Help Please, Huge Problem with Council Tax

trubster

Hi,

I am currently living in a flat with my OH, it is rented off the local council (Or there agents, Sheffield Homes) I came off benefits and started working self employed. I was told I was not entitled to a 4 week housing/council benefit run on (HCTB 4WRO) because of a clerical error on the job centres part, I contacted them and this was soon rectified, It took the HB/CTB Department of Sheffield City Council 6 weeks to realise this was the case and as I was making a loss, I could not afford to continue self employment.

I claimed benefits again and put in a housing benefit claim, I was then issued with a "Notice Seeking Possesion" and a court summons for the council tax, even though it was not my fault that the benefits section did not process the 4 week run on.

I went to CAB and they phoned up the council and made an arrangement for me to repay the council tax (Even though I shouldnt owe anything) and CAB advised me that the matter had been put on hold and it wont go to court. After contacting the council, I have been told that the court case did go ahead and that they want £63 off me in legal fees, bringing my account to nearly £500!!!

I need to know if there is anyone that can advise me what to do with this matter as I am not in any position to pay that sort of money and expecially when I do not owe it.

I looked into taking them to small claims court but obviously, you can not issue a summons against a government department. WHAT CAN I DO???

Thanks in advance, Kev:eek: :eek:

hodgester

the CAB should have informed you that any arrangment would have still resulted in the request for a liability order. All the arrangment does is ensure that as long as you stick to it then the powers of the liability order are not enforced. Nearly every authority works in this way, it is regarded as 'securing' the debt in case of default on the arrangement. What the CAB ususally attempts to do is negotiate so that the costs of the liability order are quashed. The summons costs will always be collected as the summons was issued correctly (magistrates do not consider benefit or hardship issues at liability order award stage).

4 weeks of CTB does not add up to £400+ and we are now in February so I would assume that you have not paid much towards it this year since your benefit ceased, so irrespective of 4 week run on you are in serious arrears. Has your arrangement defaulted yet? If so, call your Council Offfice and make an arrangement. They could consider running it along next year's bill. They may refer your debt to a bailiff contractor if you don't and that will cost you some serious money.