Council Tax/Life Mess... Fraud?

Weeone_3

Long story.
I think I’ve committed council tax fraud and I don’t know where to turn.
Here’s the story, which I know may sound ridiculous, but it’s been my life. Back in 1988 my mum’s business went bust. We lost the house, everything. Well, she was left with about £11,000. total. No home no assets, just about £11,000.
She was 52. got a part time job but could’nt get a mortgage. I left school got a bar job on ok money (friends) and got a mortgage using her £11k as deposit and bought a flat. Things weren’t easy. My mum always had a drink problem ( something I’ve inherited to an extent – I drown my sorrows to often, not alcoholic but I’ve used it too often to blot things out). Mum also had mental health issues. Throughout my childhood she had been in hospital countless times.
Was tough. Dad died when I was 6. We’d had a good life before then. But dad had left no will and lawyers and his parents pounced on his estate leaving my mum with nothing. Sounds far fetched? But true.
I always tried to look out for her. So I bought the flat. I tried living with her, but it was tough. I had no life but I had to take care of her. I left the house and moved down south, workin in hotels/bars wherever I could get live in accommodation and still paid the mortgage on my mums place.Never living there but looking after her. Were times when I was paying her bills too. Gas elec. But we always thought of it as her home. Hers. Not mine. My name on the deeds but her home. Was always that way. My brothers and sis would visit her an treat it a her home. Me havin the mortgage was incidental.
I spent best part of 18yrs living that way. Staying in work accommodation, friends/ famlies sofas.. wherever. Just as long as she was ok. Mum thought of it as hers too. Hence she registered as the owner/occupier and paid the council tax.
In 2006 mum had a bad breakdown. Never herself again. She was in hospital for months. Lost and confused .We lost part of her. Mum but not mum. My sister applied and got (thank god) my mum into a sheltered accommodation near her. Bfeore she moved she had another breakdown. Two since then. She moved into the new place but I kept the flat cause she wanted to go back there. Didn’t settle. Would go back for silly reasons.
That’s the fraud part. The council assumed the flat was her second home. I still didn’t live there but kept it for her.
This year, I woke up. Realised how much a mess my life was. I’ve lived like a nomad. I’ve got in debt. Big debt. I had remortgaged the flat twice without my mum knowing. I want to sort it out.
I was going to live in the flat. Try and lead a normal life if I can. I wrote to the council to tell them I was going to move in. They think it’s my mums house. I can’t prove where I’ve been living for years. If I say I own it they’ll think I deliberately lied about it being my mums….it’s all such a mess. I cant cope with it. I saw my mum today. She came through to see her dentist. I’m crying now. She’s 73, only 73 but she looks older. And she’s gone, my mum. She happier because she’s lost so much of her memory, of her. She still worries, gets confused but she’s oblivious to so much. Now I’ve got the chance to maybe start again, but I’ve made such a hash of things. I don’t know where to start to sort this mess out.
I’m 40 but I feel like the 6yrs old who just wanted to make sure his mum was ok. I’m a joke. I need advice, I need to sort this. I’m terrified. I can’t live the way I’ve always been living. I’m scared. I don’t know if I need a lawyer or what, I just know I need to sort this cause I’m not really sure any more of the point. I’m not coping very well with life and I don’t know how I’ve ended up at this point

Merlinexcalibur

Sounds like a deeply complicated mess TBH. Never been in this situation but can see it's a quagmire and am sure someone here will help you sort it out.

RAS

Hi

Did you ever transfer the deeds?

Cannot quite work out where the fraud comes in?

Who has claimed what that they should not have done?

Merlinexcalibur

Nor me TBH eg 'fraud'.

She happier because she’s lost so much of her memory, of her.

Don't quite see that, how someone can be 'happy' when they obviously have alzeihmers. Anyway, getting too cynical for my own good right now so I will log out of here. And I am afraid I will have nothing constructive to say if I carry on reading this thread and thinking more about it.:rolleyes: Or, I start reading between the lines and making 2 plus 2 = 4. But I don't want to do that so will stop reading it.

archie9uk

I'm sorry to hear how you are feeling. You don't need a lawyer, but it might be worth a trip to Citizens Advice - they will be able to help you out with your debts and all sorts.

It doesn't matter whether you or your Mum owned the flat, as long as she paid the Council Tax when she was living there. There is no difference in how much you pay if you are the owner or not. I assume they just use that info for statistical purposes.

Like RAS, I'm not sure where the fraud comes in? The sheltered accommodation would be your Mum's main residence, so you/she should have been able to get an exemption on the flat for the empty period (although this is only granted for six months). You are the owner so you are free to move in whenever you like.

archie9uk

Merlinexcalibur wrote: »

Don't quite see that, how someone can be 'happy' when they obviously have alzeihmers.

I am assuming she is happier because she has forgotten all of the bad things that have happened in her life?? That's why it's called a second childhood - people go back to having not a care in the world, like when they were innocent, optimistic children...

Merlinexcalibur

I’m not coping very well with life and I don’t know how I’ve ended up at this point

Anyway, hope you get help.

Yes, I do take your point about 'second childhood'. However, hope they get whatever help they need.

ria.pulls

I'm not quite sure where the Council Tax fraud is?
Has your mum been claiming discounts or exemptions since she left as if it was her flat and not yours?
If this is the case its only since she vacated in 2006 they could bill you from, but then ownership of the flat should have been confirmed before discounts or exemtions were awarded. If you now live at the flat you would be liable for Council Tax anyway.

Its worth calling your local Council and having a word with the Council Tax Team. They will probably be alot of help and maybe it woun't look so bad.

Sorry to hear about your mum though and best of luck.

Merlinexcalibur

So, why are you sending me PMs Snookie telling me to 'go for a walk?' I haven't opened it in case it contains threatening language BTW. For my own protection. Because of what you've just posted below. Not trying to start anything BTW, but it would seem you've re-registered given what you say below here:

I cant prove to some extent where I've lived. I'm not sure where if anywhere i've been registered.......

:rolleyes:

For the benefit of others wondering why I posted that above. I just received a message from someone called 'Snookie' then came back to read this thread and found they had posted on here (now the post has somehow vanished in the meantime) who joined today and then read that above from them.

And I also received a private PM from them. Hmmm.

gettingbetter

:A :A merlin
can i have you autograph please
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

kas xx

RAS

Merlinexcalibur wrote: »

For the benefit of others wondering why I posted that above. I just received a message from someone called 'Snookie' then came back to read this thread and found they had posted on here (now the post has somehow vanished in the meantime) who joined today and then read that above from them.

And I also received a private PM from them. Hmmm.

Most probably someone reported them to abuse and they have been deleted. Welcome to the world of trolls.