Attachment of earnings order?!
Discussion
Hi, I need some advice. Just got home to find one of these in my post box, and of course its 6pm on friday evening so I'm gonna have to stew all weekend.
Long story cut short. Moved into new home 6 months ago, 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 (despite only having lived at the address for 3 months). I said we haven't got that sort of money sitting around so offered to pay by a few large instalments.
Fast forward to about a month ago and I'm starting to think these instalments are taking the piss, we're paid up to current date, why can't we just continue paying a normal monthly amount? So I phone the council and the girl on the phone says "your year ends next month so along as its all paid by then it's fine". Right, sorted, I thought.
About 2 weeks ago I get another letter saying 'you better pay another large instalment or we'll take action'. I thought that was odd considering what the girl said, but feck it I get pid in a couple of weeks, I'll pay it then.
I get home today and find a letter stating the magistrates court has issued an attachment of earnings order to my employer! WTF?! I'm so angry and confused considering:
a) Girl on phone said it's fine
b) They're chasing me for money that technically isn't due yet (Though they'll say it's an annual bill not a monthly one)
c) Why is this only in my name when my gf is also the home owner
d) why the F didn't I get any written correspondence, i.e. we're gonna do 'this'. Online searching says I'm supposed to have had a form from the court to fill in? I've had nothing!
Does this mean I now have a CCJ?
There is no other information provided, no phone number to call if I think this is incorrect etc.
I'm livid. Help please!
Long story cut short. Moved into new home 6 months ago, 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 (despite only having lived at the address for 3 months). I said we haven't got that sort of money sitting around so offered to pay by a few large instalments.
Fast forward to about a month ago and I'm starting to think these instalments are taking the piss, we're paid up to current date, why can't we just continue paying a normal monthly amount? So I phone the council and the girl on the phone says "your year ends next month so along as its all paid by then it's fine". Right, sorted, I thought.
About 2 weeks ago I get another letter saying 'you better pay another large instalment or we'll take action'. I thought that was odd considering what the girl said, but feck it I get pid in a couple of weeks, I'll pay it then.
I get home today and find a letter stating the magistrates court has issued an attachment of earnings order to my employer! WTF?! I'm so angry and confused considering:
a) Girl on phone said it's fine
b) They're chasing me for money that technically isn't due yet (Though they'll say it's an annual bill not a monthly one)
c) Why is this only in my name when my gf is also the home owner
d) why the F didn't I get any written correspondence, i.e. we're gonna do 'this'. Online searching says I'm supposed to have had a form from the court to fill in? I've had nothing!
Does this mean I now have a CCJ?
There is no other information provided, no phone number to call if I think this is incorrect etc.
I'm livid. Help please!
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.
Trabi601 said:
If you didn't go out financing £10k motorbikes, which you also don't appear to be able to afford, then perhaps you wouldn't be in this position.
Hahaha there's always one stalker. Yes, naughty naughty me for having a £150/month motorbike! My lavish lifestyle also allows me to drive a 2003 Citreon Xsara.Bellend.
Trabi601 said:
Why do you think a motorbike is more important than paying your council tax bill?
Have you not read ANY of what I said? And also, life was pretty rosey until my girlfriend had her working hours cut in half. Not that it's any of your business, but you insist on being a dick.
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