Single person Council tax-serious stupid oversight

twistybird

Hi

I am new to this site but seriously need some help/advice/kick up the backside?!

I got married in 2012, changed my bank account,advised tax credit and working tax credit, all the things you need to do.....or so I thought. I received a letter today reviewing single person council tax discount.....

I seriously did not even think of it, pay by direct debit, rolls over every year, open the annual letter, dont read it and put it in the drawer....I can imagine a lot of people rolling their eyes now and I dont blame them. I have lived in the same house for 12 years and I suppose its one of those monthly costs I never thought about, until today.

I dont know what to do, follow the link on the letter that has traced my husband at the address through some credit agency or ring the council direct, who will know I am just ringing as I have had this letter?

Court, bailiffs, convictions? The more I google the more scared I get of the consequences.

I have no problem paying any arrears I owe, but I could not pay it all at once

I know this problem is all of my own making but I genuinely did not even think of it. I even had correspondence with the council in 2012 as my payments were being credited to someone elses account and the penny still did not drop

Any advice would be appreciated

nannytone_2

as long as you hold your hands up to your mistake i doubt they would prosecute.
they may add an admin charge onto the amount owed but i doubt they will take further action

McKneff

I can only agree with Nannytone


Go in and see them, they will know it is a genuine oversite, and stop worrying so much.

missapril75

nannytone wrote: »

as long as you hold your hands up to your mistake i doubt they would prosecute.

Dear Council Tax people

Following your letter I have just realised the silly mistake I made in not advising you of..........

I can't believe I didn't do this when I advised all the others, including the tax credit office. (including this bit would indicate you weren't trying to hide it).

Then await the revised bill and repayment suggestions.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

All Local Authorities are cracking down big time on Single Person Discount fraud. My Council has employed an outside firm to check every person who has claimed a single person discount in the past 6 years - they are removing hundreds of SPDs and creating a mountain of debt.

Hold your hands up admit what you have done - unlikely they will prosecute.

twistybird

Thank you so much for your replies, I feel such an idiot...

Am I better off actually going into the council office, writing them a letter or responding to the letter I received via the email link provided? Not sure its from my council as its from a different county but with their logo/letter heading.

I feel so guilty and automatically assume they are not going to believe it was an oversight

nannytone_2

i would go inperson, taking all your evidence along with you.( date he moved in, proof that tax credits etc are joint claims.
is he on the elctoral roll at your property?
all these things will back up your claim that it was a mistake, rather than a deliberate attempt to gain benefit you were not entitled to

TELLIT01

I have to agree with the previous comments. Hold your hands up to an oversight and take your notifications from those you did inform. I'd be amazed if you get anything more than a slap on the wrist and maybe a small fine.

CIS

Most authorities are simply removing the discounts and billing for the amount outstanding , they are unlikely to take any further action legal action based on you not advising them.

They can issue a penalty of £70.00 for late notification of the change.

arcon5

How about paying the underpayment then going in and explaining you made a mistake but have already made an overpayment to account for the revised bill. Having already paid it I think would seriously go in your favor imo

nannytone_2

arcon5 wrote: »

How about paying the underpayment then going in and explaining you made a mistake but have already made an overpayment to account for the revised bill. Having already paid it I think would seriously go in your favor imo

as the OP's partner mpved in with her in 2012, the amount owed is probably in excess of £500.
not an amount that most people can just lay their hands on