council tax debt

chnelomi

ok i'm so mad right now i'm actually shaking.
The long and short of my problem is back in 2005 i had a flat i was in 11mths (think i may have had to pay for the 12 not sure now). anyways the council have passed my debt to a collector for four years council tax(around £4000). tried to explain that i was only their for less than a year but they just want the full amount.

i admit i owe them money i told them i would be happy to pay either the 11mths or at a push 12mths. but they wont budge. how on earth do i get them to understand i was not their that long.
tried the council before they said it was sorted and had been an error. :mad:
ideas please.
thanks

mickey54

chnelomi wrote: »

ok i'm so mad right now i'm actually shaking.
The long and short of my problem is back in 2005 i had a flat i was in 11mths (think i may have had to pay for the 12 not sure now). anyways the council have passed my debt to a collector for four years council tax(around £4000). tried to explain that i was only their for less than a year but they just want the full amount.

i admit i owe them money i told them i would be happy to pay either the 11mths or at a push 12mths. but they wont budge. how on earth do i get them to understand i was not their that long.
tried the council before they said it was sorted and had been an error. :mad:
ideas please.
thanks

If you were registered at another address for the time in question - give them the details, and let them check it out.

chnelomi

hi mikey i have already tried that what makes it more annoying is that i already had to pay extra rent because they lost the initial letter i sent saying i was moving. so when i left they contacted me about it. i know it's different departments but surely they can talk to each other.
i was at my parents after i left the flat due to illness and they paid full council tax so i didn't rush to tell them so even at that they would still want extra from me.
need to type a letter but can't think straight.

byebyedebt

Your not the first person to move away and not tell all the utilities, council and banks and you will not be the last.

Suggest you write a letter to the council enclosing a copy of your tenancy agreement. If you cant find that, dig out some old bank statements or utility bills that either have you new address on from the time you moved on, or a copy of the final gas, electric bills, as these will probably say final bill on and will have your forwarding address on.

Other option, is to use the voters roll or new council tax bill at new place.

lincroft1710

i already had to pay extra rent because they lost the initial letter i sent saying i was moving. so when i left they contacted me about it. i know it's different departments but surely they can talk to each other.

Does that mean that the flat is council owned? If so tell finance dept to contact housing dept to obtain name of tenant(s) since you left.

CIS

Legally its the responsibility of the tax payer to inform the council tax dept of the vacation however most council's will also receive notification from the housing dept.

The council tax dept may have access to the housing records (we do in our dept) or should otherwise be able to check with the housing dept if you explain the situation.

Council tax recovery can be a nightmare because of the number of people who move and otherwise assume that the council tax dept will know they've left unfortunately it doesn't always work that way and costs everyone involved time and money. The best tip is to always contact the council tax department direct and inform them of any changes.