Attachment of Earnings...?

Because of both illness and unemployment, I've been in arrears with my council; at present I owe 拢2,000. I recently started a new job with an investment bank, and made the council an offer to repay the arrears at 拢200 per month, enclosing a cheque with the letter. They cashed the cheque almost immdeiately, but waited 2 months before telling me they weren't going to accept the order, and that they were sending an Attachment of Earnings to my employer.

They are now deducting almost 拢600 a month from my salary, and I've been told I'll not be made permanent until this matter is cleared up.

Is there anything I can do? Weren't the council obligated to accept my offer once they cashed the cheque?

(I think) that any attachment of earnings has to be authorised by the County (?) court. They should also set a minimum (protected) amount for your earnings, which if you earned less than, you would not have earnings deducted.
If you are honestly struggling, you should be able to apply to the court for an adjustment of the amount deducted. You would have to justify the reduction.
As others have said, seek advice from CAB.

If you explain it's causing uncertainty over your employment / problems, they may accept if you offer to pay them (court office) regularly in person. Attachment of earnings should be last resort.

You should have waited for a reply first and not forwarded any money at all. Then you could have made an arrangement on your terms when you supplied your outgoings to prove that you could not afford any more than your original offer. They more than likely would have accepted.
If you disagree, then write in the first instance and tell them you want to appeal. If they refuse, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or phone your local trading standards to see if this action is within the law or not.

you can go to the citizens advice beureu who will be able to talk with the council about reducing the costs.

Having similar issues, I owe thousands (way more then 拢2000) to rent and council tax as I was under the impression I was entitled as I work minimal hours, but I am not and had been claiming in error. I have had to give up my job as I am not entitled to any financial assistance if I work (too few hours for working tax credit, too much for housing benefit) meaning after rent, council tax etc I have 拢20 to live from to pay everything from my food to my electricity to my travel... cant be done. I have to stop working so I can afford to eat basicly. Work have had a freeze on hours and they cant give me any more. I have disabilities which mean I cannot work full time but am not ill enough to be doing no work- I need and want to work!!

Whats up with that?! I cant afford to work???! wheres jeremy kyle when you need him, wld love to hear what he has to say!!

Anyway, just wanted to say I can empathise with whats going on, I think you should take a day off work to see a citizens advice person who can help you get the money they are demaning down.

Well, no, they were not obligated to accept the offer.
They would, as you would, cash the cheque as an interim.
Take comfort in that you will have the debt paid inside 4 months, and will then be clear, and take note not to get into debt in the future.

Had this been anything other than council tax, then cashing the cheque would constitute an acceptance of your proposal.

However when they don't even need a court order to take your money they obniously work by different rules.

cotact the citazens advice bureau as they cashed the cheque so they have accepted the terms you offered.