Council Tax debt

By Anonymous, submitted on Mon, 15/02/2010 - 21:24

I have been contacted by Alex Adamson Sherrif officers about Council tax that i owe between 1993 and 2000. I now live in England and this is the first contact that has been made to me by them. A normal debt would be treated as Staute Barred as over 6 years(5 in Scotland) but i have been told as it is council Tax and issued in scotland with Summary warrant i can be pursued for 20 years. I am totally confused about this as most articles relate to unlimited time where others treat Council tax as any other debt. Can anyone clarify the legal position for me please.

Summary warrants were isued but I have never heard any communication in over 10 years. I have lived in England for 8 years. At this point i have not communicated with Adamson until clear my legal position.

Comments

Re: Council Tax debt

By Barry W Jones, submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 16/02/2010 - 17:43

Hi,

Please try Citizens Advice Bureau. They are free and impartial. If you ring them, they can find out the situation and ring you back.I know that Edinburgh council are still chasing people for Community Charge.I think that 'no contact 'will have a bearing but I'm not sure.

Good luck,

Barry

Re: Council Tax debt

By Anonymous, submitted on Thu, 18/02/2010 - 01:34

I would suggest contacting Edinburgh Claimants / Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty - best idea is to phone 0131 557 6242 any tuesday 12 - 3pm. Also you can e mail ecap@lists.riseup.net

There is a lot of info on council tax on their site www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk though i doubt if your particular point is dealt with.

The good thing about this group is that they will be totally on your side. And if they dont have all the info right away, they will be able to get back to you. Some CAB's are good but others are not so good, and often they are compromised by their state funding.

I would certainly get all the info first, before getting back to the sheriffs, they are unlikely to be able to do anything quickly especially with you being in England

Good luck!

ps for those in or near Edinburgh, Edin Claimants/ ECAP run an open drop-in advice and solidarity session on debt, benefits and housing hassles etc , every tues 12 - 3pm at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place EH7 5HA

(less than five mins from elm row at top of leith walk)