Council Tax Payments

Sirius_Minor

No, all that was asked was to get the info to them asap. Informed them that it was already on the way by recorded delivery.

CIS

Sirius_Minor wrote: »

No, all that was asked was to get the info to them asap. Informed them that it was already on the way by recorded delivery.

I suspect then, that due to the summons being issued in May, that the answer is either 1) the payments are being credited to the wrong account or 2) they are sitting in a holding account. Two very common issues in council tax that I've seen happen many, many times.


Ideally you need to know from them if any payments have been credited to the account and, if so, which ones (and when).

Sirius_Minor

CIS wrote: »

I suspect then, that due to the summons being issued in May, that the answer is either 1) the payments are being credited to the wrong account or 2) they are sitting in a holding account. Two very common issues in council tax that I've seen happen many, many times.


Ideally you need to know from them if any payments have been credited to the account and, if so, which ones (and when).

Thanks, if that has not been mentioned in their reply, I will ask that.
As for your previous post, I hit the thank you as it answered a niggling issue I had with the 2015/16 bill. That seems to have been hit by that auto allocation to arrears you mention.
With the current bill being cleared before the end of the year & with no arrears on the account, feel confident that auto allocation will not occur with the 2020/21 bill.

Gravedigger

That 15th April sounds a bit strange to me. I've always been billed on the first of every month. I wonder if there was a cuck-up with billing you on 14th April when it might have been their error and should have been 1st April thus putting you in arrears. Just a thought.

Sirius_Minor

The Annual bill is always 1st April to 31st March.
No idea as to why they choose that date for the 1st payment.

A question for CIS: The information you have provided regarding wrong/holding accounts & auto allocation to arrears, will a senior local taxation officer be aware of those issues?

CIS

Sirius_Minor wrote: »

A question for CIS: The information you have provided regarding wrong/holding accounts & auto allocation to arrears, will a senior local taxation officer be aware of those issues?

I'd like to say yes but... I have had occasional arguments with councils for clients where I've had to spell it out to them over this and similar issues (If you've used the main systems regularly then you get to know the issues).

CIS

That 15th April sounds a bit strange to me. I've always been billed on the first of every month. I wonder if there was a cuck-up with billing you on 14th April when it might have been their error and should have been 1st April thus putting you in arrears. Just a thought.

The Annual bill is always 1st April to 31st March.
No idea as to why they choose that date for the 1st payment.

There would no risk of arrears by them setting the date later, monies cannot be in arrears until after the set payment date, regardless of when that date is.



They have to give 14 days notice (minimum) so for some reason (of which there are many different ones) they didn't have the demand notices ready to be issued for the 1st and decided on a date later on the month

Sirius_Minor

CIS wrote: »

I'd like to say yes but... I have had occasional arguments with councils for clients where I've had to spell it out to them over this and similar issues (If you've used the main systems regularly then you get to know the issues).

Thanks once again. I believe it answers the issue with the 2015/16 bill.
Due to an accident the previous year, income was curtailed, happened on public transport. Had problems with the system, but not relevant here. Won the court case March 2015 with the award cheque received late March cleared bank & available by 4th April. This is where I made a big mistake, still can't understand how I made it. I was under the impression that local government worked the same as national in that the financial year begins 1st Monday in April. Paid the whole in a lump sum believing it was that years bill on the 5th.

Should have checked the bill. What made my perception worse was that years bill was the same amount as the previous year, it had not increased.

Your auto allocation to arrears makes sense as I believe it to be behind why I continued to receive reminders & summons, so my error, my pain. With no arrears cannot understand why the same happened this year.

Sirius_Minor

Update. The issue has been resolved but not before an old saying came true - It gets worse before it gets better. We were shocked on Sat 7th to receive 2 letters which were Notice of Enforcements. 1 was for an odd amount which did not reconcile with either my spreadsheet or the statement sent from the council earlier in the year. The 2nd was for the full amount for the current year.

Very strong letters, no abuse, were sent. We received 2 letter this morning from the council which solved the issue & in our favour. What has been shown is that not only were we hit by the auto allocation to arrears but a holding account as CIS stated earlier. the costs for 2019/20 have ben erased from our account & the instructions to the bailiffs have been recalled.

In this day & age it is an absolute pleasure to see former/current local/national government employees putting their knowledge & experience to good use in assisting others, so I am publicly thanking such an employee. THANK YOU very much CIS.

xylophone

Will you be able to opt for twelve monthly payments in the next financial year and set up a DD?

This would make life easier?

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-to-save-money-on-your-council-tax-bill


Paying your Council Tax over 12 months instead of 10

Most councils allow you to choose to spread your Council Tax payments over 12 months instead of the usual 10. Making the same payment every month might make it easier for you to budget.

Just ask your council if they offer this option.