Council Tax Support

wilfred30

Gig1968 said:

Absolute shambles Birmingham city council they are wanting an award letter dated in this year. The last award letter I had was in 2019. I have a PIP award letter from last year also not good enough apparently. I tried to explain to them don't send out an award letter every year.She suggested I carried on paying tax and if we were paying the incorrect amount which we are, they would refund us one month. I'm really going to do that aren't I I have cancelled the direct debit. Do these people live in the real word. I have already overpaid by a fortune. 

Ooops, too late!

Gig1968

Dad said he is disgusted that we are paying too much he has no problem with standing in front of a judge. I'm sure if it got that far the court would not be on the side of the council. An 87 year old pensioner is not going to keep paying when he is not going to get his money back. He has discussed it again with the council today who are not having it. Original letters or nothing they said. He told them they have enough information. He said he fought in the war. He will fight them too. Bless him. We had the call on speaker phone, the lady acknowledge d they had received the Pip letter the ESA increase letter but it wasn't good enough. Ridiculous. Dad won't give in. I have emailed the councillor so we will see what happens.

CIS

Gig1968 said:

Dad said he is disgusted that we are paying too much he has no problem with standing in front of a judge. I'm sure if it got that far the court would not be on the side of the council. An 87 year old pensioner is not going to keep paying when he is not going to get his money back. He has discussed it again with the council today who are not having it. Original letters or nothing they said. He told them they have enough information. He said he fought in the war. He will fight them too. Bless him. We had the call on speaker phone, the lady acknowledge d they had received the Pip letter the ESA increase letter but it wasn't good enough. Ridiculous. Dad won't give in. I have emailed the councillor so we will see what happens.

A first instance judge has absolutely no say in the matter as it's outside their remit (which is long settled law) - at most it is a matter for a valuation tribunal (and then on appeal to the high court) or the ombudsman.

Gig1968

As far as dad is concerned the matter is dealt with the council have enough documentation to show that I am on pip and ESA, therefore no more payments will be made, if they refund us the one month they can do that's fine, of they don't, that's fine wherever the case may end, up another penny will not leave his bank account. Furthermore I admire the way these councils operate funny how it takes months to get your council tax sorted out but if you want your bulky waste moved they can come and move it next week at a cost to you. Double standards.

Jude57

Gig1968 said:

As far as dad is concerned the matter is dealt with the council have enough documentation to show that I am on pip and ESA, therefore no more payments will be made, if they refund us the one month they can do that's fine, of they don't, that's fine wherever the case may end, up another penny will not leave his bank account. Furthermore I admire the way these councils operate funny how it takes months to get your council tax sorted out but if you want your bulky waste moved they can come and move it next week at a cost to you. Double standards.

Council Tax and Refuse Collection are, as you must surely be aware, completely separate departments and completely different things. If you think 'council staff' are dealing with both, then I can assure you they are not. I would also point out that the policies of your local council (and outside their regulatory and statutory duties) are not decided upon by the call handlers you have spoken to, and ranting at them about matters over which they have no control won't change a thing.

I absolutely agree you should involve your ward Councillor. It's what they are for, and they are the ones who decide policy, so rant at them if you must, but be aware that they, too, have to follow policy. Also be aware that, although this is, understandably, of major importance to you and your father, your case is just one of thousands the council and benefits staff deal with each week. It's not personal and your case is not more important than any other.

Gig1968

Which ever way you look at. The council are a joke. They have more than enough evidence, to sort the case out. Governmental letters should be enough to prove I'm on benefits. As for the previous comment about me ranting, I really hope you don't find yourself in the same situation where you have to sort things out for an 87 year old dad. Id prefer you not to refer too my comments as (rants) if you don't like what I say read a newspaper instead

Jude57

Gig1968 said:

Which ever way you look at. The council are a joke. They have more than enough evidence, to sort the case out. Governmental letters should be enough to prove I'm on benefits. As for the previous comment about me ranting, I really hope you don't find yourself in the same situation where you have to sort things out for an 87 year old dad. Id prefer you not to refer too my comments as (rants) if you don't like what I say read a newspaper instead

First I am sorry that you object to my terminology. I was about to post a detailed response setting out what will happen next in terms of the council's next steps which previous posters have referred to but I doubt it would be helpful at this point. I was a Council Tax recovery officer for over a decade so I've seen your situation many times. 

However, let me confirm @CIS comment upthread that your father will not be able to argue this in court, that's not how courts work. In court, Council Tax is dealt with by Magistrates who don't decide how much you pay. Absolutely the best advice I can offer is to get your Councillor involved and comply with the council's requirements, otherwise you really are heading for serious problems.

One final thing occurs to me. You said your dad fought in the war, which I took to be a joking comment as at 87 he'd have been 11 when the war ended, but he almost certainly did National Service. In any event, if he (or you, come to that) served in the armed services (including Territorial) then the Royal British Legion or SSAFA Forces Help can be very helpful. They have links to all kinds of support, including benefits help, so perhaps you could contact them for additional support.

I wish you and your father well in sorting this out.

Gig1968

Ok that's clear then.
I have contacted the council this morning to see if they have received my two emails I sent yesterday.
They said they haven't got them.
I said is there normally a delay she said no she could sort by my address so she did not there.
She gave me the address again and I sent them again and she said she couldn't see them.
But the mail never bounced back to me so they must have received it.
So it looks like a stand off again

[Deleted User]

Have you actually contacted your local councillor? 

Gig1968

Yes i have emailed him