I'm going to have to pay the full council tax demand, aren't I?

[CouncilFuckingTax]

Six months ago I suddenly got an adjusted council tax notice knocking £290 off the total. I rang them to query and they told me it was accurate. I wasn't convinced tbh but I only earn minimum wage and take home less because I pay into a pension, and they said it was based on my earnings so I kind of went with it. Now I've got another notice demanding the full whack ie I've got to pay another £290 by 1 March. That's a quarter of my monthly take home and quite a nightmare to find in three weeks. But I don't think I can avoid it. Can I? In any way?

Have you spoken to them on the phone? They can often offer a repayment plan.

Don’t ignore it as I ended up having to re-pay thousands even though it was their mistake. They were able to take it straight from my wages so you can’t get out of it.

If you haven’t done so already give them a ring tomorrow and explain you can’t afford it all in one go and can you pay in instalments.

If you are sure that they are correct then ring them and ask too to spread the payment over the next 6 months.

They can't expect you to pay a third of your wages in one go.

If they don't agree to a payment plan then speak to citizens advice and see what you can do.

I haven't spoken to them, no. I just got back from work and found this frigging demand sat in my letterbox like a malevolent fucking spirit or something. I frigging hate council tax. It's such bullshit. 15% of my take home, so part of me wanted to believe the notice I got in August was ok. Especially when they said it was. It's not fair!

You can offer a repayment plan, doesn’t matter who is at fault.

The government tell the council, on a regular basis, of changes in people’s income, if they are receiving council tax reduction or housing benefit.
The council has no choice but to alter the amount of council reduction you’re entitled to, and the way Universal Credit is calculated doesn’t help matters.
I understand it’s overwhelming when you’re suddenly presented with a council tax bill you weren’t expecting. For the council, they will be very accommodating if you contact them and suggest instalments, and as long as you stick to a payment plan there will be no penalties or interest.
It’s not something you have to meet with your councillor about.
Just give them a call and say you need a payment arrangement as you can’t pay it all at once.

Yes this sounds about right, especially if you get council tax reduction benefit. Every year without fail i get a reduction in November/early december which alters my monthly payments, this normally knocks between £150 and £250 off. I already get a reduction due to low income but this is an adjustment "due to benefit calculations". Then come late January i get another letter putting it back up. I've become so used to it now that I no longer get excited thinking I'm better off like I did the first year.

Oh I should also say you can ask them to double check what income they’re using to assess you.

You will definitely be able to negotiate a payment plan since it was their error

Yeah I kind of get that that makes sense for people who are formulating these policies and will never be affected by them. But it's bullshit tho. I've already been fucked around by the two weeks behind/five weeks behind nonsense when I switched and believe me it wasn't easy getting that sorted out. If you never have a bill for £290 and that's a third of your take home I guess it might look like a theoretical sum to you but here on the ground slogging my guts out it's different. It's already hard, living on a low wage. The government shouldn't be making it harder.

You’ll definitely be able to get a payment plan. Tell them you can pay it back over a year which is just under £25 a month. Insist that’s all you can afford.

Sorry, that was in reply to @Almostlegible

Council tax are usually good at letting you pay off monthly (where I live they are) but speak to them first as you may be entitled to the discount.

It's shit, I'm sorry.

I wonder if requesting a recalculation (or appealing, if that's the mechanism available) would buy you more time?

I agree you should definitely push for a payment plan, but I would stop short of promising they would agree to this - when I had to repay a housing benefit overpayment (their mistake) a few years ago they refused my request for a repayment plan as they deemed I did have sufficient income to cover it. Had to stick it on a credit card instead.

When you apply for UC there's a question about council tax. If you answer yes this triggers an application for Council Tax reduction/support.

What's most likely happened is you've been awarded CTS/R from the day you claimed UC upto the end of the financial year based on your first assessment period. Your earnings have since changed. CTS claims aren't linked and auto updated per HMRC like UC claims are and are only checked at most twice a year.

Or your initial claim wasn't awarded correctly.

The council will want it paid by the end of the financial year ie march 31st. They don't like rolling it into the following year without a CCJ, but if you put your case, ie you queried this and was told it was correct they may agree.

It will need to go to a manager, the normal revenue assistant won't be able to agree it. I would call and follow up with a letter or e mail.

If you offer a very small amount they will take out a CCJ to protect themselves. Whatever you offer make sure it's an amount you can manage, nothing gets them going to court more quickly than someone who doesn't keep to the agreement.

These mistakes happen because the councils have got rid of the experienced staff who knew how to spot errors like this.

Good luck.

My earnings haven't changed but yeah something along those lines is probably what has happened. My earnings are the same as they've always been. Low. Maybe it's to do with the two weeks/five weeks thing but that's how the benefits are set up. I can't control that. The people who designed this fucking thing can control it but it seems they can't be arsed to make it work.

I get council tax reduction. My income varies a bit so I get a letter most months telling me what I owe. It also increases if you use childcare as council includes any payment from UC as income. It is most definitely untrue that the more you work the better off you are unfortunately.

I received a £600 in addition to what I'd been paying council tax bill, due to their error and like the op, I'd queried it from the outset.

I then stated that I wouldn't pay in one go, which is what they wish for you to do as year end. And I pushed for the additional amount to be spread over the next 12 months. Took some toing and froing but they're duty bound to consider such arrangements.

Thanks for that @ChoiceMummy, it gives me a bit of hope.

They're such fuckers really. Spend all my money on anti car bollards and piss me around with payments. I hate the frigging lot of them.

Arrange an instalment plan with them

Council tax don’t do CCJs.

Phone them and check the info they have is correct. Then check if there are any discounts you are eligible for eg single persons discount. Ask if there’s a discretionary help scheme you can apply for and finally ask about changing the payment scheme.

You could try applying for a dhp to pay your council tax arrears. You will need to enter all your income and expenditure but as long as it is not extravagant and shows no money at all left over after bills and food they may grant it. You put the details of why you ended up in the situation in. If you have rent arrears you can apply for those too.

Council Tax Reduction varies from council to council so can only give you general advice. If youd like to message me with the name of your local authority I can check the particulars of their scheme.

I would ask for a statement of reasons which sets out exactly what income they are using for you. Check this against your payslips/UC claim. As PP have said, the council aren't regularly sent details of your income and can't log into the HMRC system to check your earnings. I'd be asking exactly what has triggered this review.

I would also ask for a payment plan, they aren't legally obliged to do this but it is not a good look for them to refuse this. Go to your councillor and if you don't get anywhere go down the complaints process. I would also contact the local government ombudsmen who can advise on this.

If paying this amount is going to cause you financial hardship, request a Section 13A reduction. This is a discretionary discount that councils can choose to apply to an account for any reason they choose. In my experience working in councils, a common reason for applying the reduction is they have cocked up!!

Good luck. Make sure you follow everything up in writing!