Council Tax-do they have to know why I dont want single person discount anymore!?

singlehouseholder

Hello, hope you can help. To cut a long story short a friend of mine has found themselves in a bit of a predicament and needs somewhere to stay for a few months short term. Problems at home have turned to breaking point and parties have agreed that a break is needed to let things settle. I've agreed, to let them stay with me, and help chip in with bills and whatnot,which to be honest is greatly needed, even with two jobs things are always tight. I rang my local CT dept to tell them I no longer wished to claim the single person discount as I was helping a friend out short term. she refused to allow the discount to be stopped as I would not give my friends info. Its short term, not permanent. Why is it that I'm trying to do the right thing and i'm barricaded by red tape! I don't want to commit fraud!I work for the DWP, this could potentially be my job in the line if i cant pay what i'm supposed to pay!:mad: What is it they need to know, why is it I can't pay full, can any ct bods out there advise what I should do next? I intend on increasing my monthly payments but don't want them bounced back.What should I do?

CIS

The liable party has a legal responsibility to notify the Council of any change to a discount or exemption within 28 days. I've never came across a dept refusing to remove a discount, certainly we would never do it on my dept.

Try contacting and asking to speak to a manger if you get no joy. If you make an extra payment, it wont bounce back , you will just build up a credit until your liability is amended.

The reason we need to have names of occupants is so that, for example. we can keep track of people for Council tax liability, as far as the council know this person could stay on in the property if you left and they would then be left in the position of knowing the details of the occupant. Names are also very useful in tracing debtors to new properties.

Mike_S_8

singlehouseholder wrote: »

Hello, hope you can help. To cut a long story short a friend of mine has found themselves in a bit of a predicament and needs somewhere to stay for a few months short term. ... What should I do?

Pay what they ask. Consult your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Keep records of everything - 'phone calls; letters; the lot.

If it all goes belly-up - and it ends up in court - armed with all your documented evidence you will be fire-proof and the council will be made to look (as they are in many cases) complete and incompetent fools.

If you need more advice or support Google for Isitfair

singlehouseholder

CIS wrote: »

Names are also very useful in tracing debtors to new properties.

to be honest, this is part of the reason I don't want anyone else's name linked to me or my home, I've worked bloody hard to build up a good credit history and wouldn't want it to be jeopordised for helping a mate out! Thanks for your advice, its been reassuring.

CIS

Council Tax debt does not affect a persons credit history - the only people who hold details of council tax debt are the councils themselves - for persistent non payers it would be great if did .

A persons council debt would not be linked with another person unless they where both responsible for the original debt.

suelees1

Barmy!!

Keep us updated on this one singlehouseholder. It sounds very odd. I could understand it if you were claiming HB/CTB as you'd then have a non-dependant deduction.

Perhaps they're trying to be helpful and offer to see if you could get second adult rebate (ho flamin' ho).

The others are right - it doesn't affect your credit rating and keep all correspondence, notes of calls and names of peope you've spoken to.

As CIS says any increased payments should just put you in credit if they insist on continuing with the single adult discount. Do speak to a manager. It might just be a new employee not knowing what's what.