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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:
DeflatedAgain · 21/04/2023 20:29

Can you imagine how many people would apply for a reduced council tax rate by pretending they live on their own OP?

They make it hard for a good reason - to stop things like that from happening.

Don't worry you'll get it sorted out eventually

Hellybelly84 · 21/04/2023 20:32

LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:10

25% discount that was a typo apologies. But frankly it’s not even about the money. It’s just the principle.

I sent evidence ie my exit stamp, and a letter of acceptance from crèche for my baby. I refuse to send my address, my work
contract etc. I spoke with a lawyer and he said I can do those forms I mentioned ie P85 etc. and send them as they are official. But he said it was over the top and clearly they don’t ask every resident to send these personal details and they just put more pressure on paying residents now because they are so stretched.

Why refuse to send them if it could help solve it? The council know where you lived/worked in England (and all the authorities know all our personal details anyway), so why are you worried about sending these for your new job/house in Switzerland?

Silverbook · 21/04/2023 20:33

Should it not be your husband who is applying for a reduction seeing as you don't live here any more?

CordyLines · 21/04/2023 20:33

Is this a money laundering scam, or scarpering from justice (joking)

DomingoinLittleOakley · 21/04/2023 20:36

I think if you're pissed off with the level of red tape in the UK, then Switzerland might come as a bit of a shock to you OP.

Morningcoffeeview · 21/04/2023 20:37

I hear you OP. They don’t make you jump through hoops to charge you but they need a mass of paperwork not to. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to prove a negative too.

When I last moved from one district council to another they continued to bill me at my old address for 6 months repeatedly reinstated my cancelled DD because they had a “backlog”
to deal with to deal with my change of address. So I was paying two of council tax to two different properties because they weren’t on top of their admin. Madness! I could afford it but many couldn’t.

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:38

DomingoinLittleOakley · 21/04/2023 20:36

I think if you're pissed off with the level of red tape in the UK, then Switzerland might come as a bit of a shock to you OP.

Yes I agree but I think the benefits will outweigh it particularly now that we have a child.

OP posts:
Brinnt675 · 21/04/2023 20:38

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.

Why do you think a random council employee somewhere cares about your address apart from for the purpose of confirming you moved? You're not important nobody cares where you live.

Babyroobs · 21/04/2023 20:40

Ask your partner to take your name off the bill. He may need to complete a form for the change of circumstance. Then they should send him a revised bill.

MidgeHardcastle · 21/04/2023 20:40

Yes, your dh should have applied for the single discount himself. Your post was complicated reading so I maybe the council was confused as well.

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:41

Morningcoffeeview · 21/04/2023 20:37

I hear you OP. They don’t make you jump through hoops to charge you but they need a mass of paperwork not to. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to prove a negative too.

When I last moved from one district council to another they continued to bill me at my old address for 6 months repeatedly reinstated my cancelled DD because they had a “backlog”
to deal with to deal with my change of address. So I was paying two of council tax to two different properties because they weren’t on top of their admin. Madness! I could afford it but many couldn’t.

Pretty shocking…same here I am relatively stable financially so it’s easier for me to
navigate I admit that but I know many others are really taken advantage of - it’s such a mess.

OP posts:
InSpainTheRain · 21/04/2023 20:41

So in your post you seem.to indicate you've left the UK, but in another sentence you refer.to "where you live" as being in the UK. Perhaps that's why they are having trouble.believing you. I am not sure you'll get less bureaucracy in Switzerland by the way -.quite the opposite.

itsgettingweird · 21/04/2023 20:43

Quveas · 21/04/2023 20:04

Single person occupancy is 25% reduction, not 30%. And yes, obviously, councils should just stop billing people on their say so and without evidence.

And yes, they actually can force people to pay.

Well no they don't.

But when ds turned 18 and I rang my council up to say we no longer were entitled to the discount they managed to change it within 48 hours!

Hellybelly84 · 21/04/2023 20:43

I take it as a positive that the council are doing their job thoroughly. We hear too often how its easy to cheat the system, so I want to know they are making it as difficult as possible to do this. So you basically need to send a few letters to them or your Husband can send them these as he’s in the UK?

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:46

Brinnt675 · 21/04/2023 20:38

Why do you think a random council employee somewhere cares about your address apart from for the purpose of confirming you moved? You're not important nobody cares where you live.

Show quote history

I don’t believe individuals care of course why would they? It’s more about making life more difficult. On its own this is of course a no issue but like I said there were so
many issues over the years that made me resent these people and their methods.

OP posts:
Kittycash · 21/04/2023 20:47

Well I’ve got the opposite problem. Twice I’ve told them I’ve moved into my property. Still no council tax bill.

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:48

itsgettingweird · 21/04/2023 20:43

Well no they don't.

But when ds turned 18 and I rang my council up to say we no longer were entitled to the discount they managed to change it within 48 hours!

Show quote history

Thats exactly my point. When it’s about you paying them it’s surprisingly easy when it’s the other way round all of a sudden it becomes forensic.

OP posts:
moomoomoo27 · 21/04/2023 20:48

Well if you're refusing to send the details they've asked for then of course it's going to look suspicious.

These kinds of things have specific processes, they don't allow for people going outside of their processes.

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:49

Kittycash · 21/04/2023 20:47

Well I’ve got the opposite problem. Twice I’ve told them I’ve moved into my property. Still no council tax bill.

You’ll get a nice compounded bill once it’s sorted no doubt. Whereas I am pretty sure they won’t refund me retrospectively:-)

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/04/2023 20:50

You need to provide proof that you moved out and proof of your new address. Not a 'detailed explanation'.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/04/2023 20:51

It's not the council being awkard here...

Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:52

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/04/2023 20:51

It's not the council being awkard here...

I may be a bit awkward but they piss me off :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:55

Ok it’s been fun!

This was my first post! Thanks all for the feedback! plus I’ve learnt to reply to and quote people :-)

This will be sorted once I send my P85 and the other form which I am forgetting the name of now but I do still believe they are not there to help people but rather to make life difficult at least that’s been my experience.

OP posts:
FTB2022 · 21/04/2023 20:58

LinaLM · 21/04/2023 20:48

Thats exactly my point. When it’s about you paying them it’s surprisingly easy when it’s the other way round all of a sudden it becomes forensic.

Show quote history

Because when you ask for a discount you are taking money from the public purse. The authority have an obligation to protect the public purse and ensure discounts are not claimed fraudulently. No one would advise that they aren't entitled to a discount if they are. Therefore less scrutiny is needed, and removing a discount is a 30 second job that may actually be carried out by a customer service officer rather than a revenues officer.

Under the Council Tax regulations, it would appear you're liable. Why on earth would they take your word for it that you aren't, without even a forwarding address?

If you want the discount, give them evidence. You won't win an appeal without it.

KillerSandy · 21/04/2023 20:58

Good luck to you in Switzerland if this amount of money is making you fume. Switzerland is about 40% more expensive than here!

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