can be charged is 1st visit fee Ј24.50 2nd visit fee Ј18
  The bailiff must be certificated
  https://certificatedbailiffs.justice....catedBailiffs/
• Hi thanks so much, I checked and he is certified
  So what you are saying about the 1st and 2nd visit fees, does this mean that they can't charge the ridiculous extra Ј227.50?
• bailiffs can come between AM and PM but its not unusual for a bailiff to do a drive past levy
  sorry that should have said 6 am til 9pm
  there is Ј58 difference between what you think you owe Ј280 and what Jacobs said in there letter Ј338
  there should be no difference in this amount as th letter was sent by post bailiffs collecting council tax cant charge for letters sent through the post
  On a debt of Ј280 and with a valid levy (that you have not signed)
  1st visit fee Ј24.50
  2nd visit fee Ј18
  levy fee Ј32
  they can then charge a van fee there is no amount for this fee legislation states reasonable cost Jacobs usually charge Ј110 but it could be more
• Hi thanks, I will dig out all the paperwork when I get home, and hopefully I will be home early enough to call the council too! The thing is I was going to offer to pay it in 3 installments but because of the extra charges it just makes me want to bury my head again! thanks again, I will be back later with some more info!
• Thanks, I've sent you a private message. Do you think I should start paying them through their website then? Or should I wait until I've spoken to them first?