Council Tax & Factoring Fee?

agrinnall

Were you not sent a leaflet with your CT bill explaining what the money is spent on? There are always many things on that list that an individual does not use, but unless we move to an entirely user-pays system for every council service then that will always be the case, whatever collection method is used (rates, community charge, CT, other local taxation, etc.).

HappyMJ

Chaz_Malcolm wrote: »

CT is the service provided by the council in which you are paying for. Ie waste collection etc. This isn't about personal gains and refusing to pay anything. I am after a better understanding and if anyone else has queried these same things.

Waste collection isn't just for you it's for your community. If £50 of your council tax bill goes towards waste collection services in your council and you don't use it then you don't get £50 off your bill.

If it was user pays then others in your community may object to paying and will fly tip more. Charging everyone minimizes the incidence of fly tipping and keeps your community clean.

Chaz_Malcolm

Yes Darksparkle CT is for all the roads in my area and I have to pay the factor for all the new roads upkeep until the council take them over. So answered my own question regarding that one it should be the factor that I speak to regarding that.

But as for the likes of bins and that I am paying CT & Factor for the same service.

I know people with houses that are much bigger than my flat for example... few miles away 3 storey house with 4 bedrooms, 2 livings rooms, 2 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, garage, office, front & back garden and we are in the same tax band D..... I have a 2 bedroom flat, 1 bathroom, kitchen/living room, no garden etc etc.

Am I overthinking this or is this a genuine query I have no idea!

fed_up_and_stressed

Darksparkle wrote: »

But doesnt CT cover all roads in your council area, rather than just paying for the road outside your property?

Council Tax also pays for things like the police and fire brigade. I'm sure the OP would still want access to their services if he needed them !

HappyMJ

Chaz_Malcolm wrote: »

Yes Darksparkle CT is for all the roads in my area and I have to pay the factor for all the new roads upkeep until the council take them over. So answered my own question regarding that one it should be the factor that I speak to regarding that.

But as for the likes of bins and that I am paying CT & Factor for the same service.

I know people with houses that are much bigger than my flat for example... few miles away 3 storey house with 4 bedrooms, 2 livings rooms, 2 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, garage, office, front & back garden and we are in the same tax band D..... I have a 2 bedroom flat, 1 bathroom, kitchen/living room, no garden etc etc.

Am I overthinking this or is this a genuine query I have no idea!

If you don't agree with the Banding then appeal.

Darksparkle

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Council Tax also pays for things like the police and fire brigade. I'm sure the OP would still want access to their services if he needed them !

I only mentioned roads as the OP did.

Darksparkle

Chaz_Malcolm wrote: »

Yes Darksparkle CT is for all the roads in my area and I have to pay the factor for all the new roads upkeep until the council take them over. So answered my own question regarding that one it should be the factor that I speak to regarding that.

But as for the likes of bins and that I am paying CT & Factor for the same service.

I know people with houses that are much bigger than my flat for example... few miles away 3 storey house with 4 bedrooms, 2 livings rooms, 2 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, garage, office, front & back garden and we are in the same tax band D..... I have a 2 bedroom flat, 1 bathroom, kitchen/living room, no garden etc etc.

Am I overthinking this or is this a genuine query I have no idea!

I'm in a 2 bedroom flat, I'm band E. My neighbour is also in a 2 bedroom flat (although the smaller) and they are Band D.

I was looking at buying a 3 bedroom terraced house and that's band C.

HappyMJ

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Council Tax also pays for things like the police and fire brigade. I'm sure the OP would still want access to their services if he needed them !

Nah....make the home owner get a quote from a few different suppliers when they've got an uncontrolled fire and make sure they pay in advance before they start work putting the fire out. :beer:

kidmugsy

We pay the same council tax as neighbours but we don't have children at school. Snot fair.

You must expect it to be unfair: it's government, after all.

jennifernil

The monthly amount you pay the factor may, or may not, cover the costs of maintaining the building, and any grounds, unadopted roads etc.

It will also cover a fee for the factor to manage all this. You should get a statement of costs every so often, you may even find you have to pay extra if any repairs are required.

The monthly amount you pay is only an estimate of the expected costs.

The council should empty the bins, but if they require cleaning that will be arranged by the factor. Likewise if residents dump rubbish outside the bins that has to be removed.

If you feel your CT banding is too high, you have a certain length of time after purchase to challenge it.