Council Tax - Demand for £0.00

Uncle_Fester_2

I got a letter Re: Council Tax Arrears and a demand for payment within 14 days or bailiffs will call.

But I paid my Council Tax in full the day I got my new bill for 2007/08 in April.

The demand for payment is £0.00!!!! :mad:

I called the council, they told me just pay up this amount or face bailiff action! I called again, the same person picked up the phone and told me the samething and put the phone down on me, without even hearing what I had to say!

What can I do??? (There's nothing to pay)

fermi

That happened to me when I was a student and was exempt.

I made out a cheque for £0.00 and took it to the council office to pay. Once they had stopped laughing behind the counter they updated their system.:rotfl:

ZTD

First of all to have bailiffs, it will need to go to court and an judgement raised. You don't need me to tell you that this will be laughed out.

Phone again - but take a name and record the date and time of your call. If they hang up on you again then photocopy your bill and send it in as an official complaint.

You will want a personal written apology from:

1. The Director of Finance - for having policies and procedures which allow such a stupid bill to be sent out, causing you worry and distress
2. The Director in charge of Customer Services - for failing to have policies and procedures in place to deal with such an error on their part
3. The Operative in question - for rudeness

Any failure on their part to deliver these will lead to a complaint of mal-administration to the local government ombudsman.

hypno06

I do like the idea of writing a cheque for £0.00 and taking it in though.....:D

fermi

hypno06 wrote: »

I do like the idea of writing a cheque for £0.00 and taking it in though.....:D

I know.:D

I was a bored student with too much spare time, so I didn't mind going and doing that face to face with the council staff. It was quite entertaining. They were very apologetic as well.

pandapaws

I'd be really awkward, and write back to them refusing to pay!

Because I'm such an awkward b**ch adn love winding up the companies that make my life hell with their utter incompetence, I'd write in great detail about how I don't feel that the council offer good value for money and I'm fed up with my council tax being increased despite service cuts etc etc. I'd then categorically state that I have tried to discuss the amount on the bill on several occasions and always been told I have just to pay it, but I point blank refuse to send them the amount they are requesting and demand that they take legal action if they wish to pursue it!!!

You could probably get £50 from the Sun for your story when you get the court summons!

Have fun!!!

hypno06

pandapaws wrote: »

You could probably get £50 from the Sun for your story when you get the court summons!

Have fun!!!

Now that's an idea to turn a very frustrating matter into something very DFW and profitable!

Pigsback give extra points for little snippits like this and mags often give prizes for "letter of the week" etc, so why not turn it to your advantage? Let us know how you get on!!

rog2

Uncle_Fester wrote: »

I got a letter Re: Council Tax Arrears and a demand for payment within 14 days or bailiffs will call.

The demand for payment is £0.00!!!! :mad:

I called the council, they told me just pay up this amount or face bailiff action! I called again, the same person picked up the phone and told me the samething and put the phone down on me, without even hearing what I had to say! (There's nothing to pay)

Hi UF - Until a couple of days ago, I would have, happily, advised you to have a word with the Collection Department of your local council, who, I had always found, seemed to be quite reasonable.

Unfortunately, another poster started a thread : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=534676 which was 'answered' by another poster, who works in the collections department of a local council. It appears that the councils know best and we are just 'trying to avoid our responsibilities'

Just read the thread - seems like you may have spoken to the same person. :rolleyes:

Jacks_xxx

If it's a Labour run council call The Daily Mail - They'd probably pay you a few quid just for the chance to batter "Loony Labour" again!

Love Jacks xxx

Uncle_Fester_2

Hillingdon Council (London) just don't know what the fcuk they're doing!!! :mad:

plumduff-2

Oh I just love this story.. its the best one ive heard for years and years.. just proves what a load of monkeys CT Units employ....

I agree with pandapaws, I alos love winding companies up.. especially when they give you such great amunition....

I would do one of two things:

write and simply tell them you are going to the local rag to expose their incompetance.. The local rags love this sort of thing...

or

as stated, it cant go to the bailiffs until it has gone to Magistrates Court for a liability order... You could have fun in court as said before... as the Judges will not be impressed with this sort of imcompetance...