Council tax - can i claim costs from them ?

[blakep]

I have now got warning letters for my coucil tax, which i have paid, and have the reciepts for.

My question is, if i just let them take me to court, can i apply for costs (loss of earnings, travel, subsistance etc ) .

 

The alternative is to waste my time on the phone to them as usual to maybe get it resolved. this could take a fair few phone calls and a lot of my time. My argument is why should i bother, ive paid the money , got the reciepts il see them in court.

 

Any advice is welcome, cheers

[Michael Browne]

If and when they take you to court, one assumes you will produce the receipts as part of your defence, so why not save yourself the bother of dealing with a court claim and just write to them enclosing copies.

 

The only costs you would be awarded would at most be loss of earnings (max £50) and travel costs to and from the court

[blakep]

My reasoning behind it is i have spent time and effort explainng this to them before, and when i next call they will have no record of the previous conversation.

 

I will try again, and give them the information again and see where it goes.

i have got this years bill and am tempted to go to the local office and pay it in mixed coppers, that way someone will remember me paying it, but i guess there will be some law that says they dont have to accept that much change.

[Michael Browne]

My reasoning behind it is i have spent time and effort explainng this to them before, and when i next call they will have no record of the previous conversation.

 

Exactly, which is why I said to write, not phone, then there is a record, which would be something else in your favour if they persist in issuing a claim

[Weird Al Yankovic]

I know they can claim costs from you even if they are wrong!

 

I was in your situation and it went to court and a Libility Order was granted even though I had paid my bill.

 

The point was that when the council summonsed me they disputed the amount, incorrectly, but it was that point in time that I was liable for and because they had not finalised it it was still my problem!

 

Hence, a £60 bill for nothing!

 

Be careful-it's like a law from Nazi Germany.