Last Tax year I got into debt on my council tax while i was waiting for Council Tax Benefit claim to go through. (i had an extended process due to complications with seeing if war pension counted as income as my council gives war pension exemption).

Once my claim went through, I paid the debt direct to the council and ignored the debt companys request to pay them. After all I owe the money to the council......

Anyway, since back at work etc i went on normal council tax and and currently up to date on my monthly Direct debit and have no arrears.

But i am still getting hassle from the debt collectors I emailed them when I paid off the arrears (£348) yet the debt colectors are still trying to pursue me for £715 (the full years council tax despite the fact with single persons i only owed five hundred odd... ).

Now ive spoken to them several times and was less than pleasant after they got shirty over the phone and i did get a bit abusive and sarcastic towards them although i didnt swear. I told them they wont get a penny ever, and then went into a sarcastic slagging match about baliff companys ending with "you dont get paid unless you recover the debt do you??" them going silent and me replying basically laughing in thier face that i paid the council direct so they wont get paid didnt go down well... They deserved it anyway for not even being able to get the amounts right and the fact i owe council nothing now, means i can be self rightous at them! If they are too incompetent to check with thier client to see if i still owe then thats thier problem.

Now the letters are going on about them attending with a van blah blah and when the baliff came round the other week i told them i dont owe the council a penny and refused to let him in.

Do the baliffs have any legal power to keep hassling me??? ie they need to be "stood down" by the council?? or can i just ignore them????