Law

Council Tax Summons

I have been paying my council tax by standing order at £80 per month, which is far more than what I should be paying. Inadvertantly, I cancelled my standing order in MAy. I wrote the council tax and explained what I'd done requesting them to send me a standing order mandate with details of how much I need to pay each month. I never heard anything until 14th June when I recieved a letter saying that I owed £40 and if I did not pay within 14 days it would go to court. I paid immediately and again requested them to send me a standing order mandate. On the 4th July, I received a summons stating that I also had to pay £76 cost. I have checked my bank account and discovered that the cheque has not been presented. I have telephoned the council and they have said that they have not recieved the cheque and are not prepared to waiver the £76 court cost even though it isn't due to go to court until 26.07.08.

Is it legally correct that they only have to send you one reminder, giving you 14 days notice, not forgetting that they failed to reply to my previous letters and I was only 1 month in arrears?

Also, is there anything I can do about this?? Who do you make a complaint to??

pinkbabytots Sat 05/07/08 13:32

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bednobs
Sat 05/07/08
16:25

i don't really understand why you have been payng more than you need to? have you built up a credit? Why did you just cancel the standing order before you had set up a new payment?
Its really up to you to make sure the bll is paid, and if you cancel the standing order to make sure that some other payment is made. direct debit mandate is more usual fro ouncil tax because 1) the amounts vary by a few pence each month sometimes and 2) there are 2 months in the year you dont have to pay it

factor30
Sat 05/07/08
17:34

A standing order is something you set up and you specify the amounts. Are you sure it was s tanding order and are you sure you were paying too much.

In these situations it's always better to speak to the recipient and agree a course of action - cancelling payments is likely to lead to problems

pink-kittens
Sat 05/07/08
18:51

Not paying it because you inadvertently cancelled your SO/DD will not hold up in court or with the council because you can pay on line with a debit card/credit card

Jillius
Sat 05/07/08
18:54

I wish I only paid £80 a month. We pay £150 a month :-(

pink-kittens
Sat 05/07/08
18:55

Same here Jill

Not forgetting that the £80pm was too much!
I'm moving >>>>>>>>>>>

Jillius
Sat 05/07/08
18:57

I agree pink-kittens.
What sort of place do you live in pinkbabytots? A tent ?

puddicat
Sat 05/07/08
18:58

I pay £108 and thats single person tariff!!!

BagPussAA
Sun 06/07/08
10:25

I only pay £71 per month and that is on a 2 bedroom house with no single person allowance! It depends where you are in the country.

pinkbabytots - you dont have any one to complain to as you are in the wrong. You need to pay your council tax. If you have cancelled the standing order (which should be a direct debit anyway) then you are at fault. You should have checked whether the cheque was cashed, or sent it recorded delivery to make sure it go there.

pinkbabytots
Mon 07/07/08
13:59

Question Author

Thank you for all your answers. It just seems a bit quick to give you 14 days notice. I had been checking my bank account and noticed that it hadn't gone through. However, sometimes I know that the council are slow to process cheques. I think it is a bit hasty and £76 court costs is a bit steep. In a county court it doesn't cost half as much to bring a cliam. I think it's just another money spinner.

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