Am i paying to much council tax?

CrunchieCrunchie

Hello,


Im looking for some advice.....
Moved into a flat in May. just got a letter though from the council saying I have to pay £100 a month for council tax from sept to next march (This is also with the £200 off for living on my own) . Its Band A and im not sure how much the property is worth.
But my issue is, apparently because its not a full year I have to pay 100 a month to make up the money rather then the 60 it would be next year ( For a full year). The Person before me paid all the way up to sept. So not sure why they want more money!?


As I'm stretched enough as it is paying for every bill under the sun. So i was wondering if anyone can help me reduce this as it seems so steep.


Also just wondering if there is anything I can do to lower the payments as im already paying over the odds for the flat anyways?

b33r

What area do you live in? i.e. which council is it?

Do you have any way of scanning/photographing the bill and uploading a copy (and removing any personal information)?

CrunchieCrunchie

Oh Hi there!
Live in Worthing, West Sussex.


I can try and Scan it in later. What information do you need?

Biggles

CrunchieCrunchie wrote: »

I can try and Scan it in later. What information do you need?

You're really not querying the overall tax amount, but the amount they want for the remainder of the year?

That being the case, how much is the total for the year? And how do they say they arrive at £100pm for seven months? Are they agreeing that the previous tenant paid up till Sep?

Torry_Quine

Aren't you liable from May when you moved in? Even though the prior person had paid until September they would be due a rebate.

HappyMJ

CrunchieCrunchie wrote: »

Hello,


Im looking for some advice.....
Moved into a flat in May. just got a letter though from the council saying I have to pay £100 a month for council tax from sept to next march (This is also with the £200 off for living on my own) . Its Band A and im not sure how much the property is worth.
But my issue is, apparently because its not a full year I have to pay 100 a month to make up the money rather then the 60 it would be next year ( For a full year). The Person before me paid all the way up to sept. So not sure why they want more money!?


As I'm stretched enough as it is paying for every bill under the sun. So i was wondering if anyone can help me reduce this as it seems so steep.


Also just wondering if there is anything I can do to lower the payments as im already paying over the odds for the flat anyways?

You didn't pay anything in May, June or July and they aren't asking for any payment in August. Those 4 months are still due and are being paid for in instalments by adding to the 6 payments you are going to make in September through March. So your annual council tax bill might be about £720 and divided by 12 is £60 per month. However...£720 divided by 12 multiplied by 10 (the number of months in the year that you are liable for) divided by 6 (the number of instalments you are going to make) comes to .... £100 per month. The exact amount they are asking for.

You could if you wanted to pay £180 to cover May, June and July then from the 1st August start paying £60 per month.

CrunchieCrunchie

Well to be honest, Im not really sure. its £698.58 (after 25% of for living by myself...)
There are asking me for £98.58 for the 1st month and £100 for the 6 months after.
She even said on the phone, After next march it will automatically go down to 60?
Just doesn't make sense...


And in regards to the previous tenant. Only going of what the landlord said to me.......
So should I be querying the overall?
Just think its sooo steep per month to be honest!

Money_maker

Yes, but if you moved in during May, there is May, June & July you haven't paid yet which have bumped the payments up. Do you understand?

Biggles

Seems about right. If you had sorted this out as soon as you moved in, it would have only been £63-odd (£698.58/11 payments).

Now, you still have to pay it by March, so it's £100 (£698.58/7 payments).

Next year you'll have to meet the full years amount /12 payments, which might be £63 or so again.

Presumably the rumoured payments by the previous tenant will be sorted out by the council, so should be ignored.