Council tax problem

Spendaholic_Chick

Sorry if this is the wrong forum - but I thought there'd be plenty of expertise in here to help me with this!

I pay my council tax (begrudgingly!) by direct debit usually. Sometime last year I noticed there were two direct debits set up for it when I was checking my online bank, so I cancelled one of them. When the new payemnts were due in April I got a letter from the council saying my DD had been cancelled and therefore they had been refused their payment. I promptly contacted the bank, who said the DD was live and it should be paid no problem. I rang the council back and told them this, who said they'd alter my payemnts so it was 9 equal instalments instead of 10 and try again the next month.

This has now happened every single month since, and I've had to contact both the bank and the council every month and go through the same process. Finally, in December I asked the bank to ring the council and sort it out, but they refused - said they couldn't discuss my account with anyone but me. I've now just had another letter saying the same thing. Consequently, I now owe a whole years payments. Lookig back, I should have just paid by cheque each time this happened, but every tie the council offered to re-adjust the monthly amount I thought it was going to be sorted that month.

Both the bank and the council are perfectly nice and understandign when I contac them, but won't talk to each other to sort it out. What can I do next? And will I have to find the £876.39 all at once now?

skylight

At least you have realised that you should have paid something over the year!

It was daft allowing this to go on for so long - the simple thing would have been to cancel all the council DD's with the bank and start again with the council, completing fresh DD forms, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!


I would suggest that you call the council Monday and make an arrangement to start paying them something ASAP. Not forgetting that 2007's payments start in a few months too. You may be able to arrange with them about spreading this years over next too, but until you ask them, you will never know.

I doubt that they will want it all in one go knowing about the issues that you have had, but councils are funny offices and you never can tell!

magentadreamer

I'd ring the council up again and ask if you can pay it off in instalements, if your lucky they might allow you to take some of the debt over to next year. I'd also insist on a new direct debit mandate as well or perhaps a paying in book and you could pay it at your bank. Giving you knew there was a problem with the direct debit for 8 months or so why did you save the money each month?

Spendaholic_Chick

I forgot to say - I did actually fill in two new DD forms over the course of this time :-/

Giving you knew there was a problem with the direct debit for 8 months or so why did you save the money each month?

I didn't do that as each month they said they'd re-adjust the amount to compensate for monies not paid before. Looking back, I should have, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

immoral_angeluk

I'm suprised the council let you get away with essentially not paying for a whole year! I would've thought that they'd start demanding payment by another means after the first few times!

Spendaholic_Chick

They were very understanding, said they'd had this problem a lot with Lloyds TSB. I think if I hadn't been on the phone to them trying to sort it out each month they might've taken a different view, but as I have always paid regularly in the past and am not trying to get out of paying (which I get the feeling people here think I am?) they've been very good.

magentadreamer

I'd ring them on monday and ask about a new repayment timetable. Giving that you've been ringing them saying the DD hasn't gone out again every month they'll probably look on it more favourably.

A few years ago my local council 2 payments into the year ( I pay over 12months) decided I was no longer a single householder, sent a new bill and commenced taking the money out at the new higher rate. I rang them on a monthly basis to be told every month the DD would be sorted out and a new bill issued. After 4 months of this I realised that the only way I'd get a new bill is if I cancelled the DD. It actually took them till the following March to ask for my money still at the wrong rate. I pointed this out and finally got an ammended bill - I was allowed to pay the "arrears" in addition to my other payments in the new financial year. I now pay it by online banking transfer to their account as no way would I want a DD with them!

magentadreamer

I'd ring them on monday and ask about a new repayment timetable. Giving that you've been ringing them saying the DD hasn't gone out again every month they'll probably look on it more favourably.

A few years ago my local council 2 payments into the year ( I pay over 12months) decided I was no longer a single householder, sent a new bill and commenced taking the money out at the new higher rate. I rang them on a monthly basis to be told every month the DD would be sorted out and a new bill issued. After 4 months of this I realised that the only way I'd get a new bill is if I cancelled the DD. It actually took them till the following March to ask for my money still at the wrong rate. I pointed this out and finally got an ammended bill - I was allowed to pay the "arrears" in addition to my other payments in the new financial year. I now pay it by online banking transfer to their account as no way would I want a DD with them!

raq

I recently had a bit of a problem with mine. Last year we where able to claim part of this back due to the reason I am not working. Sent all my details into them. Come beginning of december had a letter to say it was all wrong therefore I owed them money back. Plus I was also 2 months behind. they where great fair play. I am not paying this over 3 months up until April. Explain your circumstances and they are pretty good.

bank_of_slate

I would bite the bullet, get it sorted out at the bank.
Many councils wouldn't be so understanding and their patience will run out very quickly.
Rule number one when having any financial probs the LAST things you should default on are mortgage/rent and council tax!
Good luck sorting it out and keep us posted!
...Linda xx