10 year old Council Tax Arrears I didn't know about???!!

G3mma

Hi, i've just recently received a letter form Stirling Park looking for council tax arrears dating back 10 years that i had no knowledge of. This relates to a private rented property my ex partner had in 2002. I moved in with him for a week before moving back to my parents house where i have consistently stayed from 1984-2006. I don't know how my name got onto any council tax forms/documentation in the first place. Stirling Park have contradicted themselves by saying the council only passed the debt onto them a few days ago but then said they had tried to contact me regarding the debt by letter in 2003 but it was returned to sender. It seems they sent it to a house a few doors along from my parents address. Therefore i am unsure where i stand here as they want full payment - can i be held liable for the full debt when the house was not in my name? They seem to have given up chasing my ex for the money and are wanting settlement from me.
I am totally confused about this and don't feel i can be responsible for debt i had no knowledge of, for a house i didn't live in, and be to blame for them sending a letter to the wrong address?? Please help! Thanks.

Im in Scotland!

RAS

You need to write to the Council and tell them that you you only stayed in the house for a single week as a guest,.

Copy this to the bailiffs.

CIS

If you were resident for a week then the longest you could be held liable for would be a week and even then only for that week if the property was your 'sole or main residence' for that period.

You need to contact then council and discuss the matter with them.

G3mma

Thanks for the replies.

My worry is that if my name was on the council tax for this address then presumably it would no longer have been on my parents address - and how can i prove i was living at my parents after i moved back - it would be my fault i'd imagine if the council was not informed i had moved back home - its that long ago its difficult to remember what went on! But i clearly remember moving back home after a huge row after only 5 days in the flat together!

RAS

Please stop worry and do something about it.

As before write to the COuncil and explain what happened.

You are not laible but until you tell them what happened they will chase you.

I presume that your parents were paying CT at their home address anyway, so whether or not you were listed there is irrelevant.

G3mma

Ha ha, i am trying to do something about it but its the weekend and everywhere is closed! I plan to go to the council office on Monday but i just would like to feel a bit more informed before i do.

RAS

As before

WRITE to them - you need it in writing, forget about visiting them at the moment.

Take the letter in if you want, but make sure you keep a copy as they will almost certainly come back and say they have lost it.

G3mma

Thank you.

I have just typed up a letter and i will either personally deliver or send recorded - i will copy to Stirling Park.

Do you advise who i should address it to in the council - the big wig head of finance?

CIS

Address it head of finance and it will still be dealt with by the council tax section - the head of finance very very rarely gets involved in general council tax cases. You can always escalate it later if need be but initially I would just address it to the council tax section.

tallyhoh

were you not on the electoral register at your parents, this could be used as proof

G3mma

yes, i just checked my credit file im on the electoral register throughout the time in question. ALso have a number of bank statements etc and other letters going there. Just hope that bloody phone bill doesn't throw a spanner in the works - how silly we can be at 21!