Um, what on earth?

VioletOblivia

Hi all,

I had literally just gotten used to having to pay some money towards council tax even though I'm on a low and income and can barely afford. Well, imagine my shock upon receiving a huge multi-sheet letter from my local council saying that they have overpaid my council tax benefit to the tune of £750! And bizarrely, they go all the way back to 2008 with it even detailing single days that they overpaid me. I've been in the same job, working part time on the same low wage since before then. I've always lived alone in the same flat. I felt physically sick when I read the letter as obviously, I don't have that kind of money and as my circumstances haven't changed for many years, how could they have overpaid me? The letter said that the over-payment was recovered from the council tax account (until the past couple of months, my CT was covered by CT benefit as I'm on such a low income so I've only recently started paying). I read it multiple times but I still don't get it. They messed up and they want me to give them £750? What on earth? Has anyone else been in this situation? And if so, what did you do? Obviously, I'll be onto the council as soon as I wake up tomorrow as they didn't explain WHY the overpayment happened and what on earth they expect me to do. Or any advice? If they do expect me to pay that, I'll be contacting my local CAB obviously as there's no way I can pay it unless it's a nominal amount each week.

Lou

Dogger69

Your post does not give us anything to go on. If you call the council in the morning I'm sure they'll be able to advise why the overpayment has occurred. When you have that information come back to us and we will be able to advise further.

VioletOblivia

Just checked the letter again and it does say the overpayment was caused by a change in my circumstances. There has been no change. I guess all I can do is have a go at them tomorrow.

Dogger69

VioletOblivia wrote: »

Just checked the letter again and it does say the overpayment was caused by a change in my circumstances. There has been no change. I guess all I can do is have a go at them tomorrow.

Don't 'have a go at them', it will get you nowhere. Call up, explain you have had a letter that states you have an overpayment due to a change in circumstances, and ask them to clarify what this relates to, as to the best of your knowledge your circumstances have not changed.

VioletOblivia

Hmm, good point. Yes, an explanation would be handy as I genuinely don't understand where this so called change of circumstances has come from.

coffeelover65

You say you've been in the same low paid job since 2008 and your wages haven't changed. What is your hourly rate of pay and how many hours do you work each week?

missapril75

So that's 4 to 5 years. 200-250 weeks. About £3 to £4 a week.

It's unlikely to be an increase in wages - assuming they have seen pay slips over the period.

I'm wondering if they have taken net pay without looking at deductions on the pay slip and they now see there's a deduction (or part) that they shouldn't have allowed.

Like a savings plan or xmas club? Pension contribution?

But there are lots of other possibilities.

VioletOblivia

coffeelover65 wrote: »

You say you've been in the same low paid job since 2008 and your wages haven't changed. What is your hourly rate of pay and how many hours do you work each week?

£7 an hour til a couple of months ago and then £7.20 an hour. I forgot about the huge increase. 10 hours a week.

Back in 2008 I was definitely on the lower rate and that meant I received full help.

I accept that with the changes, I have to pay something towards my CT but this overpayment is bizarre.

VioletOblivia

missapril75 wrote: »

So that's 4 to 5 years. 200-250 weeks. About £3 to £4 a week.

It's unlikely to be an increase in wages - assuming they have seen pay slips over the period.

I'm wondering if they have taken net pay without looking at deductions on the pay slip and they now see there's a deduction (or part) that they shouldn't have allowed.

Like a savings plan or xmas club? Pension contribution?

But there are lots of other possibilities.

I've been filling new forms every year the whole time and providing payslips as well. I don't really earn enough to pay into pensions or saving schemes.

I wish I knew what had happened as I'm driving myself nutty trying to figure it out.

shjo558

Have you been handing payslips in every year? If not, it could be the small increase in you tax allowance which means your take home pay has increased a little bit?

Only way to find out for definite is to phone up and ask.

Another thought, have you just applied for a single person discount and asked for that back to 2008?

VioletOblivia

I have indeed. Yes, you're right. There's no use in trying to think what happened, I have to ask them where they came up with it. Will be visiting the CAB as well.