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Original poster

I am fuming…

183 replies

LinaLM · 21/04/2023 19:47

I am so infuriated with the cheekiness of the British councils and how they try to extract people’s money at every turn they can.

I have decided to leave the U.K. and move to my husbands country (Switzerland) with our baby. DH is moving shortly (within 6-9 months) waiting for a transfer. So I have now left the U.K. and starting a new job shortly, my baby is going to a nursery etc. So I have contacted the council where we live providing detailed explanation and asking to reduce the council tax to a single person occupancy (30% off). They came back to me literally saying that they do not believe the fact that I have now left and therefore will not remove my name from this address and therefore won’t reduce the council tax. I mean the AUDACITY! They just try to drag this on to extract as much money as they can from a paying resident. They even told me that if I’m not happy I can appeal. So this is ongoing. It’s like it’s not your bloody choice when people leave your council and you can’t bloody force them to say.

Another thing that recently just added to my desire to leave was the congestion charge discount. So we live in the zone so eligible to effectively not pay it since recently. BUT in order to apply for it you have to send tons of documents about me and the car. You have enough documents to bloody charge me that’s no problem but once I want to get my legitimate discount you just try to bury me under the paper load. I honestly can’t wait to get the hell out. It’s just been compounding for too long and now reached the point where I just hate being here.

Does anyone feel as frustrated with these complete morons?

OP posts:
FannyPhart · 21/04/2023 20:12

So you refused to provide them with proof that would have sorted this out on the grounds you don't have to give them details about you? Sounds reasonable...

SunshineGeorgie · 21/04/2023 20:12

This is a battle ( well hardly a battle tbh) which your husband needs to fight

It's no longer your business

RafaistheKingofClay · 21/04/2023 20:12

Switzerland you say you’ve moved to? And your issue is bureaucracy here?

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 21/04/2023 20:12

Just provide your address. Why would you pay for a lawyer when you could just provide your address? You're being awkward for the sake of being askward.

Sissynova · 21/04/2023 20:13

I don’t know why you keep saying you’ve sent them proof of your baby being accepted to a crèche like it means something 😂 possibly the most useless piece of information for the council and utterly meaningless.

You expect them to take your word that you have moved out but refuse to offer any proof so too bad, council tax rightly remains as it is.

GeraltsBathtub · 21/04/2023 20:14

So you are refusing to provide them with evidence that you no longer live there and are wondering why they won’t accept that you don’t? A real head-scratcher, that.

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:14

My DH will be with me most of the time and he’s extremely helpful with everything so that’s not an issue. He’s keen to move asap and really sad to be away from us even for a short period of time but he has to wait for a few months which is no problem. Also it’s not a new country for us, we have family and friends here and have been planning to move for a long time so that’s no problem for me.

OP posts:
Sissynova · 21/04/2023 20:15

SunshineGeorgie · 21/04/2023 20:12

This is a battle ( well hardly a battle tbh) which your husband needs to fight

It's no longer your business

Right?? So OP has moved to HIS country, apparently has set up a new home, is going to be living alone with her baby and working while DH swans about in the UK being a bachelor and can’t even deal with his own council tax?

OP you’ve got bigger issues than a council tax discount 😂

pinksheetss · 21/04/2023 20:15

You are married, of course they are going to want further proof you won't actually live there during this time if you are trying to get the discount

So easy just to provide new proof of address and then all your anger is solved

Sissynova · 21/04/2023 20:16

My DH will be with me most of the time … He’s keen to move asap and really sad to be away from us even for a short period of time but he has to wait for a few months (6-9months)

So is he going to be with you most of the time or have you moved and he remains in the UK? Your whole story doesn’t really make sense.

FannyPhart · 21/04/2023 20:17

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 21/04/2023 20:12

Just provide your address. Why would you pay for a lawyer when you could just provide your address? You're being awkward for the sake of being askward.

This. Stop being awkward. This is so easy to resolve by just sending copies of what they asked for.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 21/04/2023 20:17

If you moved in the UK you would need to provide a new tenancy agreement or mortgage details of new property. This is no different.

MuffinToSeeHere · 21/04/2023 20:17

LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:14

My DH will be with me most of the time and he’s extremely helpful with everything so that’s not an issue. He’s keen to move asap and really sad to be away from us even for a short period of time but he has to wait for a few months which is no problem. Also it’s not a new country for us, we have family and friends here and have been planning to move for a long time so that’s no problem for me.

How can he be with you most of the time and yet still be living in the UK due to work. None of this makes much sense?

SunshineGeorgie · 21/04/2023 20:18

This is SO confusing!!

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:22

Ok a few responses:
DH will be with me as much as he is allowed - it’s a specific number of days per month which is quite a lot effectively almost 3 days every week plus holidays (tax reasons). It’ll be hard and he’ll have to travel a lot but it’ll be worth it so we decided to do it.

DH is actually dealing with it now. I’m just adding value by sharing it on here I guess 😂

OP posts:
MermaidEyes · 21/04/2023 20:23

honestly can’t wait to get the hell out. It’s just been compounding for too long and now reached the point where I just hate being here.

But you're not here? You're in Switzerland. No wonder the council are confused, so are the rest of us.

FloydPepper · 21/04/2023 20:23

“Stop making me pay”
”ok provide some proof”
”no”
”ok keep paying then”
”wah wah wah “

FictionalCharacter · 21/04/2023 20:25

Your dh should have been dealing with the council tax in the first place, not you. He’s the one still living in the house and claiming the single occupancy discount.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 21/04/2023 20:25

MuffinToSeeHere · 21/04/2023 19:57

Exactly. I don't understand why you're so pissed off. Just appeal and show evidence you've left the country it's not difficult but they can't just take your word for it and of your husband still lives at the address and will do so for sometime then of course they are going to question why you're not living there too. Also I don't understand why it was left to you to sort out if you're no longer in the country surely it would make more sense for him to do it?

Show quote history

I filled in an online form when I broke up with my ex saying he no longer lived her, the discount was added and I got a new council tax bill. No questions etc. it baffled me why they wouldn't believe the OP?

GrumpyPanda · 21/04/2023 20:26

Meh. Get me to tell you a couple of stories about trying to change car registration between Germany and the Netherlands and back. Or about changing the address on my Dutch bank account to a Swedish one (they want a phone number to confirm, but don't accept non-Dutch numbers.) Or my uncle's stories about trying to register their British-built car in Italy. International relocation sucks.

For the practical side.

  • Have you registered for residency in Switzerland yet and sent over copies of those official documents?
-Have you tried the British Embassy/consulates in Switzerlands? Lots of embassies keep lists of their resident citizens. They may be able to issue an informal letter.

Don't worry, you'll have fun ahead in Switzerland. Once you've caught up with the language, look up a fab film from the late 70s by a super popular Swiss comedian. Its called Die Schweizermacher (The Swissmakers) and is a satire of the Swiss immigration authorities. Still very much beloved today. Also - aa I gather from people who went through the process - frighteningly realistic.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swissmakers

The Swissmakers - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swissmakers

bloodywhitecat · 21/04/2023 20:26

I had to prove DH had died as they wouldn't just take my word for it surprise, surprise, I don't see how your case is all that different.

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:26

Yes I guess maybe I overacted but it really annoyed me that they asked for my new address and other personal info ie employment contract, proof that baby is engaged there etc.

I admit it just came up after the congestion thing on top of something else so all together it’s been a nightmare dealing with them.

OP posts:
Neededanewuserhandle · 21/04/2023 20:27

YANBU (some) Councils dealing with Council tax are absolute tossers.

FlyingCherries · 21/04/2023 20:28

I’m very amused that someone pissed off with British levels of bureaucracy has moved to Switzerland.

Zanatdy · 21/04/2023 20:29

I don’t see it’s unreasonable for them to ask you for the required evidence. A stamp in a passport and crèche registration for a baby isn’t within their accepted documents I’m sure. If you don’t provide it then you won’t get the discount

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