Council Tax dispute with ex

ChefBungle

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Hold on, I'm confused.
Did she pay up to the point when she moved out?
When she moved out you've got a 6 month exemption.
So if it sells within 6 months (I know that's far from given in these times) then there is nothing to pay?

Yes, that's correct - she paid up until the end of June which is when she moved out.
6 month exemption and then 6 months at 50% reduction. That will mean that Jan/Feb/Mar will be a 50% reduction, and I estimate just under £200 for those three months.

But then next financial year, it will be a 50% reduction for three months and then only a 10% reduction thereafter.

I like the idea of reducing the amount of money to her down to 20% until such time as I have recouped the amount. At the end of the day, she was extremely unsympathetic when we first split up and I ended up having to pay off the majority of the household debt, purely because it was in my name. So I really don't see why I should try to meet her in the middle on this one. I've seen my kids once in the last 14 months (she won't let me see them and keeps cancelling the Family Mediation meetings to sort out contact), so I really feel like standing my ground.

Judith_W

Provided you don't have a written agreement to 25% maintenance and you are effectively making the 5% extra voluntarily I would see this as the simplest choice. And if you don't get the contact sorted why bother increasing considering the debt you paid off...

JimmyTheWig

But am I right in thinking that the £200 won't be due until January? You might be in a better position then to make a decision about this.

FBaby

confused too, do you owe nothing until Jan or do you have to pay something now?

You both can play games on technicalities as much as you both wish, just remember that in the end, no one wins, you both end up mentally exhausted and full of resentment and the kids feed on it.

It is close to obvious that the agreement was drawn on the understanding she would remain in the house. Why would she be foolished enough to continue to pay the full amount once she has moved? You are trying to get out of paying half just because you have a piece of paper that was drawn when circumstances were different.

What suprise me is how you can have agree to pay 25% of your income when you don't have to pay more than 20%, but then waste your energy on something much more pitiful.

JimmyTheWig

Presumably, OP, you are happy to pay half of the bill that comes in Jaunary?

FBaby wrote: »

What suprise me is how you can have agree to pay 25% of your income when you don't have to pay more than 20%, but then waste your energy on something much more pitiful.

Maybe because one is seen as benefitting the children while the other is seen as benefitting the ex? [Though I'm not convinced it works like that in practice.]
Maybe because one is agreed and the other is against the agreement?
Maybe because one is budgetted for and the other isn't?

Or maybe this is just the last straw?

diable

I know the feeling but at the end of the day its not worth winding yourself up about the £200 as to be honest if you have two children she could stay in the house and you may have had to pay the mortgage for a long time.

Just tell her that you will deal with and once its all sorted out and all ties have been cleanly and legally cut you can then get the money back from your monthly maintenance payment but be prepared as you will have a character assassination performed on you to the children and whoever else the ex will tell.

I'd leave it.