Invoice from Aberdeen City Council

[Mrssmiff]

Hi everyone, hope I am posting in the right place! I would like some advice! In March 2006, my mum moved out of her two bed council house into a one bed council house. A few weeks after her move she was billed by Aberdeen City Council for £180 which they stated was for removal of carpet grips, removal of built in wardrobes and replacement of an internal door, all from the house she moved out of.

 

I wrote to them on her behalf, stating that the built in wardrobes were already in the property when the family moved in, in 1978, and that there were carpet grips present in the new house she moved into, therefore it was not obviously standard procedure for ACC to remove carpet grips from all properties they rent out.

 

With regard to the internal door, there was a bedroom door which was broken and my mum bought a new door and left it in the property for them to use to replace the one that was broken.

 

Nothing has been heard from them since - no repeated requests for the original amount, which I presume means that they received our original letter. However, two days ago, she has received another invoice, now for £80, for the cost of the replacement door.

 

She is a pensioner and is obviously upset with this. Can they invoice for something that was done nearly two years ago? Or should my mum, as a friend has advised, request reimbursment from them for the internal door she originally left as a replacement?

 

Any thoughts and advice is most welcome.

[Monty2007]

Hi, this is terrible and they are being unreasonable, trying to extract money in this way. I would escalate this and write to the Chief Executive of the Council and your MSP, plus anyone else you can think of who has authority with respect to council housing or support.

 

Once the realise that you are not going to give up then they should back down.

 

Good luck

[MARTIN3030]

They are probably citing their ten agreement which is likely to state that any fixtures should be replaced like for like.

Maybe a good idea to ask a local group such as Age concern to try to mediate with the council.

[Mrssmiff]

Many thanks. I think I will fire off a letter to the chief exec in the first instance and see if I get any joy.

[Conniff]

If she is still living in the same area, why not take a trip to the old house, explain to the present tenant and ask them if there is a chance you can look at this 'new' door.

 

If it the one your mother left, then bill the council for it.

 

There is always the chance that the door was ditched, (or taken home) by the gang that cleaned out the house.

[Mrssmiff]

She has left that area now unfortunately. Does anyone know if there is a time limit on when you can be invoiced for things after the fact?