Council Tax/Life Mess... Fraud?

RAS

Weeone

So glad you are here. Welcome.

I think the first thing is to take a few deep breaths and lets try and sort out exactly what happened when.

One thing you do need to understand is that for many of the years, whatever you feel, legally it was your mother who was responsble for the CT. Since she is no longer in a fit state to answer any questions about her affairs, there is no way she could be prosecuted.

So can you tell us which year you first becaome the named person on the Council tax bill?

angelicmary85

Bloody hell Weeone, you had us all worried!!

So sorry to hear that you felt so low but at least you're o.k!

angelaf_3

Hi Weeone

So glad you've posted it's an answer to prayer and has cheered up my rather stressed long weekend. Don't ever scare us like that again. NOTHING I repeat NOTHING (and I refuse to apologise for shouting after the scare you gave us all) is worth ending it all.

There are some superb and knowledgeable people on here who will do all they can to help you. I'm not very knowledgable about the legalities but you have my support.

God bless

Ange

Weeone_3

It's now around 7weeks since I last contacted the council and have heard nothing from them. Should I go see a solicitor and then go direct to the council? I've no idea what to do next and how to start resolving this. I keep getting told to do nothing til I hear from them but the wait is killing me with worry...

angelicmary85

Hi Weeone,

Silly question but how are you holding up?

I just wanted to give your thread a bump incase there's someone around that can help.

Weeone_3

I've just received a letter from the council after 7 weeks or so. They are asking for a formal letter of agreement to state that I am the sole resident at the address, no rent is being paid and that it be signed by both parties, ie myself and my mother. They also included a form for me to apply for single persons discount. I have had no word regards to any investigation or interview. What should I do? What constitutes a formal letter of agreement? Any advice please.... thank you again in advance....

Burlesque_Babe

hi weeone. I used to work in CT recovery many, many years ago (early 90s). Trust me, we saw some pickles, but everything is sortable.

Just a few things.

You do not get a criminal conviction, you have not committed fraud (not the kind you are thinking of). If your Mum was the only named person on the bill, had the 25% discount and you can give another address which you class as your 'main residence' then it doesn't matter if you stayed there on and off.

You won't be asked to come in for an interview and you won't be investigated (unless process has really changed, but it's not how we used to work where I was). The council I worked for had a couple of officers who checked out situations but it was mostly just to establish who was at a property if they kept getting blank returns for occupants.

It looks like they want to sort it out, get you on the straight and narrow and set everything up so it can run smoothly.

I would write a simple letter, just saying

I, weeone, confirm that I am the sole occupant of this address as of x date.

I confirm no rent is paid on this property.

Signed and dated then by both you and your mum.

Because your Mum is in sheltered accommodation, that is her main residence. Even if your last main address was on your brother's sofa, that is fine as long as there are 2 adults (ie brother and his wife) on the bill and no 25% discount was being claimed for. Only 2 people are ever named on a bill (again, unless things are changed) and any extra adults in the house - well, it's up to the named people to sort out how the CT is split among them.

As long as you can give an address as your previous one, that's all that is needed - it's only for their computer system so they don't have to link you to a previous address within the council area and if you weren't in the area, then it is just a case of creating a new account, in your name, from a particular date and moving forward from there.

Weeone_3

It seems too simple but I'll do as you suggest. I also spoke to a lawyer again today on the phone... he more or less said the same, do as they ask, forward the letter of agreement and then wait to see if they write again. He said they would have to inform me if they were investigating me? Is this correct..would they inform me if I were under investigation?

Burlesque_Babe

to be honest, I can't see them doing any kind of investigation. We never did anything like that. Seriously, I wouldn't worry about that aspect at all. It's a case of them needing a date from you being resident to start the bill, an address you were at previously and whether you are the sole adult occupant.

I would think the next correspondence you'll get is the bill, broken into monthly instalments from now until the end of the financial year.

Weeone_3

I recieved a bill as Burlesque Babe expected. In y name with amounts broken down into monthly payments... does this suggest that I'm not being investigated... or should I remain expectant that this is not hte end of it? I havent sent the letter of agrement yet but will do so this week. Also the bill hasn't taken into account payments I've made to the account since March this year, should I correct this or just not tempt fate.....