Housing Benefit overpayment need help

blacknight1971

Hi,to cut a very long story short,i was recieving council tax benefit,whilst i was a casual employee for approx 8months,then got taken on full time in june 10,moved house may11 and now they have said i owe £638 from the old house,been to local council offices today and they said i have to goto court and pay the summons fee to get a payment plan is this correct?(she said it would something like £200ish over 3 months,which i cannot afford).I have kept all copies of letters etc,and as far as i am concerned its due to their incompedence and the time scale that we are this mess.Told them everything they wanted ie payslips,new job details etc.Any help would be appreciated.Im not disputing that i dont owe the money,but i would like to pay a sensible amount that i can afford-which is not a lot.

blacknight1971

Anyone? Help?This cant be right surely that i have to go to court to set up a repayment plan.?:mad:

suelees1

yes they can and should accept a repayment plan without court proceedings, perhaps you need to speak to someone else there. However if they've already issued a summons for a liability order you will have court costs and these will stand. If you have had a summons you don't have to appear, the court will grant a Liability Order automatically. The LA will want this so they can more easily enforce payment.

blacknight1971

Hi,thx for the info.I have just had a letter at the w/end saying they might issue a summons shortly.So how to i speak to someone who has the authority on this matter,as the 2nd person i spoke,said this is how it is,and basically goodbye.