Council Tax refund - possible?

Brallaqueen

HI there - I just made a greenhorn error, and am wondering if there is anything I can do about it.

I recently moved into my new flat (29 Jan) and informed the Council Tax department straight away via phone and email. During the call they asked me where I had been living previously (rented, all inclusive) and whether I was living alone (yes). I thought this would be enough to get the 25% reduction in Council Tax,.
The bill I got was paid, but it covered the end of the year so it wasn't clear what I was paying. My new bill has just arrived and they have not put into effect the 25% discount. Is there any way I can claim this back? I'm contacting them today to see what they say.

PlutoinCapricorn

I can't see that you have done anything wrong. I wonder how the major part of the bill for FY 2009/10 was paid? I pay with 10 installments, and the final one is taken in early January, so in theory you need not have had to pay anything. |t is worth getting the details from them: ask them exactly how they calculated the amount due.

As for the coming year, you should be getting the discount if you live alone and have told them this. You need to take this up with them too: perhaps they require formal notification in writing so a letter might be a good idea.

00ec25

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

II wonder how the major part of the bill for FY 2009/10 was paid? I pay with 10 installments, and the final one is taken in early January, so in theory you need not have had to pay anything.

??????????
council tax liability is calculated on a daily basis against whoever is resident on each and every day
the fact that some councils allow you to pay it over 10 instalments is irrelevant,
for example if the previous occupant moved out in month 11 and a new one moved in then the old one would have paid the full 10 instalments buy would be entitled to a refund of 1/12th of what they had already paid and the new occupant would be billed for 1/12th of the year's bill

Fire_Fox

Brallaqueen wrote: »

HI there - I just made a greenhorn error, and am wondering if there is anything I can do about it.

I recently moved into my new flat (29 Jan) and informed the Council Tax department straight away via phone and email. During the call they asked me where I had been living previously (rented, all inclusive) and whether I was living alone (yes). I thought this would be enough to get the 25% reduction in Council Tax,.
The bill I got was paid, but it covered the end of the year so it wasn't clear what I was paying. My new bill has just arrived and they have not put into effect the 25% discount. Is there any way I can claim this back? I'm contacting them today to see what they say.

You have to sign a declaration to say you are living alone: this should have been sent to you. The old bill should have been quite clear what period it covered and what discounts had been applied?? Not sure why you are asking us if the discount can be backdated if you are contacting the council anyway.

Perelandra

I recently informed my local council that I was living alone, and had been for the previous 18 months (I know... I'm terribly slack with some things, I thought I'd already applied for the discount but hadn't).

A couple of weeks later, I received a cheque in the post for the overpayment that I'd made, dating back to when I'd moved in- no need to complete any extra forms or chase anyone in particular. If you're lucky, the same might happen for you.

Good luck.

Welsh_Totster

Can I thank everyone on here for the fact that this question has been raised. Ive recently moved house and had paid in full by 10 installments the council tax for the area I used to live in, Ive also just paid 6 weeks worth of council tax for the new area I live in to take me to the end of the FY. Its only because of this post that it dawned on me that I should be entitiled to 6 weeks rebate from the previous council. So I called them and yes I am owed money, and they will refund me which actually covers the cost of the 6 weeks Ive just paid for the new place!

Thanks everyone, this would have passed me by otherwise!

Brallaqueen

Perelandra wrote: »

I recently informed my local council that I was living alone, and had been for the previous 18 months (I know... I'm terribly slack with some things, I thought I'd already applied for the discount but hadn't).

A couple of weeks later, I received a cheque in the post for the overpayment that I'd made, dating back to when I'd moved in- no need to complete any extra forms or chase anyone in particular. If you're lucky, the same might happen for you.

Good luck.

Thanks Perelandra, that is very helpful and encouraging. I thought that I had already made clear I was living alone (email and phone) but I should have followed it up and made sure I was getting the discount.

Fire Fox - the last bill crossed months (Jan29-March 31) and gave me specific figure of outstanding council tax, I should have noticed then that there was no reference to discount so this is entirely of my own making. I just wanted to check whether what I was asking for was 'within my rights' as I know that trying to claim money back that you are entitled to can still be a bloody hassle - misinformation etc abounds.

Brallaqueen

Just to let everyone know that the situation has been resolved & I got a statement through the post today with a refund of £40.67 which I am waiting on with baited breath - if I don't run out of money this month it will make up my first mortgage overpayment!

Thank you everyone for your help & advice, it was really appreciated :j