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Council Tax Debt - not happy!!! Help please!!!
lauras1712
Posts: 7 Forumite
Not sure if I'm in the right section but here I go, looking a bit of advice!
My boyfriend sharing a flat with a friend before we got together, he moved in with his 'friend' to help him out a little and the agreement was my boyfriend paid the rent and the friend paid the bills!
What we didn't know was that the friend never paid ANY bills, we were unaware of this as all the letters were taken by the friend and hidden, due to people chasing money!!
The council tax was not paid for the whole year, this money suddenly started coming from my boyfriends wages without him knowing, we challenge the friend and he gave us the old chestnut 'I'll sort it' well he never did but we let the £514 debt go once it was paid from my boyfriends wages. We were told by the council that once my boyfriends share was paid the 'friend' whould be persuaded and guess what the second £514 has just started coming out my boyfriends wages!!!!! Furious is an understatement!! We have had numerous calls/letters/emails with the council who basically said they can't be bother contacting the said 'friend' it's easier to take the money again from my boyfriend.
The thing is we work with him we provided his mobile no, work no and work address to the council yet they can't be bothered chasing him!!!!!
My question is surely if two people are liable for council tax one person who is on a lesser wage than the said 'friend' then they should take payment from the other person too???
We have asked the friend about it and he says 'he'll sort it' story of his life!!! This is putting extra pressure on us as a couple as we are also saving for our first child.
Has anyone had anything like this before, can u point us in the right direction as the council clearly dont want to help!!
Many thanks in advance
My boyfriend sharing a flat with a friend before we got together, he moved in with his 'friend' to help him out a little and the agreement was my boyfriend paid the rent and the friend paid the bills!
What we didn't know was that the friend never paid ANY bills, we were unaware of this as all the letters were taken by the friend and hidden, due to people chasing money!!
The council tax was not paid for the whole year, this money suddenly started coming from my boyfriends wages without him knowing, we challenge the friend and he gave us the old chestnut 'I'll sort it' well he never did but we let the £514 debt go once it was paid from my boyfriends wages. We were told by the council that once my boyfriends share was paid the 'friend' whould be persuaded and guess what the second £514 has just started coming out my boyfriends wages!!!!! Furious is an understatement!! We have had numerous calls/letters/emails with the council who basically said they can't be bother contacting the said 'friend' it's easier to take the money again from my boyfriend.
The thing is we work with him we provided his mobile no, work no and work address to the council yet they can't be bothered chasing him!!!!!
My question is surely if two people are liable for council tax one person who is on a lesser wage than the said 'friend' then they should take payment from the other person too???
We have asked the friend about it and he says 'he'll sort it' story of his life!!! This is putting extra pressure on us as a couple as we are also saving for our first child.
Has anyone had anything like this before, can u point us in the right direction as the council clearly dont want to help!!
Many thanks in advance
0
Comments
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Who's name is the flat in?DEBT FREE AND PROUD
'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt'0 -
lauras1712 wrote: »Not sure if I'm in the right section but here I go, looking a bit of advice!
My boyfriend sharing a flat with a friend before we got together, he moved in with his 'friend' to help him out a little and the agreement was my boyfriend paid the rent and the friend paid the bills!
What we didn't know was that the friend never paid ANY bills, we were unaware of this as all the letters were taken by the friend and hidden, due to people chasing money!!
The council tax was not paid for the whole year, this money suddenly started coming from my boyfriends wages without him knowing, we challenge the friend and he gave us the old chestnut 'I'll sort it' well he never did but we let the £514 debt go once it was paid from my boyfriends wages. We were told by the council that once my boyfriends share was paid the 'friend' whould be persuaded and guess what the second £514 has just started coming out my boyfriends wages!!!!! Furious is an understatement!! We have had numerous calls/letters/emails with the council who basically said they can't be bother contacting the said 'friend' it's easier to take the money again from my boyfriend.
The thing is we work with him we provided his mobile no, work no and work address to the council yet they can't be bothered chasing him!!!!!
My question is surely if two people are liable for council tax one person who is on a lesser wage than the said 'friend' then they should take payment from the other person too???
We have asked the friend about it and he says 'he'll sort it' story of his life!!! This is putting extra pressure on us as a couple as we are also saving for our first child.
Has anyone had anything like this before, can u point us in the right direction as the council clearly dont want to help!!
Many thanks in advance
I think this will explain the council's perspective?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_and_several_liability
Whether it is correct or not I have no idea....0 -
Were both names on the council tax bill. If so each one is liable for the whole of the council tax. They will take it from the first one they find - all of it.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
It is not actually the council's responsibility to sort out issues between people who are jointly responsible for the CT. They just claim the whole lot from whomever they can get it most easily. Job done - and as a council tax payer, I would not want them to get involved in trying to sort out all of the issues like yours.
Instead of directing your frustration at the council, direct it at your friend and make him responsible for paying you. If you had done this from the start, he would not have found it so easy to hide.Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0 -
Money doesnt just suddenly come out of a wage, there are lots of letters, red letters and a court case before it gets to the stage where it becomes an attachment of earnings.
Its up to your bf to get it back from his friend.
What about all the electric/gas/water bills then.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
As far as council tax liability goes (section 6 of the LGFA 1992) then two joint tenants are equally liable for the council tax charge, irrespective of any personal arrangement.
The council can pursue whichever of the 2 liable parties they wish for the full balance.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
Makes me wonder if the friend has been opening the demand letters,,
othewise how come they had your bfs work address, some friend eh.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
I know they can persue just one person, and I know that there is more than it coming from wages as an AOE but he never got these letters, they were in joint names, hidden! If we did know then we would have prevented this. As a tax payer myself I don't want all the hassle either. The flat was in both their names. We have been on the 'friends' back but with no avail he isn't bothered!! We have had nothing from the gas, electric, water bills yet but I know he owes money to them and they have been chasing him, as I work in the same office we get calls for the 'friend regarding these debts all the time' as far as I know only the friend is named on these.
The thing I don't understand is why persue one person if liable is such a commonly used word!! And means: Legally obligated; responsible???0 -
Fair to say he isn't a friend anymore, he is actually my boss at work! haha so I have to tolerate him somewhat but this is getting stupid! He clearly has been hiding mail and opening which I believe is wrong in its own right! But let's not go there for now0
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I know they can persue just one person, and I know that there is more than it coming from wages as an AOE but he never got these letters, they were in joint names, hidden! If we did know then we would have prevented this.
This is outside the councils control which is why it doesn't affect the legal service of the documents.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0
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