Council tax demand after discharge

george_112

Hi, I have just been sent a council tax demand for payment within 14 days for the bill that was for the year of bankruptcy. I was declared bankrupt May 20 so discharged this year and just received the bill for last year today. I have called them and they said it says it’s being written off but this is the 3rd time they have said I owe it. Do I have to pay this? I don’t  have the funds and am petrified they are going to send bailiffs or something. Thanks 

GeordieGeorge

Someone more knowledgable will hopefully be along soon, but until then, you do have the option to pay “under protest” and then request a refund later. If it’s a small amount it could be worth your peace of mind to do this.

CIS

george_112 said:

Hi, I have just been sent a council tax demand for payment within 14 days for the bill that was for the year of bankruptcy. I was declared bankrupt May 20 so discharged this year and just received the bill for last year today. I have called them and they said it says it’s being written off but this is the 3rd time they have said I owe it. Do I have to pay this? I don’t  have the funds and am petrified they are going to send bailiffs or something. Thanks 

It's a long way from any enforcement agent action. If they don't sort it soon then put in a formal complaint.

Sonic101

Hi there

I imagine it might be something to do with a stupid systems auto-generating correspondence. 

Have a read of the thread below this one "Council tax - is this a normal process?" - it looks like this isn't an uncommon occurrence - and you should be fine. 

I would send a formal complain in writing, giving your bankruptcy number and asking them to stop harassing you. As CIS says above, it would take quite a while for them to take any enforcement action anyway (and in the very unlikely scenario that happened, the council would end up with egg on its face for sending Bailiffs after someone they have on record as bankrupt!)

george_112

Thank everyone. It’s £541so not money I have spare. I’ll email them and include all the bankruptcy details to remind them and keep the thread updated 

Minkym00

Were you a single resident? If not your partner would still liable for the council tax. 

george_112

Yes it’s just me and my two children. 

george_112

I actually continued paying the bill after bankruptcy as I didn’t realise and they refunded me this money last year

george_112

I have just found an email from them from last year stating that they have been informed of my bankruptcy and under the rules the council tax for 2020/21 will be pursued through the bankruptcy so surely it should have just been written off then

TinyPomegranate

george_112 said:

Thank everyone. It’s £541so not money I have spare. I’ll email them and include all the bankruptcy details to remind them and keep the thread updated 

If you do this, I suggest you request a "read" receipt when you send it so you know someone's opened your email. Also unless you have a response in writing that says you don't owe the money, don't trust what they say, several council officials told me that verbally but they still sent summons and bailiffs. (The bailiffs were more responsive than the council ) Ultimately I had to put in a written complaint, but this worked in my favour as they have a process to follow and it meant someone actually paid attention to what I'd been trying to tell them. I now have it in writing that all court and bailiffs are cancelled and I don't need to pay anything to them until 2022. So don't be afraid to use your council's official complaint process.

george_112

Thanks, I think I’ll send a complaint as this isn’t the first time. It’s such a stress and I was starting to feel better now the mental burden of debt was behind me.