Council tax / Rossendales

Peaches.82

Hi I have been paying council tax to rossendales for the last year at £80 per month due to my c.tax benefit previously being overpaid.

i asked them recently if i could reduce payment as i was about to have 2nd child and income reduced as i am on smp.

after sending financial statement they actually tripled my monthly payments. i argued this and they now want £140 per month (still not affordable).

I have since had my 2nd child and had to spend some time in hospital as baby went into scbu, as a result i had to pay out for babysitters and travel fares so my partner could get to hospital. i have explained all of this to rossendales and asked if i could just pay £50 this month due to unexpected costs but they are adamant they want full amount.

Please help is there anything i can do as with a newborn baby i am struggling with the stress of the situation.

RAS

You probably count as being vulnerable at the moment. Sure hallowitch can advise. If so, Rossendales have to back off.

have you got a full list of charges they have added? Did they come into the house and levy on any goods?

dancingfairy

how are you paying? dd at the mercy of rosendales or standing order etc?
df

Peaches.82

i pay them by card each month have been doing so for about 1 year.

I have accepted that they want a higher repayment but it was only for this month i requested a reduced amount, i thought considering i have been paying them and my current situation there would be some discretion but i just feel bullied now.

its just so stressful as if my local housing office hadnt overpaid me for so long i wouldnt be in this situation so its not even my fault.

(have been cab re overpayments and am in process of appealing, but they still need paying in the meantime)

Peaches.82

i have emailed Rossendales as i didnt know when i was heavily pregnant that was classed as a vulnerability, have also outlined other reasons for vulnerability, i.e caring for disabled child (4 yo son), signed off work prior to maternity leave with pregnancy related illness (left unable to walk), child spending time on special care and that i am currently appealing council tax overpayment.

I jsut hope i can get somewhere with them as there attitude to date has made me sick and angry which is casting a shadow over a time that should be enjoyable. like i dont have enough to be stressed out about.

adi_clarke85

When was the overpayment from - last time I worked in Council Tax (just going back into the field now) you couldn't appeal if it was from more than a year ago. See as you have been paying Rossendales for a year I doubt that it would be successful.

HappyMJ

Peaches.82 wrote: »

i have emailed Rossendales as i didnt know when i was heavily pregnant that was classed as a vulnerability, have also outlined other reasons for vulnerability, i.e caring for disabled child (4 yo son), signed off work prior to maternity leave with pregnancy related illness (left unable to walk), child spending time on special care and that i am currently appealing council tax overpayment.

I jsut hope i can get somewhere with them as there attitude to date has made me sick and angry which is casting a shadow over a time that should be enjoyable. like i dont have enough to be stressed out about.

Don't stress about it. Once the bailiffs know they should be called off. You have very little income and are not expected to pay it at such a high rate. The bailiffs want is as fast as possible but in your case you can't pay it that quick. Pay whatever you can. Don't pay the £80 if you cannot afford it. Ignore the bailiffs.

hallowitch

how many liability order do the council have against you
do you know how much they are for (confirmed by the council)
have rossendales ever been in your house to levy goods (if yes what goods did they levy)
have rossendales levied on your car (is it on hp finance)