I fudged up with my council tax now they want the whole lot in one go

supersoup

First bill I got after we moved into our house was a reminder notice. Stupidly I got sidetracked with life and didn't pay within the 7 days. I realised the other day what I'd done and tried to ring them to sort it out but this is Cornwall council we're talking about and you just get passed from automated menu to automated menu and when you do finally speak to someone they say they'll transfer you to the council tax office but they actually just send you back to another automated menu.

So I emailed them and stated I will pay the missed payment and the next due payment in full and would like to do a direct debit thereafter. I have not sent those payments yet be because I wanted confirmation from them that it would be ok. They should be able to see from when I lived at my old flat I paid reliably.

I have not had a response yet. Today I received a final notice demanding the full years balance. I cannot do that! I admit I messed up and even said so in my email. I believe if they would take me up on my offer it would be less costly than them going to court to ultimately instate an attachment of earnings.

I was thinking I might pay the missing months payment anyway via the self service website as a gesture of good will and to show I want to be compliant and not being a time waster. I do not have faith that will do anything though. Please what can I do?

Sky_

I did a similar thing when I moved house recently. Mine only got to me receiving a warning that they'd soon ask for the full year's payment.

I paid the two months of missing payments and they sent a letter offering lower direct debits for the remaining months of the year.

In your position, I'd definitely pay the missing months now--as long as you aren't close to the date they've given you in the final demand. If you are close to that date, then I'd pay the full amount now (credit card maybe, then a 0% interest balance transfer?)

CIS

A final notice will only either be issued for a closed account or an account where's there's already been two reminder.

The demand notice issue needs looked in to anyway to see what happened but also likely the first two reminders.

Over the years I've seen many similar cases (and still do).

Craig

sourcrates

You really need to speak to someone at the council to sort this out, the letters are automated so lack the human touch, you should pay what's outstanding now, then phone and organise a regular direct debt payment, for the remainder.

You certainly don't want this to get any worse, needs nipping in the bud now.

Our council, East Riding Of Yorkshire, are actually very good when you speak to them, I know this is not the case everywhere though.

theoretica

I would assume they haven't read your email - it can take them weeks and the letters are automatically generated.

Can you go in person to the appropriate office?

sacha28

Hi supersoup I'm also in Cornwall and messed up with council tax....a total mis-communication between DP and myself where we each thought the other had paid. They seemed to skip any warnings and went straight to the final demand foe the whole lot....needless to say we weren't able to pay that and did what every normal, sane person would do....buried our idiot heads in the sand they issued a liability order and it was only then that DP bit the bullet and phoned them.

Long story short, he phoned 0300 1234 171 and pressed 2 to speak to a person about the outstanding amount. He explained the situation and the person was very helpful and set up the DD with the arrears spread over the 10 months. I'm not saying you're ignoring the situation, far from it I can see, but he did say that they will bend the rules for people who are upfront and honest but throw the book at people who ignore them. (this was a total contrast to Torbay council who refused to speak to you once even a liability order was issued).

Hope this is helpful!

Honeysucklelou2

I also pay Council tax to Cornwall Council and last year had a final notice. If you look at the phone numbers on the bottom of the final notice letter, they are different to the normal automated council tax number so might help to get you through to the relevant part of the council. The online payment option is usually quite good and does give a balance to show how much is left to pay in the financial year.

supersoup

Thank you all for the replies, I am feeling more reassured. I think I will pay the outstanding amount on the reminder notice which was about one months worth. I will then try contacting them on Monday to discuss the remaining.

supersoup

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

I also pay Council tax to Cornwall Council and last year had a final notice. If you look at the phone numbers on the bottom of the final notice letter, they are different to the normal automated council tax number so might help to get you through to the relevant part of the council. The online payment option is usually quite good and does give a balance to show how much is left to pay in the financial year.

I had a look and can only see the standard council tax phone number 0300 1234 171.

Honeysucklelou2

The phone numbers are different on the final demand letter. The reminder letters don't have anything other than the standard council tax number, but if you have a letter demanding payment of the remaining balance within 7 days, there is a number that is different ( that's what I noticed when I had such a letter last Dec).

fatbelly

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

The phone numbers are different on the final demand letter. The reminder letters don't have anything other than the standard council tax number, but if you have a letter demanding payment of the remaining balance within 7 days, there is a number that is different ( that's what I noticed when I had such a letter last Dec).

I don't know of any number for Revenues other than 0300 1234 171. Can you post it if you have one?

The automatic menu on 0300 1234 171 is a nightmare - most routes take you to 'thank you for phoning cornwall council. goodbye'

I think I have navigated it using 2, then 6 then 2. If you can get into a queue (even if it says ' your position is 32') you have done well.

Advice on this thread sounds good. I just hope the op gets someone reasonable on Monday as some staff are more helpful than others.