Council Tax problems - Single occupancy
holdenmagroin75
Posts: 2 Newbie
Good afternoon all,
Wondering if anyone could offer advice.
My girlfriend has an issue with her Council Tax and its escalated to a debt collection agency.
She left her husband in 2014, came up North and purchased a house, registered for Council tax & all the usual stuff.
He stayed down in forces accommodation & they gradually worked on their relationship, seeing each other again but he stayed down south & lived on camp.
She has recently been hit with a big council tax bill & she has (unfortunately realised that she wasnt paying the single occupancy 25% off rate)
She spoke to the Council & explained that she's been living there by herself since 2014, although the husband stayed on weekends OCCASIONALLY, not every weekend & they split for good soon after.
The Council told her that he had put his name on the council tax, (probably to claim Get You Home Mileage pay from the Army, even though he wasnt living there)
They told her to prove that she's lived there by herself since 2014, which she has done with Utility bills & such, they were happy with this & sent it 'upstairs', they told her not to pay this charge now as she would be due a rebate for the 4 years council tax with 25% off, which would equal more than the initial bill.
She's now been hit with a letter from a debt collection agency for the bill and subsequent charge from them, the Council say she's not in the wrong & has done everything they asked, but they'll have to issue a new bill.
In the meantime the debt collection agency, who she called to discuss whats happening told her its not their problem & they will send out enforcement agents if its not paid.
She's obviously very distressed by this & panicking over it, what do we do with it & can we take any action against the local council for all this, or do we just take it on the chin.
Sorry for the long winded post but just wondered if any of you knowledgeable folk had any suggestions.
Thank you in advance.
Wondering if anyone could offer advice.
My girlfriend has an issue with her Council Tax and its escalated to a debt collection agency.
She left her husband in 2014, came up North and purchased a house, registered for Council tax & all the usual stuff.
He stayed down in forces accommodation & they gradually worked on their relationship, seeing each other again but he stayed down south & lived on camp.
She has recently been hit with a big council tax bill & she has (unfortunately realised that she wasnt paying the single occupancy 25% off rate)
She spoke to the Council & explained that she's been living there by herself since 2014, although the husband stayed on weekends OCCASIONALLY, not every weekend & they split for good soon after.
The Council told her that he had put his name on the council tax, (probably to claim Get You Home Mileage pay from the Army, even though he wasnt living there)
They told her to prove that she's lived there by herself since 2014, which she has done with Utility bills & such, they were happy with this & sent it 'upstairs', they told her not to pay this charge now as she would be due a rebate for the 4 years council tax with 25% off, which would equal more than the initial bill.
She's now been hit with a letter from a debt collection agency for the bill and subsequent charge from them, the Council say she's not in the wrong & has done everything they asked, but they'll have to issue a new bill.
In the meantime the debt collection agency, who she called to discuss whats happening told her its not their problem & they will send out enforcement agents if its not paid.
She's obviously very distressed by this & panicking over it, what do we do with it & can we take any action against the local council for all this, or do we just take it on the chin.
Sorry for the long winded post but just wondered if any of you knowledgeable folk had any suggestions.
Thank you in advance.
0
Comments
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Is this in Scotland or England?
If she has been in the house for 3/4 years, why has she suddenly been hit with a large CT bill? Usually CT is paid monthly and if unpaid and gets into arrears, in England, it goes to a magistrates' court for a liability order, of which your gf should have been informed.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
The Scotland / England part as Lincroft has mentioned is important to this .
He should never have been listed at the property unless it his 'sole or main residence' - even if it was just the case for a single day.The Council told her that he had put his name on the council tax, (probably to claim Get You Home Mileage pay from the Army, even though he wasnt living there)
Unusual for any council to use a debt collection agency (although it is possible) - in most cases they'll use the statutory route with an enforcement agent / sheriff's officer.debt collection agency.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0
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