Attachment of earnings order?!
Discussion
zarjaz1991 said:
Seems like some PHers have no idea what life is like for people on the breadline.
If you're poor and can't pay - you go to prison. That's how it works. Poor people go to prison when they can't pay council tax debts.
Welcome to modern day Britain where the debtors prison has made a comeback.
That's usually because they value fags, cider, Sky, mobile phones, a house full of crap from Brighthouse etc., over paying the rent and council tax.If you're poor and can't pay - you go to prison. That's how it works. Poor people go to prison when they can't pay council tax debts.
Welcome to modern day Britain where the debtors prison has made a comeback.
Trabi601 said:
That's usually because they value fags, cider, Sky, mobile phones, a house full of crap from Brighthouse etc., over paying the rent and council tax.
Stereotyping, much?Most such people are not like that at all.
Even if they are, let's put them in prison, eh? How dare they not be wealthy.
zarjaz1991 said:
Stereotyping, much?
Most such people are not like that at all.
Even if they are, let's put them in prison, eh? How dare they not be wealthy.
My wife used to work in the collections department of a water company. There are thousands out there who know the rules, and know who is able to take action for non-payment. Water came right at the bottom of the list, as they weren't allowed to cut people off. She dealt with every excuse in the book, every kind of feckless dole scrounger you could imagine.Most such people are not like that at all.
Even if they are, let's put them in prison, eh? How dare they not be wealthy.
I have little sympathy. There are a minority who are really on the breadline - but many are just taking the Mickey out of the workers and tax payers.
Even at my lowest point, after leaving University with only a part time job, I managed to pay my bills, even though it left me living off the white and blue label stuff at Tesco.
zarjaz1991 said:
Seems like some PHers have no idea what life is like for people on the breadline.
If you're poor and can't pay - you go to prison. That's how it works. Poor people go to prison when they can't pay council tax debts.
Welcome to modern day Britain where the debtors prison has made a comeback.
If you are on the breadline then benefits are available. https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-arrearsIf you're poor and can't pay - you go to prison. That's how it works. Poor people go to prison when they can't pay council tax debts.
Welcome to modern day Britain where the debtors prison has made a comeback.
If you choose then not to pay, consistently and over a prolonged period, then prison is an option.
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/grimsby-woman-ja...
And sometimes the councils get it wrong.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wale...
zarjaz1991 said:
eldar said:
Councils can't lock anybody up.
Random example from a quick search:Will I go to prison if you can't collect the money owed in any other way? - Thanet District Council
https://www.thanet.gov.uk › council-tax
If we have not been able to collect the money in any other way, the final option is to ask the magistrates court to issue a summons for you to attend a committal hearing. This means the council will ask the magistrates to consider sending you to prison for non payment of Council Tax.
As an employer I see these orders quite a bit. Letter comes stating we have to make deductions or face massive fine etc. Its a right PITA.
We pay weekly and the admin involved is rather annoying. Plus if we don't play ball or miss something they come down on us. I would say we do 2 or 3 on an average year. Its one of the reasons we prefer to use agency workers now, NMP!!!
We pay weekly and the admin involved is rather annoying. Plus if we don't play ball or miss something they come down on us. I would say we do 2 or 3 on an average year. Its one of the reasons we prefer to use agency workers now, NMP!!!
98elise said:
Utter b
ks. You don't seem to understand how courts work.
Oh I do.ks. You don't seem to understand how courts work.In the case of council tax, the court system is used as a mere facilitating exercise to enable the bulk processing of council tax enforcement requests.
Like I said - if the council requests that you be sent to prison (a committal hearing) then unless you produce something showstopping, (or you actually pay) that's exactly where you're going. It's the return of the debtors' prison.
And when you come out, unlike normal court fines, you will still owe the money, so now, having lost your job for non-payment, they will put you in prison again, and again, and again, they will bankrupt you, they will seize your assets, they will completely destroy your whole life, until you eventually learn that if the council tells you to do something, you damn well do it.
That is the power we have given councils over the years. At one time they were mere providers of local services. Now, they are law enforcement agents in their own right and they have substantial and intrusive powers. And they don't like dissent and disobedience.
OP, how much have you paid for 16/17, and how much do you owe?
You should received a Council Tax statement in both your names after you told them the date you'd moved in. Were the dates correct?
IME councils are just run by normal people willing to sort out things like this over the phone, but obviously they do have immediate recourse via the courts if you don't sort things out in good time.
You should received a Council Tax statement in both your names after you told them the date you'd moved in. Were the dates correct?
IME councils are just run by normal people willing to sort out things like this over the phone, but obviously they do have immediate recourse via the courts if you don't sort things out in good time.
zarjaz1991 said:
98elise said:
Utter bks. You don't seem to understand how courts work.
Oh I do.ks. You don't seem to understand how courts work.In the case of council tax, the court system is used as a mere facilitating exercise to enable the bulk processing of council tax enforcement requests.
Like I said - if the council requests that you be sent to prison (a committal hearing) then unless you produce something showstopping, (or you actually pay) that's exactly where you're going. It's the return of the debtors' prison.
And when you come out, unlike normal court fines, you will still owe the money, so now, having lost your job for non-payment, they will put you in prison again, and again, and again, they will bankrupt you, they will seize your assets, they will completely destroy your whole life, until you eventually learn that if the council tells you to do something, you damn well do it.
That is the power we have given councils over the years. At one time they were mere providers of local services. Now, they are law enforcement agents in their own right and they have substantial and intrusive powers. And they don't like dissent and disobedience.
Why should hard working normal folk have to pay more to subsidise the feckless you seem to want spared of jail for abusing local services without paying for them?
OP, just to highlight a couple of your points:
"took a few months to sort out council tax, yup silly boy. They sent me a threatening letter saying pay up or else. They wanted 8 months worth of council tax payment up front
It reads to me as though you (unintentionally, but not mailiciously) delayed sorting out your Council Tax, but by the time you did you were several months in arrears so the full balance of that year was due, in arrears, not 'up front', yes? You've effectively run out of time on their normal 10 month instalments plan, I think? They aren't asking for 2017/18's money 'up front' are they? Bills are not even out yet.
There is the argument that Councils need to get better at debt collection. Bear in mind most local authorities are under massive budgetary pressure at the moment (Reading Council just announced a 4.99% increase, if it was 5% it would have had to go to a referendum) then they are probably working on the basis of 'no ifs, no buts'.
However, I would have thought if they were going for attachment of earnings they would have at least let you explore other payment options (overdraft?) and would have informed you before doing so. It does seem rather draconian, as you describe it. Are you missing any details out?
"took a few months to sort out council tax, yup silly boy. They sent me a threatening letter saying pay up or else. They wanted 8 months worth of council tax payment up front
It reads to me as though you (unintentionally, but not mailiciously) delayed sorting out your Council Tax, but by the time you did you were several months in arrears so the full balance of that year was due, in arrears, not 'up front', yes? You've effectively run out of time on their normal 10 month instalments plan, I think? They aren't asking for 2017/18's money 'up front' are they? Bills are not even out yet.
There is the argument that Councils need to get better at debt collection. Bear in mind most local authorities are under massive budgetary pressure at the moment (Reading Council just announced a 4.99% increase, if it was 5% it would have had to go to a referendum) then they are probably working on the basis of 'no ifs, no buts'.
However, I would have thought if they were going for attachment of earnings they would have at least let you explore other payment options (overdraft?) and would have informed you before doing so. It does seem rather draconian, as you describe it. Are you missing any details out?
I'll add a few more details.
Our council tax bill works out around £100/month over 12 months. So after our initial 3 months of me putting it off they threatened me (fair enough) and I paid £300 that same day. I then paid another £300 the next month, thus being in positive equity from the way I see it. The next month I phoned them up and said I don't want to make another £300 payment this month coz it's stupid when we're not in debt anymore. Girl said "Your tax year end is next month, as long as your all paid up by then, it's fine". So I was going to clear the remainder t the end of this month (tomorrow), However, the girl on the phone clearly wasn't plugged into the matrix because the 'system' was obviously expecting me to still make the next £300 payment.
People on here are being basic when they say "Just pay up". If you read what I wrote, I did pay up, as much as I could afford. Yes, I still have some outstanding but I'm not rich for god sake, I don't have money sitting around, nor do I have sky tv, fags, alcohol, fancy cars etc.
So, given all the points I've already made, to my mind this sceanrio does not justify the council going to the court and making me look like a liability to my employer.
Our council tax bill works out around £100/month over 12 months. So after our initial 3 months of me putting it off they threatened me (fair enough) and I paid £300 that same day. I then paid another £300 the next month, thus being in positive equity from the way I see it. The next month I phoned them up and said I don't want to make another £300 payment this month coz it's stupid when we're not in debt anymore. Girl said "Your tax year end is next month, as long as your all paid up by then, it's fine". So I was going to clear the remainder t the end of this month (tomorrow), However, the girl on the phone clearly wasn't plugged into the matrix because the 'system' was obviously expecting me to still make the next £300 payment.
People on here are being basic when they say "Just pay up". If you read what I wrote, I did pay up, as much as I could afford. Yes, I still have some outstanding but I'm not rich for god sake, I don't have money sitting around, nor do I have sky tv, fags, alcohol, fancy cars etc.
So, given all the points I've already made, to my mind this sceanrio does not justify the council going to the court and making me look like a liability to my employer.
Edited by cqueen on Monday 27th February 19:48
So I spoke to the council today. They basically said...
Council : "Yeah, well um it's done now and we can't undo it. You should have called us"
Me: "I did, you said it was fine to pay at the end of this month"
Council: "We don't have any record of that"
Me: "Brilliant"
So the money will come out of my wages this month, Doesn't really matter because I was going to pay it anyway. I just hope I don't get any CCJs or questions from my employer.
Council : "Yeah, well um it's done now and we can't undo it. You should have called us"
Me: "I did, you said it was fine to pay at the end of this month"
Council: "We don't have any record of that"
Me: "Brilliant"
So the money will come out of my wages this month, Doesn't really matter because I was going to pay it anyway. I just hope I don't get any CCJs or questions from my employer.
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