£150 council tax rebate -D/Debit

EmmaCBB

Hi All, I’m hoping someone may be able to help as I don’t seem to be able to find an answer to my question. I live with my partner (in his house), the council tax bill is in his name alone but the direct debit comes out of my bank account. Will we still automatically get the rebate or will my partner need to fill out the form? Thanks 

MattMattMattUK

EmmaCBB said:

Hi All, I’m hoping someone may be able to help as I don’t seem to be able to find an answer to my question. I live with my partner (in his house), the council tax bill is in his name alone but the direct debit comes out of my bank account. Will we still automatically get the rebate or will my partner need to fill out the form? Thanks 

No one can be 100% sure, but most councils have said that for those who pay by Direct Debit the payment will be made into the account the payments are made from after checks have been made. Those checks may involve checking the name on the council tax matches the name on the account, so it might throw out an error. There is however little point in doing much now, wait and see, if you are asked to verify any information then do so, it will make no difference in the long run. 

However to check, is the council tax for the full amount, no single occupancy discount? 

facade

My Council have published that they will automatically pay the refund into your bank account, if the name on the bank account matches the name on the Council tax bill.

Otherwise, as in your case, you have to apply for it with an online form, which is supposed to magically appear on the council website in late April.

My Council promise to pay it (honest) by the end of September, which seems to be dragging their feet considering they took the first payment for this year within seconds of it becoming due on April 1st......

MattMattMattUK

facade said:

My Council promise to pay it (honest) by the end of September, which seems to be dragging their feet considering they took the first payment for this year within seconds of it becoming due on April 1st......

The systems were never designed to be able to pay out to billpayers, only invoice and receive payments. The collection of council tax is an established system, in place, tested and known to work, it was not built to work in reverse. Whilst I understand that many are keen to get their hands on some free money one can hardly blame councils for being somewhat cautious and following due diligence when paying out millions of pounds, they would be negligent if they did not properly verify the system before using it. 

mumf

I am not holding my breath! I’ll believe the payment when I see it.  The comment by Mattuk is correct: the council tax system is set up for collecting,not paying.

Astria

Unless I'm mistaken I'm sure some councils have said that the payment will be a discount rather than a payment ? Ie, if you pay 12x£133, you'll instead pay 12x£120.50.

Chrysalis

Its a refund for my council, and also the government website states they expect it to be a refund, but councils I think can choose to implement it differently.

If you dont have a direct debit setup, it makes the refund more complicated.

JIL

I believe my local council has been inundated with people setting up direct debits, I did mine the first week in March, no payment showing in my bank account, so I phoned to be told, it will now start in May. Still nothing showing in my account. 
If this is how they are when collecting, doesn't bode well for a refund/credit.
 I usually pay in one lump sum, but haven't this year as I thought it would be less bother, to get the £150.

Ultrasonic

MattMattMattUK said:

However to check, is the council tax for the full amount, no single occupancy discount? 

My understanding is this doesn't make any difference to getting the £150?

Mstty

The annoying little bit is we were planning around getting the £150 this month and sticking that in bonds then taking it out if needed in the winter months to top up the bill.

With the delay now (if you believe ML and the news) a couple of months it's a little annoying for us but more so for the people relying on it for the April increases to soften the blow.

GaleSF63

Mstty said:

The annoying little bit is we were planning around getting the £150 this month and sticking that in bonds then taking it out if needed in the winter months to top up the bill.

In Scotland it's incorporated into the council tax bill so no lump sum, just spread over the 10 (or 12) months of direct debits. 
@MattMattMattUk - Ultrasonic is correct - the single person's discount doesn't affect the £150 payment.