Council tax arrears

[iansheff 86]

As has been said get to the CAB and discuss it with them, they will probably be able to check the amount you owe and make sure it is correct. I don't trust the council at all, they sent me a letter with council tax reassessment because I had moved, I hadn't. Then after telling them that they sent me a bill for over £700 and I had never missed a payment, so I would make sure what they say you owe is correct.

[Hairyloon 10]

YThis has clearly been building and building and you would have had ample opportunity to try and resolve it by contacting the council to explain your circumstances and try and reach an agreement. They deal with people in your circumstances day in day out and always try to reach an agreement...

 

Are you speaking theoretically or from experience, because my experience differs very much from that.

[ECCOnoob 1,021]

Are you speaking theoretically or from experience, because my experience differs very much from that.

 

From experience. Back when I was between jobs and studying I got into arrears on both my council tax and service charges. I had various discussions and made payment arrangements where they adjusted my bill and direct debits to include a repayment of the arrears.

 

I also know from my days doing legal Aid work that the council has protocols when dealing with people with rent and tax arrears and the advice on how to sort such issue is widely available from CABs and the council themselves.

 

As I have said in my earlier post people in original posters situation are not unique at all. A fact which is proven by the court dealing with such cases on a bulk listing.

 

The advice remains. The earlier someone actually faces up to the issue and speaks to the council the more they can offer to help. It will also mean that if the council is in the wrong they can correct it sooner rather than later. This is exactly what the original poster needs to do instead of trying to run away and make excuses.

Edited June 24, 2017 by ECCOnoob

[pdbmn 10]

to answer people's cynical points, can i mention that i have tried on multiple occasions to explain my financial problems to the council staff, and i have tried to get other work , unfortunately it's not just that easy

 

i'm pleased to see others have had bad experiences or know others who have , i am able to face up to my problems but it's not very helpful getting the unwanted but expected "it's all your fault" comments, though i suppose if it wasn't my thread it would be someone else's

[Anna B 1,401]

People's problems are as individual as the people themselves. Life isn't easy, but it can be a lot harder for some, for all sorts of reasons. But people just love to judge, often they just think 'I can do it, so so can you...' with very little knowledge of circumstances or real information.

 

You'll get very little sympathy from that sort of person on SF. But the fact remains you have to get this sorted and need to think how it came about so you don't make the same mistakes again. Help is out there (at least, hopefully, especially in this day and age...) but you have to ask for it in good time, and ultimately that has to be up to you.

[ECCOnoob 1,021]

to answer people's cynical points, can i mention that i have tried on multiple occasions to explain my financial problems to the council staff, and i have tried to get other work , unfortunately it's not just that easy

 

i'm pleased to see others have had bad experiences or know others who have , i am able to face up to my problems but it's not very helpful getting the unwanted but expected "it's all your fault" comments, though i suppose if it wasn't my thread it would be someone else's

 

Was there a result to any of these "multiple" conversations with the council? Was there arranged payment plan? Did you make any agreements as to what you could afford?

 

If there was I assume it must have been breached for it to have gone to litigation. The council doesn't just issue Court papers without a reason.

 

If you were able to restart any arrange payment plan that would have been something you could have brought up at your missed court hearing. By missing it the council could be reluctant to offer the same again now however that is something you really should be discussing with them urgently.

 

You complain about the cynical comments and people saying it's your fault but that's exactly what it is. When people try and question further to give advice you get all defensive.

 

I really don't know what more you expect people to say. Only YOU by speaking to the council again, seeking proper advice and attending when you are told to attend at court will be able to resolve this.

 

I'm sorry if this is coming across that harsh but there is no magic answer to this problem. It would be even more unhelpful for you in your situation for people to be patting you on the hand and only telling you things that you want to hear.

[Mr Bloke 1,445]

don't know what to do about literally £000's arrears in council tax, 20% of which is charges accrued for non payment

i'm on a low income though earn too much to claim any benefit,

have been threatened with an arrest warrant , even though i made a payment last month to try to show some willingness to pay something (Even though it's left me short)

i can't possibly afford to pay the arrears, and i won't be able to earn anything or pay rent if i'm in jail,

i'm not sure what on earth i'm supposed to do

Well I'm incensed by all this!

 

You fail to pay your debts to society and I bet they still empty your wheelie bin every 2 weeks, don't they?

 

Well I can tell you, I've never missed a council tax payment - EVER!

 

Each month I go without life's little essentials like a 52 inch telly and my favourite nightly takeaways just so that I can queue up in the post office to pay my bill on the 1st of every month (Sundays excepted).

 

And what thanks do I get?

 

I'll tell you what thanks I get...

 

... for the last 2 collection days the council have failed to empty my black wheelie bin even though it's religiously placed at the end of my driveway by 7:00am with the lid flushly fitted (as prescribed) and the handle deliberately pointing towards the kerb for ease of access by the refuse collection operative!

 

I'm beginning to think there's no point in paying my council tax anymore for all the benefit I get out of it...

[999tigger 10]

don't know what to do about literally £000's arrears in council tax, 20% of which is charges accrued for non payment

i'm on a low income though earn too much to claim any benefit,

have been threatened with an arrest warrant , even though i made a payment last month to try to show some willingness to pay something (Even though it's left me short)

i can't possibly afford to pay the arrears, and i won't be able to earn anything or pay rent if i'm in jail,

i'm not sure what on earth i'm supposed to do

 

Honestly go to CAB and sort it out with them. You need to see a specialist debt advisor.

[pdbmn 10]

certainly don't have the 52" TV or nightly takeaways that's for sure

 

the overwhelming message here is to get in touch with the council which i will do and i will stop burying my head in the sand which admittedly i have been doing .

 

thanks everyone and maybe we should draw a line under this one .

[Rimrunner 10]

good luck pdbmn it will take a while but with commitment you will get there, i think the best advice on here is get in touch with the CAB asap.

[Squiggs 11]

....just so that I can queue up in the post office to pay my bill on the 1st of every month

 

Never heard of Direct Debit then?

 

Or do you get a kick out of a queue?

[999tigger 10]

certainly don't have the 52" TV or nightly takeaways that's for sure

 

the overwhelming message here is to get in touch with the council which i will do and i will stop burying my head in the sand which admittedly i have been doing .

 

thanks everyone and maybe we should draw a line under this one .

 

errr go to CAB like I said and get a debt counselor to assess your situation.

Tell the council that is what you are doing and the date of your appointment.

You can then make the Council an offer of £X a month on top of your normal payments.

 

---------- Post added 25-06-2017 at 11:33 ----------

 

Was there a result to any of these "multiple" conversations with the council? Was there arranged payment plan? Did you make any agreements as to what you could afford?

 

If there was I assume it must have been breached for it to have gone to litigation. The council doesn't just issue Court papers without a reason.

 

If you were able to restart any arrange payment plan that would have been something you could have brought up at your missed court hearing. By missing it the council could be reluctant to offer the same again now however that is something you really should be discussing with them urgently.

 

You complain about the cynical comments and people saying it's your fault but that's exactly what it is. When people try and question further to give advice you get all defensive.

 

I really don't know what more you expect people to say. Only YOU by speaking to the council again, seeking proper advice and attending when you are told to attend at court will be able to resolve this.

 

I'm sorry if this is coming across that harsh but there is no magic answer to this problem. It would be even more unhelpful for you in your situation for people to be patting you on the hand and only telling you things that you want to hear.

 

 

That's Sheffield forum for you.