Council Tax summons HELP

j4g3d

Some advice please...

Ive been paying council tax via direct debit for 3+ years now no problems. All of a sudden i got a letter saying im in arreas £11 and i have to pay it within 14 days or face court proceedings.

I called the council to ask what this is about on a thursday, they said sorry our computers are down call back monday. By monday i forgot as i work 12 hours a day.

Now i have a court summons letter saying i have to attend on the date stated and pay £76.

1. How can they just say i owe them £11 when ive been paying the correct direct debit for years?
2. If i am in arreas HOW? surely its there fault for giving me the wrong amount to pay for direct debit
3. If they have bumped it up without telling me HOW can they do this?

Just noticed its for a non payment from 5/12/2007 to 8/12/2007 in a property i was not even in at that time. I moved out end of october 2007.

What should i do? any help appriciated

RayWolfe

j4g3d wrote: »

Just noticed its for a non payment from 5/12/2007 to 8/12/2007 in a property i was not even in at that time. I moved out end of october 2007.

But did they know that? You need to find proof of you telling them.

j4g3d

RayWolfe wrote: »

But did they know that? You need to find proof of you telling them.

Also just checked my records and i wasnt even working at that time.

I have a tennancy agreement showing i moved into my new property before this date so that should be sufficient enought evidence shouldnt it? Or will they turn around and say.. 'ok so you moved into the new property before the date you supposedly were in arrears but it doesnt mean you wasnt at that address also'

lincroft1710

If you moved out at end of Oct, but are being summonsed for non payment for 5th to 8th Dec, then did you pay CT up to 5th Dec?

RayWolfe

j4g3d wrote: »

I have a tennancy agreement showing i moved into my new property before this date so that should be sufficient enought evidence shouldnt it?

The point I am making is, did you tell them the date that you moved out?

CIS

I have a tennancy agreement showing i moved into my new property before this date so that should be sufficient enought evidence shouldnt it?

A Tenancy agreement proves nothing other than the fact that you had a tenancy agreement on another property - its not uncommon for people to have responsbility for two properties at any one time.

Even if you moved in to thr second property then you are responsible on the first property until the agreements ends or someone else became resident. If the first property was unoccupied and substantially unfurnished then a Class C exemption may be appropriate, if it was unoccupied and furnished then a discount applies (between 50% and 10% , depending on each local authority).

j4g3d

CIS wrote: »

A Tenancy agreement proves nothing other than the fact that you had a tenancy agreement on another property - its not uncommon for people to have responsbility for two properties at any one time.

Even if you moved in to thr second property then you are responsible on the first property until the agreements ends or someone else became resident. If the first property was unoccupied and substantially unfurnished then a Class C exemption may be appropriate, if it was unoccupied and furnished then a discount applies (between 50% and 10% , depending on each local authority).

I see, well i had moved out, was unfurnished and i wasnt even working at the time. Surely due to the fact i wasnt working should mean something?

CIS

I see, well i had moved out, was unfurnished and i wasnt even working at the time. Surely due to the fact i wasnt working should mean something?

Council Tax itself takes no account of whether you are employed or not, this is taken in to account by a person claiming Council Tax Benefit.

j4g3d

CIS wrote: »

Council Tax itself takes no account of whether you are employed or not, this is taken in to account by a person claiming Council Tax Benefit.

Ok, so what steps do you recommend i should take to prove i had moved from this property ?

CIS

Did you move straight in to another property and register for council tax ?, assuming you did and paid at a rate which didn't include a second home discount then the council tax bill should suffice (if its the same authority then they should still have the full records to check without you needing to source a bill)

j4g3d

CIS wrote: »

Did you move straight in to another property and register for council tax ?, assuming you did and paid at a rate which didn't include a second home discount then the council tax bill should suffice (if its the same authority then they should still have the full records to check without you needing to source a bill)

Yes i moved into the new property and started paying council tax straight away.

I started my new job after being unemployed and on benefits on 22/12/2007. 17 days after there trying to charge me for 3 days of unpaid council tax. Regardless if i was in the property or not, i was on benefits at that time so why would i be charged any council tax for the dates stated? i understand about the letting them know when you move out..ect. But they should check my status that i was unemployed.