Council tax office - a bunch of jokers!

ValHaller

myright wrote: »

Because of their ERRORS throughout the process now I am left in a debt to the council of about £2000

And you either have £2000 spare cash or the benefit of having spent that £2000

Pollycat

myright wrote: »

The reason I wasn't aware of a £200 excess in my bank. Is because my spending is hurrendous and I dont ever do any budgeting. :'( I hate checking my statements cus I know I get depressed when i see what Ive wasted my money on. The only reason I ever check my balance to know if I have spare cash if I need to buy something.

You are a member of a money-saving website.
Make it work for you.

Go on the DFW board for tips on reducing your outgoings - you don't need to be in debt to do that.

Try Martin's downshift challenge when you next go shopping.

myright wrote: »

( I hate checking my statements cus I know I get depressed when i see what Ive wasted my money on. The only reason I ever check my balance to know if I have spare cash if I need to buy something.

That's pretty shocking.
Coraline got it exactly right when she mentioned 'head in sand'.

She gives great advice - take it.

myright wrote: »

But you're all right I need to start checking my statements, jut incase anyones doing fraud on my account.

No, you're wrong.

You need to start checking your statements because you need to understand what you are spending your money on - especially if you are considering starting a family.

Dovah_diva

Coraline wrote: »

Am I just overly anal (yes I am) for checking what's going on in my bank accounts online every week? With something as important as this (as our rent) I was watch that account every single day something is due for a direct debit!

I check mine daily - it takes minutes and it part of my early morning routine.

I actually don't believe the OP at all. He knew the DD wasn't being taken, just thought he'd have a free period, then blame them, get some money off and pay the balance nice and slowly. Now he is p1ssed off he can't do this.

It'd be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

fingledingle

This may not sit well with some on here as it is taxpayers money, but, OP Whilst you have a part to play in the matter, (not checking your bank account) If what you say is true regarding records, You have clear evidence that your Council Tax Account has been maladministered, Evidence in the form of council phone records and no payments taken as instructed, You have a clear case you can claim through the local Government Ombudsman, what amount you will get depends on his judgement, minimum would be phone costs and inconvenience. As I said this money comes from us who play by the rules.

sulkisu

fingledingle wrote: »

This may not sit well with some on here as it is taxpayers money, but, OP Whilst you have a part to play in the matter, (not checking your bank account) If what you say is true regarding records, You have clear evidence that your Council Tax Account has been maladministered, Evidence in the form of council phone records and no payments taken as instructed, You have a clear case you can claim through the local Government Ombudsman, what amount you will get depends on his judgement, minimum would be phone costs and inconvenience. As I said this money comes from us who play by the rules.

:rotfl::rotfl:

fingledingle

sulkisu wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:

And? care to expand?

CIS

You have a clear case you can claim through the local Government Ombudsman, what amount you will get depends on his judgement, minimum would be phone costs and inconvenience.

Remembering though that the LGO can only make a recommendation to a local authority.

fingledingle

CIS wrote: »

Remembering though that the LGO can only make a recommendation to a local authority.

Which in most if not all cases is accepted when involving small amounts, If I was daft enough to be in this situation myself and was determined to seek redress for a mistake I had some part in , I would write to the council giving them a chance to remedy.
I don't believe in the compensation culture, but I strongly believe that councils should be held to account for mistakes, regardless how stupid they seem, lessons need to be learned, and better management should hopefully follow.

sulkisu

fingledingle wrote: »

And? care to expand?

:o:o:o:o:o:o

Ooops - Sorry fingledingle, wrong quote and wrong thread!!! Definitely time for me to log off.

myright

fingledingle wrote: »

This may not sit well with some on here as it is taxpayers money, but, OP Whilst you have a part to play in the matter, (not checking your bank account) If what you say is true regarding records, You have clear evidence that your Council Tax Account has been maladministered, Evidence in the form of council phone records and no payments taken as instructed, You have a clear case you can claim through the local Government Ombudsman, what amount you will get depends on his judgement, minimum would be phone costs and inconvenience. As I said this money comes from us who play by the rules.

Thanks so much for this. I have called the council tax office, who have given me all the records, when i called, emailed , who I spoke to etc. It does state that i did call to get the direct debit sorted. they didnt do it the first time. Then I spoke to the manager about it, who took a payment of me for the months I missed, but then set up a DD, which again never mateialised, but is on their notes. I called several times/ emails months later when i found out that they didnt take payments, however the Manager failed to ring me back to resolve the issue in excess of 20 times. All records are there.

So i dont know why anyone is blaming me. I pay all my bills and income tax . I am not trying to fiddle out of anything. i am just upset that they should have taken the money from the start. Maybe I would have spent less. And also I do admit its my fault as well for not checking.

I guess I will take this as a learning curve.