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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if I cant pay £90 odd quid in 7 days there's no point raising it to over £1000!?

55 replies

PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:21

Fell behind on council tax already. Payments for March were a shock to the budget as husband's work dries up in bad weather and it knocked us back. So we've reorganised, paying more each week. Already reduced the debt.

Get a letter today, dated Monday. Full arrears due within 7 days of letter or I lose the ability to pay in installments. Payments take a day to show. So, pay by tomorrow or owe thousands in one go.

I'll borrow it out of the rent and plead to landlord, not begging here, we will pay it.

I do feel it's a bit unreasonable to give such short notice for what to us is a large amount when explanation has been given and overpayments are already being made every week. If I've not got £90 I'm hardly going to be sitting on a grand!

Probably am bu. But I just feel really under pressure on a shit budget, I know we shouldn't have fell behind.

OP posts:
NapQueen · 27/04/2018 12:23

How do you owe thousands if youve fallen behind due to March?

Original poster
PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:24

If I don't pay the 90 odd arrears the full balance becomes due immediately. Sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm just having a faff about it all.

OP posts:
Paie · 27/04/2018 12:25

Call them and talk to them.
I've had this a few times- they either let me pay the normal amount at a later date or they just took that months council tax and added it onto each month- so instead of paying £110 I'd pay £119.16 a month after the month I'd missed.

LifeBeginsAtGin · 27/04/2018 12:25

Do you not save in advance for your husbands dry months?

LoudBatPerson · 27/04/2018 12:28

This is the standard practice in my borough too.

I know of one family member who had a problem one month and was able to spread that months payments put over the rest of year, but I think they had to ask this wasn't offered. If I remember correctly they were also told this wouldn't be done a second-time int he same year, but I don't know if that was a real threat or not.

I woudl suggest ringing them up and speaking to an actual person.

MyotherUsernameisaPun · 27/04/2018 12:30

Definitely call your council - they are very likely to help you come to an arrangement. Unlike your landlord they owe you a duty of care and they won't see you get into rent arrears for the sake of council tax.

Original poster
PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:30

We did call @Paie, and made overpayments each week, that's why the letter's a bit if a kick.

@LifeBeginsAtGin We try to. It's a fairly new job, when he gets his hours we put a bit by, but it does get eaten quickly when things are crap.

No one will starve, I'm just feeling kicked when I'm down by the demand for immediate payment when we've called and made overpayments already. I feel like we've done our best to show willing and make good.

OP posts:
Original poster
PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:32

I'll call again then, maybe it's an automated thing?

OP posts:
holdmybeer · 27/04/2018 12:39

Have you already had a summons and a liability order issued?

soulrider · 27/04/2018 12:40

They word it like that as they want people who are genuinely struggling to pay to contact them and work out a plan.

Paie · 27/04/2018 12:41

could very well be an automated thing- either way they'll be far more helpful if you call them sooner rather than later.

I had a panic like this last year and it turned out to be automated letters that had been sent out before I'd organised the plan- the system takes a while to update.

SaucyJack · 27/04/2018 12:44

But you say you can pay it if you juggle other things around? I'm not getting the particular outrage over and above the general sickened of having to pay bills before going to the pub.

Asking nicely doesn't work on a lot of people, and with all due respect you appear to be in this camp.

CT needs to be more of a priority for you unless you fancy having court bailiffs round. They're not messing.

mavismcruet · 27/04/2018 12:44

That is really crap. We have had ups and downs with money over the years. It always seems that if you have money, people (companies/ govt etc) bend over backwards to give you more. However when you are struggling it feels like they are so quick to jump on you, fine you, charge you and make your situation even worse.
Hope you get it sorted out OP Flowers

scaryteacher · 27/04/2018 12:46

The new bills have only just come out for 18/19, so you must have been well behind (for whatever reason) on 17/18 if you have over a thousand owing. Are there arrears from 16/17 as well?

This is a final notice I think, and then the Council will send you a summons and obtain a Liability Order against you. Most councils still offer instalments via arrangement after the Liability order has been obtained, but get the Liability Order to enforce the payment if necessary. They have a duty to ensure that those means for enforcement are in place.

Original poster
PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:47

No nothing like that @holdmybeer.

You're right @soulrider. I called them and am now paying less, but on a DD instead of their online system. Why not just say we're happy with your agreed payments but we want you on DD!? They've let me pay less than I was as the debt will be spread wider, I'd have cleared it end of May as it was.

I'm fucking crying now. When money is tight losing hours and work just boots you right back down. The guy on the phone was so nice, could see our payments and that we'd called when we realised we'd struggle. The letter was just so frightening, didn't suggest we call for help, just that we HAD to pay it all now.

OP posts:
totteringlump · 27/04/2018 12:50

Definitely not being UR, OP. Happened to me and it’s shit Flowers

Original poster
PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:50

@scaryteacher its just this years, we were 90 behind on installments. The letter said pay 90 now or full amount for 18/19 due immediately.

@SaucyJack I don't go to the pub before paying bills. Thanks for your projection though. Super helpful. We fell behind, we phoned, we made overpayments.

OP posts:
silverpenguin · 27/04/2018 12:51

@mavismcruet in what way do people with money get given more by the govt/companies? Unless you mean the super rich/A-list celebs?

AnneLovesGilbert · 27/04/2018 12:51

That's a really nice update OP. Well done for taking the initiative to call them and I'm so pleased you had a nice man help sort this out.

scaryteacher · 27/04/2018 12:52

The letter is in the format it is, as it is statutory wording for the recovery process. There are stages set out in the LGFA for billing, collection and recovery, and this letter is is part of that process.

Original poster
PlowerOfScotland · 27/04/2018 12:53

Thanks @AnneLovesGilbert.

OP posts:
sonsmum · 27/04/2018 12:56

PlowerofScotland, sorry to hear of your troubles and hope they will go away over time. I just wanted to mention the direct debit aspect : not meaning to highlight bad news, but please be aware that if the direct debit is defaulted, there is a bank charge associated with that. So do prioritise that direct debit. The council would have wanted to prioritise DD as it is guaranteed by the bank. Unfortunately the bank pass that cost and extra onto you. So your DD becomes one important payment that must be paid to avoid the debt going up.

scaryteacher · 27/04/2018 12:57

That's bloody quick moving to a Final Notice rather than a reminder this early in the 18/19 year! Some councils have their instalment dates on the 15th and 28th of the month, so some may not even have paid their first instalment yet!

TheHonGalahadThreepwood · 27/04/2018 12:58

When you're struggling a bit of kindness and understanding really goes a long way. Totally get why you would have been so upset and scared by the impersonal letter, and really pleased that the man from the council was so nice and helpful.

Juells · 27/04/2018 12:59

over and above the general sickened of having to pay bills before going to the pub.

That's a bit unfair.