Council tax fiasco

[NoneOfMyBusinessEither]

Has anyone else experienced similar and any suggestions on how to address/resolve it?

I received new council tax bill which stated there were arrears on the account.

Last year, I paid my council tax using their online payment system rather than by DD. No reason, I just didn't get round to setting it up.

All of the payments went through - I was shown the 'payment confirmation' screen and all payments are clearly on my bank statements.

Yet, it transpires that only around half of them show on my local authority online council tax account!

I had taken screenshots of the payment confirmation screen but lost these when phone died but the payments are clearly shown in full on my bank statements.

Has anyone had similar and resolved it easily?

It might be worth ringing them and asking if the payments are sitting in an unapplied payments account. (We had something similar when I worked in the water industry for payments which had been sent but didn't match with a valid customer account number).

It's entirely possible that the council tax accounts team have the money but haven't been able to allocate the payments to your account as they weren't 100% certain that it was yours eg if the payment was from JO SMITH there's most likely a lot of them in your town. Did the payments go through with your account reference as the narrative? I think this is an easily resolved issue if you call them once the offices are open again 🤞🏻

Thanks. I'll try calling tomorrow. I just hate having to deal with them. I have not very fond memories of spending hours of my life writing to them and sitting in my local councillor's surgery try to sort out council tax issues a few years ago.

My experience is that, if they get it right - phew. If not, it's a long and arduous process. They are completely stuck in, "But the computer says..." mode.

The online payments were made through online account with my council tax reference number - which I always double and triple check to avoid errors.

But I'll call tomorrow.

I had a letter saying I was being taken to court for non payment this time last year I was so shocked, I knew I paid them all.

I called them up and the lady on the phone sorted it easily. In my case, I’d called the month before and managed to pay my March payment in April so it was allocated to the new year’s allocation. Easily resolved.

Can’t believe your council has allowed more than one payment to be ‘not received’ without sending you at least one letter though!

No, I know. They just saved it up and there it was, in the small print, on the bottom of my new bill underneath the monthly installments breakdown.

I'm guessing covid/lockdown probably explains it somehow.

Log onto your bank and they all should be their. I hate my council for tax. I paid mine off last year when I got my letter and because my husband worked they kept sending me bills for £100 then £400... didn't end
Just had a new bill and my council tax is £500 more then the rest of my street?! Me and my husband are full time carers for our children (he worked 3 weeks for an agency last month) and now my council tax is £160 a month for that!!!!

spidermomma, I'm not sure council tax has anything to do with working or not.
Everyone pays it, and single people get a 25% discount.
It's not means tested as far as I'm aware.

But I'm mot sure how it can be more than other property on your street.

Yes, my bank statements quite clearly show all the payments for the correct amounts, going out on the correct payment date to my council tax account.

But the council tax account is only showing around half of them having been received.

I suppose I'm wondering what carries more weight; that I can prove I paid it or that they are saying they didn't receive it.

They're a nightmare. I hate dealing with them sorry you're having problems with them too.

@Ohno1

spidermomma, I'm not sure council tax has anything to do with working or not. Everyone pays it, and single people get a 25% discount. It's not means tested as far as I'm aware.

Oh I read it that they got some council tax support that had been messed up.

@NoneOfMyBusinessEither

Yes, my bank statements quite clearly show all the payments for the correct amounts, going out on the correct payment date to my council tax account.

But the council tax account is only showing around half of them having been received.

I suppose I'm wondering what carries more weight; that I can prove I paid it or that they are saying they didn't receive it.

They're a nightmare. I hate dealing with them sorry you're having problems with them too.

You having proof carries most weight. I work in local government and have experience with this. You'll be okay and will get sorted easily with that proof.

anotherwinkywinkybumbum

Thanks. That's actually really reassuring!

@17bluebirds @Ohno1 I genuinely don't understand it myself. In the street it's band c for our area and that's £115 and ours is now £151??? I have no arrears or anything. Had the letter Friday and it said my circumstances changed in the new year (husband worked 3 weeks) that's why it's changed and no discount ? Even though we should still get something as I care for 2 disabled children ? Going to ring tomorrow as it doesn't make sence. They've changed it every month for the past year now !! Such a bad council