Council Tax Account closed in error

DenABac
DenABac Posts: 16 Forumite
First Anniversary First Post
in Reclaim PPI & other insurance
Hi there,

living in Hounslow I've been paying my council tax for quite a while here. A few months ago new neighbors moved in. This - back in the last tax - year had led the council to believe I've moved out.

When I noticed a few weeks back I phoned them up - asking to set the account back up. Obviously I'm looking at a relatively large remainder here.

While the council had just stopped my account and cleared out the balance, I was never send a notice or adjusted bill for it.

Parts of me are really reluctant to pay this remainder now, because it's essentially not my fault.

Any ideas if something can be done here?

Best
D

Comments

  • spadoosh
    spadoosh Posts: 8,732 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    As far as im aware you pay council tax... or else kind of thing.

    So not your fault and their mistake might be valid arguments to you but they never seem to go well with a judge. First they ask nicely for council tax, then they demand you pay it then they demand your employer pays it on your behalf (Deducting it from your wages) and then it can get more serious.

    Try and get them to agree with a repayment plan if you want this to effect you as little as possible. Otherwise just pay what you owe (providing you agree with the amounts owed).
  • KatrinaWaves
    KatrinaWaves Posts: 2,944 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    You will have to pay. There has obviously been a mistake somewhere, maybe the people who moved out of the neighbours house put the address of your house instead and a new forwarding address. Can be easily done with a drop down scroll menu.

    Anyway, you also should have noticed you were no longer paying council tax. You absolutely have to pay. There is no 'get out' of this.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    You remain liable for the council tax charge, even where it is brought about due to an error. If you fail to pay then the council are entitled to pursue the balance, via a liability order is required (You'd have no defence against the liability order).



    There would have been closing demand notice issued, the question is where it was issued to.
    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.
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