Ex owing me money and still asking me to pay bills

andymc29

I broke up with my GF nearly a year ago. She owed me £1200 from multiple things over the 2 year relationship and said she'd try to pay me back. I got £300 outof her half of the deposit back from our rented house, so she now owes me £900.
She's not paid a penny in nearly a year, and when ever I mail her she says she can't afford anything and I need to stop hassling her (she even claimed she didn't have to pay me back if she didn't want to!).
A month ago, she mailed me saying she'd got a letter from the council saying we owed £600 in council tax on the house we lived in. If this is true then I owe £300 of that, however she still owes me £900 remember. So I've ignored her message and if she chases me about it, I'll tell her to pay it herself and take my half out the money she still owes me. Am I in the right here? or does she have a case against me?

MrsTinks

Depends... did your name appear on the tenancy agreement? If it did then it doesn't matter that she owes you money - the council want the money and if you have it and she doesn't they'll pursue you for it!
Before paying anything though make sure that it's correct that you owe that money...

smartpicture

I think a lot depends on your definition of her owing you money. Was this a loan with a signed and witnessed agreement? Was it clear amounts of money you gave her with a paper trail? Or was it a more nebulous thing, like you paying for things and saying she owed you half for it? You need to be clear about the distinction between her legally owing you money, and morally owing you money, otherwise she's quite right in saying she doesn't have to pay you anything at all - but you will have to pay your share of the council tax as that's clearly a legal debt.

Personally, I would ask for proof that there is such a debt, and if you do choose to pay it to protect your own credit rating, make sure it's paid direct to the council rather than to your ex.

BitterAndTwisted

There's a possibility that the council weren't informed when your tenancy ended. I'm assuming that you were making monthly payments to the council, so I'd be interested to know how this £600 debt has arisen as that sounds like an awful lot to have just overlooked. It would be about nine month's worth for mine and my local authority don't wait that long to send reminders and start pressing hard for payment, never mind a year later.

JoJoB

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

There's a possibility that the council weren't informed when your tenancy ended. I'm assuming that you were making monthly payments to the council, so I'd be interested to know how this £600 debt has arisen as that sounds like an awful lot to have just overlooked. It would be about nine month's worth for mine and my local authority don't wait that long to send reminders and start pressing hard for payment, never mind a year later.

I've just come across someone who has received a CT demand from 2001.

OP - in case you didn't realise, you are legally liable for the whole of the bill, not half. Same for your ex (assuming both your names were on the tenancy - if it was just her name then you don't have anything to worry about).

dwichmann

have you seen a copy of the council tax demand. Seems strange that she has one but not yourself.

daska

If you got the deposit back then presumably neither of you are still living in the house, but the council might not be aware of this. If you are/were named on the tenancy or on the council tax a/c I'd ring the council and find out what the situation is because they can, and will, chase you for the entire debt and the effect on your credit rating won't be pretty. Can you demonstrate when your liability ended e.g. the tenancy for which the council tax is outstanding ceased (check with the agent if you haven't kept any paperwork) or a new tenancy/utility bills in your name at a different address etc?

andymc29

Looks like I'll need to phone the council then. I'm just so annoyed though, cause she already owes me £900 and it's just kicking me when I'm down to expect me to help pay for this too. what makes it worse it that she seems to think I'm loaded and just being tight by saying I'm not paying it. when obviously from my sig, you can see I've got pretty big debt's to sort out besides all this stuff.

shellsuit

Was the council tax bill in your name, her name, or joint names?

neneromanova

Are any of her debts to you written down properly and signed by her and are all legally binding? If not, then I'm affraid to say she won't have to pay you back. You'll just have to take this as a learning curve.

But I would definately get in touch with the council to find out if this is true. Owing them £600 is VERY strange unless you did something naughty and they want the full payment upfront. Good Luck.