A question about : Northumberland Council Tax
Hi all,
I'm not sure if this is the right place, but I couldn't find an area specifically for Council Tax... and we all want to be debt free right??
Ok, so I've had a bit of an ordeal with NCC since April last year.
I TRIED to pay my council tax, by phone, online, even have proof that I enquired by email, and they asked for my details, which I provided...
EDIT: Also used the DD form provided and tried enquiring by post.
But not one payment had been made. They kept sending bills until about 2 months ago, and now they seem to have no record of my whatsoever.
Granted, I don't feel too bad, as I was suffering badly with my mental health at the time, and barely stayed at the flat or used the council's services. I stayed with family and friends as it was best to have people around me. I know this is irrelevant to them, but I feel it gives some context.
I only owed them Ј330.00 but wanted to get it sorted when I started recovering.
Now when I call, they can't give me any information, or even find any, even though it would involve giving them money.
So is this an admin error that's leaned in my favour? Or has the debt been handed on to some nefarious debt collector only to come and swoop on on me when I least expect it?
It's not like I'm in hiding, they have my new address, telephone, work address, email and I've not received a peep from them. It's me doing all the talking.
With my mental condition, this is a stress I'd rather do without.
I'm not a tax dodger either. I'm very much proud of the fact I've gone from having Ј6000.00 in debt (run up over 2012-13 while I was ill) to a mere Ј600 (+ The Mystery Council Tax) in only 6 months. And that was through my hard work and sacrifice, legally, and on minimum wage at that.
I just don't want any nasty surprises.
My main fear is that I've just bought a car for myself, cash. I used to lease, but was unable to get a new lease due to credit files.
It's 12 years old, but a stunner and great runner. I'm really paranoid about it getting towed at 5am.
Well that's that, I hope some of you might be able to offer advice as to where I stand with them.
Many thanks!
Best answers:
- I would go into their offices with a cheque and your evidence of contacting them. That way they will have no excuse if they refuse your payment in person.
- I doubt it is written off...councils are notoriously un-merciful when it comes to a debt being owed. I would go to the offices, demand someone pay attention to you and figure out what has happened. This cannot continue, the tax is payable - we all know that and it is only going to get worse. When they do find you in their system they will jump on you from a great height and wont be kind at all. It wont matter to them that this is all their fault. You will be expected to pay immediately regardless and they will not care one bit about your mental stability. Deal with it decisively now. If the debt has been written off, you want this in writing on council headed paper and guard it with your life - otherwise, assume the debt is outstanding and make every diligent effort to get to the bottom of it.
- Thanks for the replies guys.
I'm in the same mindset as FireWyrm, I know that they are notoriously harsh on 'non-payment' but as I can't seem to get a straight answer out of them, I was hoping they'd screwed up. As I'm sure you'll agree, 330 quid is a fair chunk of cash (half of my remaining debt!)
My other issue is that I now live about 100 miles from the council offices, I'm two counties away from where I used to be.
I will try the suggested and just walk in and try to get them to accept my money, but I need to know it's paying the bill and they're not just conjuring one out of thin air if it's been written off.
I know it may seem like I'm trying to avoid paying it, but It's just a case of I only want to pay it, if it's still outstanding. I've never missed payments with any council tax before, and I've lived in 5 counties, so I'm not adverse to it. But on principle, I feel that reasonably, I shouldn't have to as I've not lived there, and contributed to rent/Council Tax where I've been staying.
Lastly, I checked my credit report and I'm not sure if it should show Northumberland CC as a 'lender'. Or just someone I owe to?
It shows just about everything else, but I was hoping that there might be some sort of register I can look on for these types of debts... - Thanks for the input CIS. I have been on the phone with them today, but no luck. I'm explicitly offering money to them, but they can't find anything to mark it up against.
I have a day's holiday tomorrow, and it looks like I'll be spending it driving!
Thanks again. I'll let you know the outcome. - Hi
Not sure if this is of help but I too had the runaround with NCC many years back and my debt to them resurfaced after about 5 years of silence... so, I wouldn't be sure that yours has gone :-(
What about a) contacting the MP for the area and asking him to get an answer from NCC or b) asking the council to put in writing that they cannot take any payment and that they will not be pursuing the debt in future.
Good luck (and well done on all your efforts to sort out your debt :-) ) And don't let the incompetent divvies grind you down!!
SAAC - Thanks for the kind words, and it's good to know I'm not the only one that's had these issues.
I had a similar one with Gateshead when I moved closer to work, but that's sorted. Durham CC are on the ball though, top marks so far.
What's awful is that even though they couldn't find anything to make me pay for, they still treated me like a criminal and wanted my money. There's a good chance that I've paid what I owe, but neither of us have any real records of this. Them due to incompetence and myself due to illness.
I've had many "do's" with NCC, the main one was their parking tickets being issued illegitimately. Thankfully I was able to call them out on that one, as I'm a responsible motorist and I had every right to park where I did. 5 tickets in two months!
Again, thanks for the kind words. It's both saddening and heartening that there are folks like me in the same boat!
Keep up the good work buddy! - Well guys, thanks for the info.
So 6 months later, or 12 since they refused first payment, they've sent me a red letter to my place of work.
So I emailed them and told them straight one last time.
I'VE been trying, YOU'VE not been letting me!
I got a prompt response... please contact me directly to set up a payment plan. Your Direct Debit was cancelled on X date and we have no contact address for you.
Good lord, if they have no address, how are they sending me letters?!
Anyway, I have a direct contact for them now and have all this in writing.
So it looks like I will be paying it, but that wasn't unexpected. I'm just glad to be getting it sorted. Not looking over my shoulder constantly!
All the best, happy saving!
- 278 reads