Council Tax Rant

suziqqq

I have power of attorney for my elderly aunt. Our local council are failing to give her a single person reduction on her council tax so i called the council to get it sorted out. They told me her account would be put on hold and they sent a form to fill in which was received and sent back. A week after sending back the form she got a reminder saying her bill had not been paid I emailed the council as it it is near impossible to get through on the phone to ask what was going on and where is the revised bill that was in may and never had a reply. Several emails later and no reply she has now had a bill for nearly £500 and a court summons for unpaid council tax after they told me her account was on hold.
I am going into the council offices on Monday to sort this once and for all
Rant over

Kim_kim

Why don't you work out 3/4 & pay that?
While you're resolving this.

agrinnall

Better to post on the Cutting Tax board where you are more likely to get a response from one of the Council Tax experts.

HappyMJ

Kim_kim wrote: »

Why don't you work out 3/4 & pay that?
While you're resolving this.

That doesn't stop further action.

The correct action is to pay the full amount requested then apply for a refund. I personally don't agree with that but that's the way council operates.

Kim_kim

HappyMJ wrote: »

That doesn't stop further action.

The correct action is to pay the full amount requested then apply for a refund. I personally don't agree with that but that's the way council operates.

Surely if they paid what they owed & the council still took court action for the remaining money then they wouldn't suffer any further penalties (applied by the court) as they weren't liable for any remaining tax.

timbstoke

Kim_kim wrote: »

Surely if they paid what they owed & the council still took court action for the remaining money then they wouldn't suffer any further penalties (applied by the court) as they weren't liable for any remaining tax.

They're liable for whatever the council say they're liable for, at least so far as the council are concerned. While it would work in OPs favour to pay what they feel is owed, it won't stop the court proceedings unless the council agree that the full amount has been paid. Also, if OP was originally paying in installments, the money to pay in full might simply not be there.

suziqqq

timbstoke wrote: »

They're liable for whatever the council say they're liable for, at least so far as the council are concerned. While it would work in OPs favour to pay what they feel is owed, it won't stop the court proceedings unless the council agree that the full amount has been paid. Also, if OP was originally paying in installments, the money to pay in full might simply not be there.

She was paying in monthly instalments but now has lost the right to do so because of the arrears. She can pay the full amount but as we were told the account was on hold and not to pay anything until a revised bill was sent I don't see why she should be penalised. Off to the council this morning to see what they have to say !

Hintza

You might be hitting a stonewall at this stage so might be best taking your cheque book with you.

arcon5

timbstoke wrote: »

They're liable for whatever the council say they're liable for, at least so far as the council are concerned. While it would work in OPs favour to pay what they feel is owed, it won't stop the court proceedings unless the council agree that the full amount has been paid. Also, if OP was originally paying in installments, the money to pay in full might simply not be there.

If it goes to court then the council no longer make the rules though, the judge will.