Huge CT amount owed, Equita involved

[TerrifiedOfItAll]

I used to be on here previously, as was my Mum (now deceased) & she received some incredible advice so I’m hoping I can too.

 

I moved into my property in Dec 2012, it was a family home for myself, my Mum and my brother to live out the rest of her life (she had terminal cancer) but the house was in my name. She passed away in April 2013, having only moved in in March.

 

since then, I struggled ALOT due to having a back injury & having ESA stopped only days after a minor operation on my back meaning I had no choice but to go back to work. So I did. I spent a year on a zero hours contract on minimum wage as it was the only job I could find where it wasn’t too strenuous on my back & health (was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia during this time).

 

I have spent years trying to get out of robbing Peter to pay Paul. I was so broke I was struggling with the rent, the bills, I wasn’t eating regularly, I relied solely on the expenses I was paid in cash on a daily basis to cover my fuel, hoping I had enough left over to get food/elec/whatever else I may need. During this time, I didn’t even think about the council tax and wasn’t paying it regularly. I had Equita attend & paid them off so that was sorted.

 

however, over the years, my health & my mental health got much worse - I have been waiting 2 years to see a psych who I FINALLY have an assessment with on the 25th of October. I was advised by a local independent advice centre that I am classed as vulnerable, and this information was passed on to those I owed money to. 
today, I have sorted most of my debts out so I am only left with two. Rent, and council tax.

 

rent will be cleared this month, thankfully. But because I needed to keep the roof over my head, with paying my debt on top (court ordered), I couldn’t afford the CT payments. I made £50 a month payments direct to my district council for a while, but then around 6 months ago the direct debit was changed to £361 which I had absolutely no way of affording so I panicked and cancelled it.

 

On May 25th this year I was in a car accident, since June I have been signed off work due to losing some feeling in my legs as it’s worsened my disc herniation and I’m currently awaiting an appt with a spinal surgeon.

 

Also, I am awaiting a formal diagnosis of ADHD, as well as the PTSD and severe anxiety & depression I have already been diagnosed with. I’m a mess. All of these issues I am involved with professionals for, and can evidence if it will help the situation. I never knew how to deal with this all, or felt strong enough to do so, which is how this has got so bad.

 

Today, I received an SMS from Equita Bailiffs which I have attached, and now I am back where I was in 2016, jumping at every noise outside and I have panicked so much I’m throwing up.

 

I am utterly ashamed to admit this, but I owe around £12,000 in council tax. I can’t fathom that it has got this bad, and I am so frightened & have no idea what to do. Having dealt with their bullying before, and the harassment & being mocked for being vulnerable by one of their men, I can’t cope.

 

I have previously asked them to set up a payment plan but they want hundreds, one even said he wanted it cleared in 6 months which is absolutely not doable.

 

I know I am going to be getting some form of payout for the car accident as it wasn’t our fault, but nobody can say when that will be or even how much.

 

Please don’t make me feel any worse than I already do. I am desperately asking for any advice anyone can offer, please? I know, I’m a failure. My Mum would be so so sad about it all & that breaks my heart.

 

 

EQUITA TEXT MESSAGE:

 

Due to non payment, Enforcement Agents are due to attend your property. This means we could remove and sell your goods to recover the debt and fees outstanding.
Make payment urgently Via our website www.equita.co.uk quoting your reference XXXXXXX to prevent this action. Do not reply to this
SMS.

[unclebulgaria67]

Urgent application under the Breathing Space scheme might be an option. 

 

Phone National Debtline on Freephone 0808 808 4000  .

 

Fact Sheet - Breathing space | National Debtline | National Debtline

NATIONALDEBTLINE.ORG

 

 

 

[Andyorch]

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/441767-debt-respite-scheme-breathing-space/#comment-5135203

 

[dx100uk]

whats this court ordered debt you are paying off?

 

contact the council directly and make sure they have all the evidence of you vulnerability etc etc recorded.

they might will take the debt back from the bailiffs.

 

just remember, there is NO right of forced entry over CTAX, and to all intent and purpose, if you just simply ignore the bailiff there is little they can ever do unless you have a car in your name not on finance that they can clamp.

 

have you received a notice of enforcement from the bailiffs ?

 

also get in touch with your local MP too, they can help.

 

dx

 

[TerrifiedOfItAll]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

 

my rent was what was court ordered, under a notice seeking possession & so I prioritised having a roof over my head as I wasn’t eligible for any help, and when I was (zero hours job) they ended up reclaiming my tax credits back off me later down the line.

 

I have received that notice from the bailiffs, yes. I contacted them immediately stating my position and that I am vulnerable & due to previous events in my personal life, cannot cope with strange men turning up unannounced. They didn’t even bother to respond to my email. I don’t call them ever because I struggle with speaking on the phone & often cannot find the words I need / can’t say what I need to. Plus, having a paper trail helps me as my memory is horrendous.

 

I do have a car on finance, I’ve dragged the finance out a bit more so at least they can’t take the car like they try to EVERY time they’ve been before. 
 

thank you for the link re the breathing space info, I had heard of it & I think that’s what I may have requested when I contacted them. I definitely will have a proper read through this evening though.

 

one pattern I have noticed, is that they always send officers / messages / letters on a Friday. Leaving the whole weekend a huge panic until you can speak to someone on a Monday morning. I’ve found myself previously begging them to leave me alone until I’ve spoken to someone. Is this a tactic to try and break people into paying? 
 

thank you all again - it’s so so appreciated x

 

 

[dx100uk]

report texts to spam 7726 and dont read them

same for phonecalls and emails.

 

you are under ZERO legal obligation to read, acknowledge or even receive them.

 

why do you think they do them...for exactly the purpose you said.

 

get onto your council, get on to your MP.

shame its the w/end .

 

dx

 

 

 

[brassnecked]

Get onto Council and MP asap do it over the weekend and send email and letter in post. and also your Local Council Elected member, include them in the loop.