Bromley..
Way back in the dark ages, I was paying my Poll tax by direct debit (seemed easier). All was going well, until one day I was made redundant. My then girlfriend advised me to cancel my direct debit and notify the council. Both of which I did.

Six months later, I had been paying the reduced rate for the unemployed, and all of a sudden, I got a letter saying I had consistantly underpaid, and a demand for the balance (which by that time was several hundred pounds).

SO, I went to the council, and was told I had not proved I was unemployed (I had). I had friends at the DSS, so they contacted the relevant department in the DSS and got them to send the council a letter (which the CC'd to me) stating my sign on date, and what benefits I was on.

In the mean time, the council was sending letters threatening baliffs and other legal action.

A friend showed one of the letters to his solicitor who said that the letters could be considered harrassment.

So, I wrote back to the council (addressing the letter to the person who signed the last threat) pointing out exactly what had happened, I mentioned the fact that I had proved (on several occassions) that I was unemployed.

I also mentioned that I had sought legal advice, and had been told that the letters constituted harrassment, and that if they continued sending the letters, then I would be seeking legal action against them.

I had also made clear in the letter that I did owe some money (I had withheld all payments when I started getting the threats), and was happy to pay that money.
(Ok, I'll get me coat, Thu 26 Jul 2007, 21:40, Reply)