Council Tax Dispute.

[Granger99]

My wife passed away nearly 4 years ago and I have another lady on a friendship basis at present.
She has spent a few nights and days at my house and I claim the single person discount.
She is widowed and has a house which comes under a different council and she is claiming a single person discount for that house.
Suddenly my council has sent me a bill for £519.00 as they are claiming I am no longer eligable for the single person discount.
I have informed my council she does not reside in my house on a permanent basis and sent them a copy of her council tax bill.
My council has replied that her house comes under a different council and as she is liable for council tax in my area as well. They said if her house was under the same council I would still get the single person discount.
Does anybody know if thes is correct?.

[Duncer]

Seems like legalised extortion if it is.

[dave50]

Yes Duncer, if it's anything to do with a local council it will definitely be legalised extortion.

[mazie]

A few nights and days does not constitute co-habiting

[dennisb66]

I still think that the jobsworth that sent your letter believes your friend is living with you.Someone has been telling tales.

[factor-fiction]

Someone has been telling tales, i agree

[craft1948]

I rang my council tax office as for some reason they'd lowered the amount of my direct debit. After checking she said they'd allocated an overpayment from my last house to off-set my current bill.................I moved 6 years ago.

[themas]

Is their reply in writing? It will be easier for you to complain about this if it is. My understanding is that the single person discount applies when only one person is resident in the property. So long as your friend has her residence elsewhere then she should not be treated as residing with you. Evidence to support this can be the name & address of her GP, where her mail is sent, where she is on the electoral roll, whether she keeps any belongings in your property etc.

You should write a formal complaint to the Council Chief Executive & see whether they back down. If they don't, you have a right to go to the Local Gov't Ombudsman with a complaint of maladministration.

[Nibble]

Def jobsworth telling lies, and listening to tales IMO

[emmie]

not right at all, get a solicitor involved now.

[emmie]

i agree that someone has grassed on you, nasty people do this sort of thing, thinking you were getting away with paying a single allowance, when you have a lady visitor. Had same problem some years ago, i soon disabused the council of the fact. If you keep getting these warnings, bills, do as i suggested, get a solicitor on to them.

[factor-fiction]

Which councils do these homes12 come under?

[Granger99]

Factor30

My house comes under Solihull.
Her house comes under Birmingham.
They are 4 miles apart.

[factor-fiction]

I thought so, Granger99. I remembered from your previous threads. Thanks. If I remember correctly you have another property as well- did you get a discount on your council tax for that and has that been taken away as well?

[factor-fiction]

Have Solihull council sent you a revised council tax bill for the next 12 months or is it a retrospective bill?

[factor-fiction]

Has this been sorted now?

[factor-fiction]

This may help if you haven't resolved this yet
http://www.solihull.gov.uk/benefits/spd.htm