Our house was deleted from councils system and now we owe money

foysey

I would be grateful if anyone could advise if we have many options. I will explain. Back in March 2008 whilst on holiday our house was deleted off the council tax list due to our neighbour re-banding his house. As our house was built in his back garden in the 80's the council just got mixed up as his house was the same number as ours but ours had and "a" on the end.

Unfortunately for us we had a lot financially going on last year. We'd moved in at the end of 2007, were getting married in Nov 2008 and were having vital rennovation work done on the house. So we'd missed the fact that our direct debit had been cancelled. We first noticed it January of this year 2009 whilst looking through our accounts. We phoned the council who were still puzzled and finally have a new bill after waiting 4 months to get it. Obviously the bill is a bit of a shock nearly £4k in repayments. Our band is correct.

We've had no apology from the council for the mistake. If we hadn't have said anything they wouldn't have noticed, but that was a risk we weren't prepared to take. As newly weds we are unable to find the capital to pay in full so will have to re-pay over a long period. We're living on the edge of uncertainty with no quality of life as all our outgoings are paid into a mortgage and bills. As a newlywed not the life I imagined!! Can anyone kindly offer us any advice or knowledge of whether we can possibly get a reduction on the bill?

Many Thanks a very depressed newlywed not living the dream

lincroft1710

Unless you are in Scotland, it is Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC) who maintain council tax valuation list, not council. So if your home was deleted from list blame VOA not council. The VOA would also be responsible for putting it back into the list which may well have taken a month or two. £4k for just over year's CT seems very high, are you in Band H?

There would be no entitlement to any reduction in the bill, unless it has been incorrectly calculated. The other point I would make is that you must have unknowingly spent the council tax money over the past year, otherwise your bank account would have more in it than you expected.

It was good that you noticed the mistake, as the longer it was left, the more you would have to pay.

anniecave

if the mistake occurred in mar 08, then the maximum time is only a year you haven't paid for. Is the bill you have now received for both last tax year (Apr 08 - Mar 09) and this next one (Apr 09 to Mar 10)? If so then it's not all due immediately, as half of it relates to the coming year.

If you ask, they may agree to spread the cost over this year, so you would be paying it off at double the usual rate?

wibble1234

In my experience the Valuation Office is just plain incompetent, I think it should be renamed the Victimisation Office to reflect it true outlook. The recent on going problem with port rates underlines this, back dating a change to business rates to 2005 without telling anyone putting businesses under threat in a time of economic down turn. Possibly a bit childish but it brings to mind the Sheriff of Nottingham of Robin Hood fame. I am not saying that all VOA staff are incompetent and it could be worth talking to your local office. The adjudicator for complaints against the VOA is.

www adjudicatorsoffice gov uk