Council tax mess, court summons, council ignoring me - need some help

[mike00]

Hi,

 

In February and April, I submitted a Single Person Discount Forms to my council. They never acted on it. I have no proof of postage.

 

This month, they took me to the magistrates court and I assume they were successful in obtaining a liability order for the full amount of council tax due until the end of the financial year. I have not received anything back yet. I did not receive a court summons until the evening before the hearing. It's a common problem that my mail is mis-delivered to the student house next-door, and it's often the landlord that puts it through my letterbox every few weeks - he could presumably testify to this problem existing. Is this enough for reasonable doubt that I did not receive the summons in time?

 

I was unable to arrange to attend the court hearing at such short notice, and was therefore unable to argue that I was only liable for 75% of the amount claimed by the council.

 

I emailed the council on the date of the court hearing (twice, once via the website, again directly to their email address) to attempt to come to an arrangement to pay, but it has been almost three working weeks since then. The council aim to respond to email enquiries within five working days. It's been almost three times that.

 

Today I sent a letter via recorded delivery which again proposed the arrangement to pay. I also included printouts of emails and automated delivery receipts that the council's system send, as well as a third copy of the single person discount form.

 

I made my first proposed payment a day late due to problems with NatWest, and if I continue to pay at £200pm I will clear my arrears with a final repayment at the end of October (based on 75% liability + fees, not 100% liability). I think this is quite a reasonable timeframe.

 

What options do I have, legal or otherwise? I literally have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is the council claimed 100% of my tax band, which the court presumably agreed with, but I only owe 75% as I'm a single occupant. I have tried calling them several times during my lunch breaks, but I'm always on hold until my break is over. I work out of the city so I can't go in and see them in person without taking time off, which I can not afford at all. I racked up huge debts (credit, payday loans, etc) last year while I was homeless for a few months (moving between hotels, B&Bs, friends sofas etc), I am depressed, and suffer from insomnia. I have been extremely hard-pressed financially until this month when I received a large pay rise, and I'm using the majority of that to pay £200pm to the council.

 

Please help, I don't know what to do. The council seem to be ignoring me

Edited June 27, 2012 by mike00
title

[mike00]

Also, sorry if this is the wrong subforum. I cam here via Google, which had similar threads in this General Consumer Issues forum, rather than the Council Tax forums. Could a moderator or admin please move it if necessary?

[freakyleaky]

Hi Mike and welcome to the forums.

I've moved your thread to the best forum for you.

The guys will no doubt be along to advise soon.

[mike00]

Thank you freakyleaky

[ploddertom]

In the first instance I would suggest you contact your local Councillor(s) ASAP preferably by phone & in my opinion they are contactable 7 days per week up until 9pm. If they refuse or appear reluctant then you go to the Leader of the Council and his opposite number. If possible invite them round to discuss matters and show them this website.

 

It doesn't sound as if they yet passed it on for enforcement possibly from the Bailiffs. By the sounds of the reception you have had so far I would also hazard a guess that your Council has outsourced its admin functions, therefore when you ring you are not actually speaking to a Council employee and these people are renowned for being anything but helpful. One of these company's also owns a couple of Bailiff firms.

[sallypotter]

Any update?