forgot to notify council about council tax changes - advice!

amiehall

I'd have thought if you told them you made an error and should never have claimed the single persons discount. You thought you were entitled and now are aware you weren't so want to pay the outstanding amount, the amount due would be the difference in council tax. I'm not sure why you think you would get a criminal record for this.

If you add her name starting today and they look into the case later, you're going to create a tangled web of lies trying to explain it which may well result in fines and court. Best to come forward than be discovered.

CIS

CIS, when you say honesty is the best way... what do you mean?

Contact the council and advise them that she was only away on holiday and you have have been made aware that the discount is wrong.

admit guilt (the gods whole truth) and wait for the interviews/crimianl record/fine/solicitor costs, etc

That wont happen - your discount will be removed and you will be billed for the council tax due.

Ive worked in council tax recovery for the last 5 years and dealt with many , many similar cases (and know of many from other local authorities) and not once have I ever known anyone prosecuted for this .

The only similar cases that I have known prosecuted are organised frauds by landlords.

Lady_Inversneckie

Hi Single Bloke,

I also work for the Council but not yours :-)

I would hope that all Councils administer the Council Tax in the same way.

My advice to you, would be to advise your local Council Tax department by phone, email, letter or application form off your Council website.
Advise of the date that the 25% discount should be cancelled, which to be honest should be the day that it started.
A new bill will be created, calculating the Council tax with no discount from the date you give them, for you and your partner, The total sum will be calculated over the months that are left of the current financial year.
The only time that costs, sheriff officers etc will occur is if you fall behind with your payments, ignoring any reminders once the new bill is in place.

single_bloke

many thanks for the recent replies. most helpful. i can see through more of the trees now.

one question though, i find it hard to believe the council will just say - yeh no problem just pay what you owe. (of which i am more than happy to do if that's the end of this) and we'll call it quits. best case scenario.

Surely they will be p'd off with inaccurate claiming and set up an investigation. what if i come across a real jobsworth. i have handed him a case on a plate. this is my worst case scenario.

is there any standard statement/working i should make to the council, and should i phone them or my girlfriend?

CIS

A new bill will be created, calculating the Council tax with no discount from the date you give them, for you and your partner, The total sum will be calculated over the months that are left of the current financial year.

This is the most usual way of doing it but in principal the council can ask for anything before 1 April 2012 as a lump sum payment as its a previous years balance.

CIS

one question though, i find it hard to believe the council will just say - yeh no problem just pay what you owe. (of which i am more than happy to do if that's the end of this) and we'll call it quits. best case scenario.

A single person discount is the least oftheir worries - prosecutions are exceedingly rare and I've never yet seen one for a single person discount, prosecutions are used for big, organised frauds.

If we prosecuted for single person discount error/fraud my local authority would be doing 10-20 per week.

single_bloke

CIS: Thanks, what do mean by 'anything'? I probably owe about £40 per month for 6 months (although she was away for two of them), please tell me they don't have penalty fines for this, running into 100's.

i can pay a lump sum of about £200.

i noticed the term 'discount error' should this be the angle i take?

i was just gonna phone and say: hi can i add a persons name to policy number xxxxx and wait for the new form. good idea?


i really hope you all are right in the lack of priority councils have with this matter, i hope i'm not opening a hornets nest here admitting to six months of incorrect payments, that sounds bad to me. will she get into trouble or me? will these things be on the system?

what if they ask.. "you come in every month and pay £100 why din't you mention this earlier? ", or, " can both of you come down and speak to ..."

McKneff

single_bloke wrote: »

many thanks for the recent replies. most helpful. i can see through more of the trees now.

one question though, i find it hard to believe the council will just say - yeh no problem just pay what you owe. (of which i am more than happy to do if that's the end of this) and we'll call it quits. best case scenario.

Surely they will be p'd off with inaccurate claiming and set up an investigation. what if i come across a real jobsworth. i have handed him a case on a plate. this is my worst case scenario.

is there any standard statement/working i should make to the council, and should i phone them or my girlfriend?

There is no reason for them not to believe you if you are truthful and have made an honest mistake.

We believe you - and sometimes I can be the world's biggest cynic.:D

'fess up and you can get on with your life with out worrying and mithering over it.

single_bloke

it is an honest mistake, but many would think 6 months down the line keeping schtum (whilst paying the discounted amount every month on time in person) only to come out now is a bit dodgy. that's a worry. i wish all of you were on my council.

McKneff

Just do it, the sooner the better.....you'll be fine and wondered why you wasted all that time
worrying.

Good luck to you both

Annie