Rates bill

pinkfluffythings

My mum has just received her rates bill and is in total shock.

Dad died 2 years ago, mum was working until 2 months ago when the credit crunch hit so only gets part of my Daddys small pension and £24 a week JSA. She is actively seeking work.
Her house is worth approx £250k.

Previous years the rates have been £1290 per annum which they always paid via direct debit.
This letter says the rates are now calculated at £3569 per annum!
Surly this is a mistake, she is in absolute bits about it, has limited savings and its going to be a long night for her until she calls them tomorrow.

As we rent we don't get a rates bill so I have no idea if its went up bbut surly not flippin more than doubled.

Thanks in Advance x

peacock1974

victoria_p wrote: »

My mum has just received her rates bill and is in total shock.

Dad died 2 years ago, mum was working until 2 months ago when the credit crunch hit so only gets part of my Daddys small pension and £24 a week JSA. She is actively seeking work.
Her house is worth approx £250k.

Previous years the rates have been £1290 per annum which they always paid via direct debit.
This letter says the rates are now calculated at £3569 per annum!
Surly this is a mistake, she is in absolute bits about it, has limited savings and its going to be a long night for her until she calls them tomorrow.

As we rent we don't get a rates bill so I have no idea if its went up bbut surly not flippin more than doubled.

Thanks in Advance x

It seems very strange. My rate bill has been rising annually but nothing like that scale. To my knowledge there have been no major recent revisions to the way rates are calculated.

I know this is probably not very helpful but I am as puzzled as you are and I sincerely hope she gets sorted out.

I hope she gets it adjusted to her satisfaction.

pinkfluffythings

Thanks for the reply. Yes it is very strange. I think they must have thought she didn't pay since Daddy died but she has all the relevant bank statements.
God love her she was in tears xx

gawa75

Best thing to do is obviously get in touch with the local authority and find out what's going on. MUST be a mistake!

belfastgirl23

On a house valued at £300k in Belfast I'm paying just over £2000 rates so this does sound wrong. You can check the calucations on this website http://www.lpsni.gov.uk/ - it's pretty accurate for me anyway. There's also info on relief on your rates here http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/property-and-housing/rates/help-with-paying-your-rates.htm

Hope this helps, I know how awful it is to be stuck worrying about something like this with hours to go before the offices open. Let us know how you get on.

McKneff

Personally I think there has been a typo, a 3 instead of a 1.

Tell her not to worry about it and get in touch with them first thing in the morning for peace of mind.
Im sure there has been a mistake, no rates jump up that much from one year to the next.
Can you ring a neighbour to find out what theres is.

Old_Git

could the bill be for arrears .It does seem strange getting a bill in October .
If she is getting benefits has she applied for a rate rebate .

wifeforlife

Did the bill your mother get in April have your late Father's name or her name on it?

I'd say the most likely explanation is that they may not have been informed of your fathers passing and on getting the information directly from SSA, they made the changes from his date of death. They've then opened an account solely in your mother's name and the bill is automatically sent out.

Unless your mother's name is on the direct debit, it's normal practise to issue any over payment or refunds on an account to the personal reps of the deceased person - I'd say there's a huge refund sitting on your late fathers account on the system and it's a simple case of calling the local office and asking them to transfer it to your mother's account and reset the direct debit, which again they are not allowed to do without her specific permission.

I seriously doubt her annual bill is £3569 as rates are capped at 300k for house valuations, is there a date on the bill near where the amounts show?!

HTH
Cate

maccaz

Hi Victoria

Is your mum over 70?
There is a lone pensioners allowance that can be appllied for, she can get 20% off her rates.
There is also housing benefit as well, your local rates office can give you all the info you need.

I hope everything goes ok for your mum today, let us know how you get on.

Golden_Anemone

If she hasn't already done so your mother should apply for Housing Benefit as she is on a low income and JSA - If it's JSA(IB) I think she's automatically entitled to have her rates paid in full for the period unemployment.

miss_duke

Yes, if she was sent the bill in October then its def for arrears. They obviously believe that she hasn't been paying the full amount. Is it possible that for some reason your father was entitled to a reduction in the cost, but your mother isn't? Therefore once he passed, she should have been paying a higher rate?

I agree that she needs to apply for housing benefit, perhaps she didn't apply, and thats why she owes money back to them?