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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be pissed off with the council who sent this

70 replies

StonedRoses · 26/10/2019 22:15

Today my DW has received SIX letters in the post about an unpaid council tax bill for a property in a city we’ve never visited - let alone owned property in. It says there is a court order and some of these go back to 2013. The order is the bill for the tax plus court fees - and threatening bailiffs in 14 days. No first name but her initial and surname and sent to our address (where we do pay council tax!!) It looks genuine, links to that council website. Of course their phone lines aren’t open till Monday.

Is it a mistake, scam or identity theft? What should we do. My DW is very upset and shaken and worried about bailiffs taking our stuff. How do we prove we have no idea what this is on about? Any advice gratefully received. What do we do if bailiffs turn up. Should I just pay it on a card to remove this risk then try to claim it back.

OP posts:

FlamingoAndJohn · 26/10/2019 22:51

Here is action fraud. www.actionfraud.police.uk/

You could call them right now to get some peace of mind.

PoppiesarelethaltoSpellmans · 26/10/2019 22:52

Yeah it's gonna be a scam.

To the poster who said to put it on a credit card, wtf planet are you on?!

ffswhatnext · 26/10/2019 23:01

I want to be mates with the person who suggested paying 😂

It’s fine and even if they clamp of they miraculously showed up on Monday, they would have to remove it the same day.

It’s either a scam or a mixup. Either way she isn’t liable and a quick call from her will sort everything out

DemiGorgon · 26/10/2019 23:03

Poppies - I guess that poster is one of the people who make up the vast amount of money lost to scammers each year.

OP if you watch 'Don't Pay' you will know that bailiffs are not as powerful as they are portrayed unless the High Court has ordered them to action.

Itsallpetetong · 26/10/2019 23:05

And I can’t visit the council as it’s miles away
My DW is very worried about bailiffs coming when I’m at work

You don’t need to visit them. A phone call would do. If you have never had a property here they will confirm the6 don’t have a bill in DW name.

So it’s v weird they would send letters to a currant address re an address you have never lived at- I’d say scam. Do NOT phone the numbers on the letter. Google the company that sent the letters and see if a genuine company exists and get the phone number off google.

ruralcat · 26/10/2019 23:05

@StonedRoses she doesn't need to have personally been paying the council tax on your current property. My DH pays our council tax but I can prove that I am a resident at the property and presumably your DW can too.

verysadstorync · 26/10/2019 23:09

Do not pay it!!
No one will turn up tomorrow.
Phone the council on Monday.
I assume your wife is named on the council tax bill.
It's either a scam or tracing done sloppily.
It's not her property, it will all be sorted out.

verysadstorync · 26/10/2019 23:10

Named on your council tax bill *

BeatriceTheBeast · 26/10/2019 23:16

Do not pay it.

They have probably been looking for someone with your wife's name or someone who gave your wife's name for years. They have now found her address and think they have her.

You need to speak to them asap on Monday.

We had similar letters when I was a student, because the previous tenants hadn't paid their utility bills. I phoned them and explained and that was that. I had been panicking, waiting for the bailiffs to come for my shit laptop which had lots of work on it. Back in the olden days when there was no cloud etc and I didn't get round to saving everything on discs. How old do I sound? But I digress.

cometothinkofit · 26/10/2019 23:16

How does it say that the bill needs to be paid - does it give detals of a bank account that the money needs to be paid into?

Starlight456 · 26/10/2019 23:20

Phone on Monday.. find the telephone number from the website not link on the letter.

ivykaty44 · 26/10/2019 23:21

Email them stating the reference number for the tax bill and advice them your wife has never owned or rented a property in that city, therefore they have the wrong person.

I would suspect that they have done a trace and as your wife has the same name they think it’s her.

Tbh I wouldn’t ignore it as if bailiffs turn up then your wife may have the same first name and it’s going to be difficult at that stage to deal with this

PrincessMargaret · 26/10/2019 23:23

Jeez, if you never lived there just phone on Monday and then throw it in the bin.

ivykaty44 · 26/10/2019 23:23

Rurualcat nothing to stop a person owning more than one property, living in one and being able to prove it doesn’t mean your not liable for the tax at another property

SofiaAmes · 26/10/2019 23:25

OP it's SCAM!!!! Please read what everyone has posted. Do not send money. Do NOT call the number on the letter. Google the phone number for the Council in question and talk to them on Monday, but do NOT contact anything in the letter.

BeatriceTheBeast · 26/10/2019 23:26

We've actually had this twice now I think about it. The first as a student and the second when DH and I moved into a flat and numerous people were chasing Mr and Mrs Notourname for huge sums of money. They had our address and new phone number but a different name. Again, I just explained and they stopped calling.

DrVonPatak · 26/10/2019 23:28

Don't do it, I once got a really genuine looking letter demanding that I pay a fine for failing to clean up after my dog, except I own a geriatric cat who refuses to step any further than the windowsill. One call to the council and it was firmly established as a fake.

Beveren · 26/10/2019 23:34

I'd put it on a credit card and claim it back if they take you to court xx

Huh? Why would they take OP to court if the sum claimed has been paid? This would be a ridiculous thing to do.

CrazylazyJane · 26/10/2019 23:36

I've heard of this happening with our local council. People have phoned the council and said that the bill is either for the wrong address or that they have proof with bank statements, that the money was paid to the council for council tax.

In all the cases the council dropped the threat of bailiffs and cancelled the 'debt'.

It is a scam but it would seem it is a cash strapped council who are the chancers

littlebillie · 26/10/2019 23:40

It sounds like a scam. If a bailiff was to attend your property and take anything it is breaking and entering call the police

Willowkins · 27/10/2019 00:21

I would write to the council, with a copy of the letter sent to you, saying that (1) you wish to make them aware of what you think is a scam and (2) if it is genuinely from the council, them their information is incorrect and you require them, under the GDPR, to correct it and confirm that they will not be billing you. Explain that you will charge £100 for each additional letter, phone call or email that you have to write (in case they don't get it write first time but this always works).

Persimmonn · 27/10/2019 00:31

I'd put it on a credit card and claim it back if they take you to court xx

😂😂🤣🤣 it’s the “x’s” that give that comment a “bada boosh” 🤣🤣😆

Do. Not. Pay. Anything. As suggested phone them on Monday.

Is your wife at least registered at your property? How can her name not be on the bill? I thought the council need to know who is living in a house? Especially if they’re an adult.

Grumpyunleashed · 27/10/2019 00:54

@StonedRoses
Do not pay!
Use the inter web to find the real council number. Do not use the letter as if it is a fraud they will be quite capable of pretending to be council. Then call the real council on Monday and talk to them with the letter in your hand containing refs and details
If it’s a scam they will tell you.
If it’s real then you can sort out their error.
Should anyone turn up at your door tell DW to call the police that suspects for fraud are at the door, help should arrive PDQ whilst you sort this out.

ememem84 · 27/10/2019 06:41

Why are people suggesting to just pay it?

FlamingoAndJohn · 27/10/2019 06:48

Why are people suggesting to just pay it?

One person said that. Everyone else had said to sit tight.

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