Help! Been summoned for unpaid council tax

LaurieK

I also meant to say we received a court summons.

Cissi

LaurieK wrote: »

Yes westv we did receive requests for payment, I had called them a few months ago when we got the first and told them again that the caravan had gone, they looked on our records and agreed and just said they needed the date it was removed in writing. As I didn't tell them they did send other requests but I just thought it was automated computer systems and that nothing would come of it as surely someone would check their computer records before it went any further. I was wrong.

It's a pity you didn't supply the date the caravan was removed, in writing, when requested to do so - that would probably have saved you a lot of grief and hassle. I don't understand why you thought the issue would just go away by itself? I would suggest that it's now high time to make sure they have all the information they need - hopefully all of this can still be stopped

westv

You really shouldn't under any circumstances ignore letters from the council. What's done is done now though so I would follow the advice given by others on this thread.

LaurieK

Yes I realise that now. I have learnt my lesson the hard way. I know I am a muppet. I just wanted some advice on how to get myself out of this situation.

As I have said I will be calling the VOA to try and find out the date I told them the caravan was removed. Then I will be sorting things out with the council. Hopefully.

poppysarah

Who took it away and can you prove the date?

missile

I find it hard to believe you can't remember when you moved into your new house? You must have some paperwork, (e.g. mortgage habitation cert) relating to that?

Write and advise council that caravan was unoccupied from that date and within a month thereafter.

LaurieK

We took it away ourselves and scrapped it so there is no proof. Which is a good thing I guess, although does make it difficult to know the date.

We don't have a proper mortgage as we are self employed and don't earn enough. We have a business loan which I think is a better interest rate than what a mortgage would have been. We must have some paperwork somewhere although we didn't start repaying it as soon as we were living in it, it was sorted out a few months later when we thought we had finished buying stuff for it.

We haven't had a completion certificate from the council yet either as it wasn't totally completed when we moved in.