Bedroom tax

babyellis

could someone please help?
My council gave me a 2 bedroom property even though I only needed a 1 bedroom, I moved into the 2 bed and then 4 weeks later they sent me letters demanding that I pay bedroom tax. I then asked them to move me to a 1 bedroom property as I couldn't afford the extra money and they said they would inform me when they had a 1 bed and that I should look for a mutual exchange in the mean time which I did. I eventually found a 1 bed mutual exchange and have lived here for 9 months now. Today I received a letter from the council stating that I have arrears of £179.00 and that I must pay the full amount within 7 days or they will pass my details on to a debt collector. Where do I stand with this please

bargainbetty

I think you should go into the offices and ask about it. Get everything clearly in writing and ask that they write the sum off as you were placed in the large property by them. There is a fund available for such issues, and you should ask that they apply for it for you.

It might be worth having a chat with your local MP, if the council won't help.

harveybobbles

The council shoudn't have moved you into a property that was too big for your needs without doing a financial assessment of you.

I'd tell them to do one and laugh at the letters that these scumbag DCA sends.

In the meantime, write to your MP, your local papers and anyone else you can think of.

Even have a rant about it on Twitter and tag the council and your MP.