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Original poster

to be freaking out right now?

118 replies

extremepie · 14/11/2011 11:16

I've just received about 6 letters from the council asking me to pay back council tax which I owe.

Fair enough, I didn't pay it at the time and I do technically owe them money but these letters are for every property we lived in dating back to 2006! Why now all of a sudden are they on my case asking for the money back after 5 years?!

Also, I have no idea how much I owe as every single letter is for a different amount!

We currently have no income, other than benefits, as I am a full-time student and my husband is a carer for our autistic son so there is no way we can pay the money back.

Have also had a letter from a bailiff saying that in the next week they will be coming round to remove goods to pay for it - I don't think even if they take everything we own is would cover the amount!

What do I do?!

Help!!

OP posts:
cantspel · 14/11/2011 12:05

All the Full time college courses my son is looking at for next year are only 3 days a week. Not my idea of full time but it seems to be the norm.

These debts are not going to go away so the op needs to stop burying her head in the sand and find out exactly what she owes and then come to some sort of arragment for payment even if it is only a fiver a week.

quietlyafraid · 14/11/2011 12:05

I sincerely doubt the OP will find that she owes somewhat less than the bills suggest if she gets on the phone to the CAB and looks at what breaks shes entitled to. I think some of you are being unduly harsh. It depends on where you live - some places are exceptionally difficult to get work that fits around study right now.

umadoopaloop · 14/11/2011 12:11

Don't most fulltime students have jobs these days?

I know that for students in my immediate circle of family members, my sister's DSS has a bar job at the uni (i think it's on campus), my newphew has a job in a call centre, and when my brother decided to do a HND he did it part time during evening classes (as he has a fulltime job and couldn't afford to not work).

Isn't that just what you have to do if you can't afford to not work?!

I didn't realise that work was optional!!

TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:11

some places are exceptionally difficult to get work that fits around study right now., yes, quietly, that's true, but this isn't a new situation. This has been going on for 5, nearly 6 years. And there were plenty of jobs around 5 or 6 years ago.

I don't think anyone's being unduly harsh.

The OP has a child with SN. So do lots of people and they still pay their bills.
The OP is a f/t student. So are lots of people and they still pay their bills.
The OP is a f/t student. So are lots of people and they still find jobs to pay their bills and work around their study.

TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:13

And she has asked what she should do and she has been told to get in touch to clarify the amount, contact the CAB for advice and then pay.

Original poster
extremepie · 14/11/2011 12:13

The council has had every address I lived at - they had to as I have claimed housing benefit (not always full though) at every place I have lived (although admitting that will probably have even more people shout at me!)

'Getting away with it' implies I was doing it on purpose, which I wasn't.

To be fair, yes, I do owe it and yes, being a student does not exempt me from paying what I owe but what I'm saying is that the vast majority of this debt is from at least 3 years ago, I haven't built up any more since then as I have been paying it.

I just didn't realise it was that much.

All 6 letters I received today were dated 9/11/11.

I'm not sure if I am eligable for discount for previous years of studying as for the first 2 years I was part time, but since I have moved to full time I might be. Having said that, I told the council I stopped work in July and that my son is now registered disabled and nothing has changed benefit-wise. At the same time I was working split shifts in a kitchen 6 days a week and I was exhausted. I just got to the point where I couldn't do it anymore.

Thanks Belle, the whole point of going to college was so that I could improve all our lives but being able to get a better job in the future. Unfortunately all the debt I built up BEFORE I did that is what I'm paying off.

I have no loans, credit cards, etc.. all the money we have goes on bills, food, debts and the outstanding rent.

OP posts:
TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:21

Right. The letters that are all dated one day - I've had that from them before. They will be perfectly fine with you if you phone up and query that. Don't let that worry you per se.

I won't have a go at you for claiming HB, but were you not entitled to CTB at the same time then?

It sounds like you might need to be a bit more proactive in chasing them up re your benefits.

My DH used to work in benefits on quality assurance and he is now of the opinion that it is no wonder people have so many problems claiming and getting problems sorted. It's little more than data entry but the number of people who applied the wrong codes, inputted information incorrectly was ridiculous. He very strongly felt that were these people not working in the public sector they'd never have got a job anywhere! And said that, as a result, some very vulnerable people were left in ridiculous situations that were not of their making.

Anyway, if the letters are all very recent, the bailiff threats will be made very much to have the effect on you that they have done. Phone them up and speak to them. Speak to the CAB and offer to make a repayment. Some of them are set at £1 per week.

It's good that you've been paying since. That wasn't clear from your earlier posts. It doesn't benefit them to take you to court, because it still costs them (in man-hours) even if you cover court costs. They do this as a last resort.

belledechocchipcookie · 14/11/2011 12:23

The letters will have a date for the council tax period. You need to think about what you were doing then. If you were claiming housing benefit for that time then you should have also have been claiming council tax benefit. You should have posted this in Money Matters or Legal, some posters use this section to vent rather then offer the appropriate advice.

Forrestgump · 14/11/2011 12:24

You may get more empathy on money saving expert over your circumstances?

Has your dh been looking for work since you quit your job in July?

My dh is also (at the moment) mentally exhausted from his job, but he can't quit as he is the sole provider.

I think that is probably why some feel so unsympathetic about your situation, as whether or not you intentionally put your self in this position, you are there, now questioning why you have just had a bill for something you knew you hadn't paid for in 2006, and subsequently havnt paid for.

Original poster
extremepie · 14/11/2011 12:27

I had a job 5/6 years ago - it wasn't enough to pay everything we needed to pay (minimum wage).

I studying catering and am in the training kitchen 5 nights a week - which I don't get paid for, which is why I am no longer working at the moment.

In addition, I am having to home-school my eldest son as of January. I actually prefer to be at work but I just cannot fit it in around everything else.

Well done Callisto, is the view nice up there on your high horse?

I gained A levels through distance learning while working full time - it is hard.
I don't judge other people for their choices, I'm not sure why you feel the need to do the same.

Any information I have given is to give others who ARE trying to advise me an idea of my circumstances.
I don't recall asking for sympathy, I was asking for help. I don't actually care if you feel sorry for me or not, that was not the point of the thread.

OP posts:
SnowChains · 14/11/2011 12:31

Ring them straight up and find out if they are legit first.

You need to do this right now because if they have involved bailiffs there will be extra charges lumped on top.

Then hopefully you can come to some sort of arrangement to pay bit by bit. But they won't help you if you dont contact them.

Original poster
extremepie · 14/11/2011 12:33

Ok, just tried phoning the CAB, no one avaliable! Grrrrrr.....

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 14/11/2011 12:34

I think it's possible to apply for the council tax benefit for this period now, you'll need to check with the CAB though. You can make an appointment, just tell them that you have a disabled child. Take everything with you. If you were working for the council tax period then you can get information of your income from the tax office if you don't have it now.

SnowChains · 14/11/2011 12:35

Forget the CAB for the moment. Ring the council to find out what is going on and to explain your current situation.

TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:35

I think, OP, that your OP sounded a bit "oh how can they do this to me?!" than a genuine "Argh, this has happened, what do I do next?!" hence the lack of sympathy. And it did read as though you hadn't paid any CT since either.

Why do you need to home school your eldest?

WineAndPizza · 14/11/2011 12:35

OP, I have every sympathy for you both trying to improve your lives and look after your son too.

However this situation is clearly unsustainable as you cannot afford to pay your bills/debt. You sadly cannot afford to have both of you not working. One of you must get a job and if that means you giving up college for now then that's what you'll have to do. Paying bills is not a choice that some of us make and others leave due to wanting to re-train. I would love to have the option to start a new career at the bottom of the ladder but I have made choices that require my current salary level to be maintained.

belledechocchipcookie · 14/11/2011 12:36

The CAB are very busy Sad I'd call the council, tell them that you're contacting the CAB for advice and they should put a halt on the account. If you can go in and make an appointment then this will be better then phoning, they don't always answer the phone here as they don't have enough staff to give advice over the phone.

TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:37

I don't know if you'll be able to backdate a claim for CT. They're going to want to know why you didn't apply for it at the time if you were claiming HB.

TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:38

Agree. You might need to put college on hold. Especially if you're planning on home schooling your son from January. How will that work?

TroublesomeEx · 14/11/2011 12:39

Write to/phone the council to get the correct debt.

Tbh, even if you get through to the CAB this afternoon, that is exactly what they are going to tell you to do before they can advise you on your next steps. At least then you'll feel like you've done something which is always a better feeling even if you don't like the outcome!

slavetofilofax · 14/11/2011 12:40

Why do you have to home school your child? Shouldn't your Dh do it if he is at home as a carer anyway?

You really do need to get a job. You will get tax credits if it's only minimum wage, but you can't expect to get an education while the state pays for your children.

Grow up, own your own mistakes, and take some responsibility for the mess you chose to create.

gordyslovesheep · 14/11/2011 12:40

if you where living on £90 a week surely you would have qualified for CT benefit?

anyway - you do have to pay it - contact the council

umadoopaloop · 14/11/2011 12:48

Home schooling your DC?

How are you going to fit that into fulltime study obligations?

What is your DH doing?

Can either of you work in the evening/early mornings in any capacity to work around this?

Opting out of work if you cannot pay your own way isn't viable for most people, just as it doesn't look like it is for you. You need to go back to work (or your DH), ensure you're claiming what you're entitled to whilst you do this, and save up for re-training.

The country cannot and should not fund your household costs because you made this choice.

I'm sitting here utterly baffled about how someone who's trying to communicate to us that she's so well meaning seems so utterly clueless about what financial management and being a responsible parent means.

Original poster
extremepie · 14/11/2011 12:50

You're probably right FolkGirl, I was just a bit frantic at the thought of baliffs turning up when I'm at college and coming home to an empty house :(

I'm having to home school my eldest because despite every application, waiting list and appeal process, he has no school place. He is at pre-school but since he turns 5 in Feb, they won't take him anymore from the beginning of the new term. It's going to be difficult with another child to look after but I have no choice so just have to get on with it and do the best I can!

I can't leave college, as this is my last year and I want to finish so that I can start applying for better jobs - I've been working at this for 3 years and I'm not quitting now!

My husband is the carer for our son because our youngest is borderline severely autistic and despite his age he is physically strong and I cannot always restrain him when necessary. This does make it difficult for him to get a job (especially around my job), but you're right in that the bills still have to be paid.

Will try the council now :)

OP posts:
LivingDead · 14/11/2011 12:50

Blimey slavetofilofax Hmm, yeah what an irresponsible person she is, trying to get an education, how very dare she.

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