Council tax - delay in receiving refund after moving to different area

pinkteapot

We moved on 28 November and are now under a different authority for council tax. I phoned the old council on 2 December to say we'd moved. They said we'd get a refund because of the way council tax is paid partly in advance.

We still haven't had it. I keep being told they have a backlog and it'll be transferred to our bank account in a week or two.

It was originally £430 but then they took another payment on 2 Jan (I'd stupidly forgotten to cancel the direct debit) so it's now over £600. :eek:

I just want my money! I feel like if this were a company that owed me a refund then a month wouldn't be on.

At what point would you start getting shirty with them? The council do have a complaints process but I'm not sure whether to launch a complaint just yet...

We moved in December the previous year too and had that refund within a week (different authority to the one in question this time).

Skiddaw1

We had a similar issue when we moved last summer pinkteapot. I think I'd try one more 'chase up' phone call and then elevate it to a complaint if nothing happens within the next couple of weeks.

pinkteapot

Was yours Carlisle City Council by chance? That's who I'm waiting on! They last said "a week or two" one week ago, so next week I can chase again...

need_an_answer

I had this happen to me,different council but essentially they "needed" to wait for the additional payment to show up on their records before they would refund the total amount.

They seemed to suggest that it all became my fault because we didn't cancel the DD...to a point they were correct however the extra claim meant a further delay in refund.

From memory it was almost 12 weeks as once the payments had been located on my account it took a further 12 working days to raise a cheque refund.

Slow and antiquated....

Personally I'd give them 14 working days from the 2nd to process your refund in total and then raise a claim.

Slinky

Is it worth speaking with your bank and see if they will claw back the extra payment under the direct debit guarantee scheme?

KatrinaWaves

It’s a month, and it’s been Christmas also.

The account clearly hasn’t been closed if another DD was taken. I think a month at this time of year isn’t anything particularly worrisome

pinkteapot

Slinky wrote: »

Is it worth speaking with your bank and see if they will claw back the extra payment under the direct debit guarantee scheme?

I did think about that as I know there's some sort of guarantee with direct debits. However, even for that payment they shouldn't have taken we're actually owed more than the payment amount because of the way council tax is billed. So, I fear it'll mess things up even more and I'm probably best off letting the council work out what they owe us!

pinkteapot

need_an_answer wrote: »

From memory it was almost 12 weeks as once the payments had been located on my account it took a further 12 working days to raise a cheque refund.

It's just bonkers. Nationwide, how many refunds like this are outstanding and how much interest are councils making on that money?!

lincroft1710

Even about 20 yrs or so ago CT refunds could take several weeks

Cookietree

You can login online and request yr refund from there. Took 5 days together my refund. Alternatively get the credit moved to your new account (if staying within the same council).

lincroft1710

pinkteapot wrote: »

It's just bonkers. Nationwide, how many refunds like this are outstanding and how much interest are councils making on that money?!

Given current interest rates, very, very little, an infinitesimal percentage of their total annual income.