Council Tax - Bit Confused

**Amy**

Hi All

I got a letter re: outstanding council tax about 2 weeks ago relating to a property I left 5 years 2 months ago. It was for £41. I phoned the council up, told them I could pay it on 30th November, they agreed that would be fine.

I then got a court summons on Saturday morning saying I now owe £86, due to £45 in costs being added.

I phoned up this morning and she said the council tax relates to the property from November 2002 to August 2003 (which was the time I was there).

I managed to pay it as I didnt want to going to Court, but just thinking about it now, how does that money work out? I paid by direct debit, and I was living with my partner so it would of been at least £80 a month. How did i not pay £41?

Is there a way i can trace it? Or because I have paid it should i just let it go?

x

lincroft1710

Why have they waited for over 5 years to ask for £41?? Unless the letter stated exactly why you owed this amount I would not have paid without a full explanation and if you haven't got one this is what you should ask council for. It does seem as if either they miscalculated or you underpaid in error and they or auditors have only just found out.

bestoffer88

Hmm... it's quite similar with my uncle's problem... appreciate very much for all your help...

dmg24

You need to ask for a full breakdown of how they have come to that amount. If you still have them, it would be helpful to check your bank statements for that period for how much you paid. You will still be entitled to the money back (if there is an error), even though you have now paid it.

The odd amount may be because you moved (in or out) part way through a month?

They may be chasing it now as part of an aged debt project, or an audit has brought up a query.

**Amy**

dmg24 wrote: »

You need to ask for a full breakdown of how they have come to that amount. If you still have them, it would be helpful to check your bank statements for that period for how much you paid. You will still be entitled to the money back (if there is an error), even though you have now paid it.

The odd amount may be because you moved (in or out) part way through a month?

They may be chasing it now as part of an aged debt project, or an audit has brought up a query.

I have just checked my accounts and it does look like we moved out part way through a month (the landlord sold the house).

I have paid it now, just very annoying.

Thanks for all of your help guys.

xx

lincroft1710

Amy - CT is charged per day, not by month, so if for example you moved in on 15th September and moved out on 16 December, then that's 93 days divided by 365 multiplied by annual charge for relevant band. Might be worth checking that you have been charged for correct number of days you occupied.

corsagirl_2

A lot of Councils now record calls if to a dedicated call centre - you could ask if that is the case and if so ask them to review the call plus the advice given, to see if correct or if you should have been warned about the summons at the time of your call. Depending on content of call you could ask that the costs are reconsidered, you have done the right thing in paying now to avoid further costs.