MSE News: Council tax bills can be spread over a year from April

CIS

CT the councils will always find a way of increasing it.

In most cases its not the councils who are increasing it. If the police and fire brigade increase their levy then council have no choice but collect the extra monies.

Middy

If the councils want their residents to pay over 10 months - make November and December the ct 'free' months as the average family will have £350 to spend for Christmas.

Consumerist

The 12-month option will help those trying to get multiple £5 per month from Halifax Reward current accounts which require two monthly-paid DDs on each account.

3v3

Middy wrote: »

If the councils want their residents to pay over 10 months - make November and December the ct 'free' months as the average family will have £350 to spend for Christmas.

Currently the 'free' months are February/March. While the saving would be the same, pop it into a savings account and earn (albeit a pittance) some interest on it. Then use it for Christmas

brewerdave

A cunning move by the ConDems to make some people think that there has been a decrease in Council Tax !!!

kingstreet

Your council will stick council tax up in March by around 3% to 4%, then tell you you can pay in 12 instalments.

Thus, by sleight of hand you feel you're better off!

For example, current council tax = £1,460.

Ten instalments of £146.00

New council tax = £1,518 (example using 4% increase)

Twelve instalments of £126.50.

Ta Dah!

Consumerist

brewerdave wrote: »

A cunning move by the ConDems to make some people think that there has been a decrease in Council Tax !!!

Since you have to apply for the change, I doubt anyone will think it's a reduction in the tax.

zerog

Consumerist wrote: »

Since you have to apply for the change, I doubt anyone will think it's a reduction in the tax.

Some people here seem to think that they will have "extra money" at Christmas if they don't need to pay in Nov and Dec.

I've figured that since I pay mine on a 0% credit card anyway, it doesn't really make a difference if I pay monthly or all in one go.

Anonmouse

zerog wrote: »

Some people here seem to think that they will have "extra money" at Christmas if they don't need to pay in Nov and Dec.

I've figured that since I pay mine on a 0% credit card anyway, it doesn't really make a difference if I pay monthly or all in one go.

Hmm council tax by credit card, do you have to manually pay each month or can you setup an automated payment similar to a direct debit?

An extra £25 of rewards a year from my cc for nothing would be nice as my credit card bill/council tax come out of the same account anyway.

ic

I called my local council the other day I switched from 10 months to 12 months - always annoyed me how it was 10 months. It'll make it easier to budget if I get charged the same each month, the same as all my other bills. My council required notification by 1st March for the change, otherwise you'd have to wait to the following year.