Once a Liability Order has been issued, it gives the Council the power to recover the unpaid Council Tax in a number of ways.
Unless you contact the Council within 14 days, the Council will pass the liability order to the Council's bailiffs. If this happens you will incur additional charges from the bailiffs.
The bailiffs act on behalf of the Council to recover the debt whether by arrangement or by removing the goods (known as distress) and selling them at auction.
They do have a code of practice agreed by the Council as follows:
the bailiff may call between 6am and 9pm Monday to Saturday.
the bailiff will carry identity cards at all times together with an authorisation from Spelthorne Council.
the bailiff will be smartly dressed, act politely and discreetly.
arrangements are at the discretion of the bailiffs but will not go beyond nine months without the consent of the Council.
correspondence to the bailiffs where a written reply is required, will be dealt with in 10 working days.
they will make an initail visit to the taxpayer within 15 working days of receipt of the liability order.
they will not distrain upon goods belonging to children or remove any protected goods e.g fridges, beds, tools of the trade.
they will leave a signed copy of any goods where walking possession has been taken at the taxpayers request and will provide a breakdown of fees where requested.
they will issue a receipt of all monies requested.
