Council Tax Summons Fee Unfair

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enigma368 wrote: »

We did not receive anything until a couple of months later

How long would you have waited? Unfortunately, enigma368, this is where my sympathy for your situation begins to evaporate. Had you been paying the monthly scheduled amounts in October, November and December the summons would never have been issued.
You assumed incorrectly that a student discount would be given and failed to make any payments, based upon that incorrect assumption. You didn't even pay four sixths of the amount each month, which is the amount you were expecting to pay.

Sorry to put a downer on you, you seem a very nice person, but have a look at it again and consider if you are entirely without fault.

orangeslimes

The council tax rules are very unfair...
you aren't entitled to a discount- it is a charge on property not each individual.

full time students are exempt so your student flatmates don't have to pay but those of you who aren't students are liable for the full amount between you.

if there was only 1 person in the flat who wasn't a student you would be entitled to 25% single persons discount. that's it.

I suppose you can argue that you were misinformed and misadvised on the phone and this should have been explained to you. That is your only leg- I am not sure how strong it is.

But I sympathise because I think the way it is calculated is not fair. I have to pay 1/2 of the total council tax because I live with 3 students and 1 professional...in fact I am now inspired to write to my MP or someone about the way it is calculated.

CIS

The council tax rules are very unfair...
you aren't entitled to a discount- it is a charge on property not each individual.

Not quite - its based on 50% property and 50% person . This is why you get only 25% if there is only 1 occupier (half of 50%).

chaos10_2

Cis, i have one for you, Letter from council follows.

Dear Sir Madam, 10-FEB-2010

LIABILITY ORDER FOR UNPAID COUNCIL TAX
ACCOUNT NUMBER *************
THEN THE ADDRESS...

oN THURSDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2007 ****** ****** granted a liability order against youy in respect of unpain council tax. The amount outstanding of this order is currently £691.45.

payment of the outstanding must be paid in full within 14 days of the date of this letter, failure to do so will result in your account being passed to the authoritys Bailiffs for collection in which case the bailiff will be instructed to call at your address and you will incur further costs.

Now the bit that makes me chuckle is that i have lived here at this address for the last 3 years, (since 1st april 07) but i lived in the property since july 06 and moved out in august 06. the date on the letter says i was taken to court on the 13th dec 07, so why now in feb 2010 am i getting my first letter from the council to let me know i owe them money, surely there is a reasonable time frame in which they can carry these things out, and seeing that they have had me on file being here not there for the last 3 years then why have i not had a letter before.

I also lived with a mate of mine who also only lived there for 6 months so would the above sum be splitt between two people or is just for me?
i'm not happy that my girlfriend and daughter have to suffer for something that happened before she was even born (my daughter that is) and that its taken 3 years for them to tell me i was supposed to go to court!

Any advice please?

Thanks in advance.

Gary