Council Tax Confusion

sara86pink

Sorry - another quick question! (this just keeps swimming around in my head!)

With council tax, do they send bills regularly as we only have the first 2 bills (one for arrears, one for current year) then confirmation of how much the monthly payments would equate to (one for each again) and then a couple of reminders (only for the arrears account) and this was dealt with due to system being slow and not paying on time but payment went through while letter was sent out.

Should we have more bills or letters from them if anything went wrong?

Again, sorry to pester people but I'm really worried about this as its bad enough that i may get in trouble because of this, but old housemates will too and as far as they are aware, they gave me the right amount of money and I paid it. This looks like I havent been paying the bills and they are going to get in trouble because of me (this isnt the case at all as you can see above!)

DarkConvict

Generally its 1 bill at the start of the year telling you the money due for this year and when the payments will be taken on a monthly basis if done by DD, or just put in a due by date if paying manually.

You don't get monthly bills, atleast we don't here.

sara86pink

Ok thanks, that is what I thought so at least I know for sure I have had no extra correspondence with regards to this so can say that when I call tomorrow.

Marisco

Hi Sara, what happens with ours is, we get a bill about mid March and it sets out the payments for 10 months - in our case its 90 something quid starting in April and finishing in Jan. But I pay over 12 months by standing order - been doing it this way for years - but I still get letters just about every month saying I'm in arrears!! I respond to the first one and ignore the rest, as I know it pans out over the year, in fact I'm usually in credit!!:) I don't know why they bother, but I suppose it keeps someone in work!! The daft thing is, if I paid by DD they'd accept payment over 12 months, but not by SO!! There must be some logic in there somewhere:D

CIS

But I pay over 12 months by standing order - been doing it this way for years - but I still get letters just about every month saying I'm in arrears!!

Your lucky your authority hasn't gone ahead with issuing a Court Summons, they would legally be able to do so.

Marisco

Hi CIS, why would they? I pay regularly every month by SO, I have never missed a payment and for the last five years (I've only got 5yrs worth of bills) I have been in credit when the March bill comes - for 2007/8 it was £105 in credit, so it gets knocked off the next bill. I'm sure they'd look right plonkers if they took me to court for overpayment!! I don't want 2 "free" months, as I'd have to flaff around stopping the SO and start it again. They'd be better off concentrating their efforts on those who won't pay, instead of those who overpay;)

sara86pink

Right, I'm going to call them today but my lunch break will not be as long as possible as OH has an ear infection and not too well so I have to also pop home and give him some attention.

When I call, shall I just ask for a statement showing what I owe and why and try to avoid getting into any arguments or getting myself wound up? I know it will be very easy for me to get angry and wound up with them and I only do it because I'm confused so obviously I want to avoid that as it wont help the situation!

EDIT

Also, should I make the last payment so the only thing left on the account is the extra money owed which I will get an explanation for?

DarkConvict

If you get wound up and confused, it would be advisable to go into the office in person, or write a letter.

If that is not possible, have a pen and paper to hand to jot down fact. Furthermore ensure you have all the figures with you. Statement of money owed, and bank statements showing money was paid as request to clear the arrears.

sara86pink

I understand!!! I was all professional and wrote down all the questions I wanted to ask and I didnt even need to ask them as she answered my question straight away.

Basically, they havent received any payments for the arrears since April. Which means, all the payments I have made since then have all been going onto a different account because I was using the automated service.

So instead of £212 going to arrears and £117 to the current year, all £329 was obviously going towards the current year leaving me with £424 left to pay for arrears.

I told her I was paying £329 each month but she couldnt see the other current account for some reason so she has asked me to find bank statements proving that the money went out and while I do that, she will put the account on hold.

I have found bank statements online showing 2 payments of £329, one on 17th May and again 17th June but I cant see any reference related to it, just shows it went to the council tax people.

I cant call until Monday now due to lunch etc so in the meantime I'm going back to the old house to pick up all the bills related to this and make copies so I have all possible information to hand when I call back.

I am very relieved that this is the case because I was so worried about what was going on and why this was happening and now I realise the cause, to me it seems simple enough to sort out.

So, what will possibly happen next?

If they find that an extra £212 a month has been going on a different bill, can they transfer it to the arrears or will it just leave that bill in credit and I still have to pay the £424?

Marisco

Hi Sara, I suppose it depends on the council. With my council, if you are in credit, you can request in writing the "overpayment". In my case I choose to leave it and knock it off the following years' bill. As you no longer live in the premises, it might be better (if possible) to get the overpayment paid and put it towards the arrears, or ask the council to do it for you.