Hi heartattack

First of all welcome to the forum, you've already made a huge step and left your first message. You will get loads of support on here from the experts and people who are going through the process of getting their lives back in order.

In answer to your question, council tax arrears can be included, it's treated as any other unsecured debt. What you need to do first is contact one or more of the experts on here and discuss your situation with them, they will advised the best way forward. If you act quickly they can prevent the wage arrestment for the council tax.

You've made the big step, now take a deep breath and keep going!

Hiya Heartattack

You've had quite a time of it, haven't you! I'm sorry that it's been so rough for you recently.

If I've understood you correctly, one of your creditors (probably the Council) has served you with a Charge for Payment?

Or, as AlphaB suggests, it's a wages arrestment?

Or, worst case scenario, the creditor is trying to make you bankrupt, and the Sheriff Officers have served you with notice of the court hearing?

Whatever the situation, I have to agree with AlphaB - please contact one of the experts on here, or CAB, or a Council money adviser.

They will be able to explain what the creditor is doing, how you can deal with it, and what your options are for dealing with your debt.

Take care!

Hi Heartattack

Yes Council Tax can be added and to be honest they are one of the best creditors to deal with in a trust deed.

My only concern from what you have said is to beware of the time as the don't need to follow the normal court process. They can fast track legal action and legally if the have a wage arrestment in place first, they are not obliged to stop it if you sign a trust deed after.

Best look at what options are available and get things back on track and hopefully make things easier as you sound like you've had a real tough time of it.

Mark

Thanks for getting back to
Me so quickly. The papers they have left (I wasn't in when they came) is a charge for payment. My neighbour had approached me and said there were 2 men at my door then asker her questions about me, if I still lived here, where I worked, she doesn't know the name of the place thankfully but she did tell them
It was local. They asked what car I drive and if I come home for lunch, if I live alone and at that point she just said she wasn't answering anythin else. I asked in the email for all correspondence to be written as I wanted to keep a copy of it but as of yet have heard nothing. Is this typical? Are they just trying to go outside the 14 days to proceed with the arrest ment or other action?

Hi Heartattack

The questions are pretty standard to be honest. They will be attempting to to gain as much information as possible for possible legal action by the Council, to be able to report back to them.

Once the Council serve the charge for payment, they have to wait 14 days before starting legal action which could be wage arrestment, bank arrestment or sequestration.

Not sure if this helps or just makes things clearer/worse.

Mark

Hi Heartattack.

Time is of the essence with this I think.

I'd suggest you seek direct advice quickly. Candlewick makes some good suggestions about sources of help that are available to you.

Agree with TDA , been in a similar situation , but you can take control by acting now and seeking proper advice , I found my local council money/ advice shop helpfull here in Edinburgh ,might be one near you . All the advice here is the same valid point , please do something now , In a few days/ weeks you will be glad you did and the stress levels will drop . I know I have been there , the longest journey begins and ends with a single step , good luck .

Good Luck Heartattack, many of us have been where you are now and understand how stressful this is for you. I agree with TDA getting this sorted quickly is very important as well as speaking to a professional who can go over your options and what is best for you at this time.

On a positive note, there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get through as have many others. I am 3 years out of my TD and it was the best decision for me I could have made at the time.

I hope everything gets sorted out for you and you will finally feel that you are in control.

Even at this stage, when a charge has been served, I have often been able to get further action suspended whilst the right solution is organised. Local authorities are actually often quite understanding, especially if you are getting help from a money adviser or insolvency practitioner

I have spoken to
Them and they've allowed me to set up a payment plan. Which is good for the short term. How does this affect me if I still want to do the trust deed? Should i make these payments to stop further action till I sort out a trust feed to include further debt. Also if I pay online or by direct debit is there anything to stop them then arresting my back account if they then have my wages? I'm
All a bit suspicious after reading some cases where they've said one thing and done another.

Sorry not wages. I meant bank details.

Hi Heartattack.

I think we need to split this into two issues.

The first is the prevention of legal action on the council tax. If you have agreed a payment plan, and they have agreed to suspend legal action, then I'd suggest you stick to your side of this arrangement. You'll need to feel comfortable that this is indeed the agreement that you reached.

The second is whether your overall debt position is manageable. If not it would make sense to get advice soon and be ready to act upon it if that's what is required. A payment arrangement on your council tax will not cause any issues in terms of limiting your options that I can see.

I don't think it makes any difference if they know your bank details - they don't need to know them in order to do a bank arrestment anyway as it is up to the bank to check whether you are a customer of theirs based on your name and address.

Trust deed assistant is right - stick to your payment arrangement while you contact a money adviser/insolvency firm to look into your other options.