Glasgow Council Tax

PrettyPenmanship

Recently went back to work, was long term sick, but pretty sure I'm being overcharged and want to ensure I am paying correct amount BUT anyone familiar with GCC will know they are very hard to get hold of! I did send a contact form querying almost 3 months ago now and I should have chased it up but got busy with new job etc. Anyone able to advise generally? But also any tips or phone numbers you can share for me to contact them? My lunch break varies and work call centre so I can't answer calls just any time during work hours. Would really appreciate help with this, thanks 

elsien

What makes you think you are being overcharged?

molerat

Banding charges here https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/990/Council-Tax-Overview

Property valuations / bands here https://www.saa.gov.uk/search

And you can work out if you are being charged correctly. It would be unusual for you to be incorrectly charged though.

PrettyPenmanship

Hardly unusual known it happen lots to people. 

I’ve checked banding amounts and deducted single person discount and they’re taking nearly two times what I should be paying off me in direct debits 

lincroft1710

Can you give us some figures please as I've an idea you may be expecting Council Tax reduction because of your  sick period.

basketcase

Not sure how various departments work these days, but I noticed you'd been long term sick.

Is it possible that you're supposed to reapply once you come off the sick?  Or have you already done that?  And have they sent you a breakdown of the amount?

PrettyPenmanship

No I know I am supposed to be paying full whack now. I’m band c but last 2 months they took £165 each month off me! I should get single person discount though 

basketcase

PrettyPenmanship said:

No I know I am supposed to be paying full whack now. I’m band c but last 2 months they took £165 each month off me! I should get single person discount though 

That's what I was wondering - whether the single person discount was being applied. I found this and, looking at it, you seem to be being charged full-rate.




You used to have to apply for the discount, as opposed to it being given automatically.  I'm wondering if maybe, having been on long-term sick, you might have to re-apply.  (Especially if your sickness period was before the start of the new Council Tax year).  You may be able to do this by going through the Council website.  

Caz3121

PrettyPenmanship said:

No I know I am supposed to be paying full whack now. I’m band c but last 2 months they took £165 each month off me! I should get single person discount though 

You need to look at the complete liability for the year and how much has already been paid

It is very possible that if you pay over 10 months and have had a discount for part but not all of the year that you will have a catchup to do so it will appear that you are paying more than you expect to

very rough example with made up numbers
£1200 payment due for single person...£120 per month for 10 months
discount rate liability £300 for the full year...£30 per month over 10 months

assume 8 months at discounted liability and 4 months at full = £900 total liability (splitting the liability by 12 and multiplying by months)
payments made in first 8 months = £240 leaving £660 to be collected
with 10 month payments there are only 2 payment cycles to be collected so £330 needs to be collected in each of the remaining months to get to the right total

What letters do you have showing your liability for the year and the amount paid to date?

PrettyPenmanship

That’s what’s so confusing letters all give completely different figs with their own maths not even adding up! 

I’ve tried applying for single discount n it says I’m already receiving but not deducted in letters. I was unemployed until mid aug surely I don’t have to pay for full year?! 

Caz3121

Did you apply for Council Tax reduction when unemployed? https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/counciltaxreduction