I am fuming…

[LinaLM]

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?

Tax avoiders eh? Works for Lewis Hamilton, Gary Barlow and, Nigel Farage I guess 😂

He’s dealing with it mostly. I’m expressing my frustration on here mostly! Though now after this wonderful experience with the post I see the funny side!

So when you paid a lot of money to the tax consultant to work out ways to avoid paying taxes did they suggest this fantastic idea about you saying you were living in Switzerland? If so maybe you can get a refund that way. 25% off the cost of the consultation? For suggesting such a silly story and making you look like a fool.

I get your frustration. And yes, it’s generally more of an arseache to deal with the bureaucracy of a country you don’t want to be in, than that of a country to do.

but you are making a rod for your own back though, in not providing proof. Even though you don’t particularly want to, it’s not in your best interests to be stubborn on this one. Just provide what they’ve asked and be done with it, and be glad you’re out!

She can’t provide proof because she is not living in Switzerland

I’m taking it at face value 🤷🏻‍♀️

it’s entirely plausible that she is. It’s not like it’s a hassle to travel backwards and forwards between the U.K. and Switzerland, especially if you live near an airport that offers direct flights. You can get from London to Geneva in less than two hours.

If you aren't there and he is, he should be the one paying Council Tax, and therefore the one applying for single person reduction. Or I have I misunderstood?

On the list of all the MN posts I’d like a like button for, this is at the top.

Yeah all things considered, this is the funniest thread I have ever read on Mumsnet.

I’m afraid it is true. My friend who’s a journalist living in Berlin reported on it for a German newspaper at the time. Was quite a scandal.

Thats the thing about Switzerland, it is very cold to outsiders.

Also the fact that women didn’t get the vote until 1971. BUT even then women gained full voting rights in the final Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden as late as 1990.

1990 FFS! Mental 😂

😂😂😂😂😂

I haven’t found it that cold when I’ve been tbh. At least not in the major cities and as long as you’re not late, anyway.

Granted it is a different story in the countryside, where you may indeed be Swiss but you’re classed as foreign if you’ve wandered in from the neighboring village. Have encountered the same mindset in Lincolnshire though.

I don’t have to provide proof of where I live as there’s no reason why they should have these personal details about me.

No, you don't have to, but if you won\t provide supporting evidence don't expect to be able to reduce your council tax. It's daft to expect them just to take your word for it that you've moved without requiring supporting evidence.

This is where you fully lost me. You know they don’t care, you know they just need proof of address but you won’t send it on some sort of principle I don’t really understand. You’ve made it difficult by not providing a basic piece of evidence.

Enjoy Switzerland. 😳

OP are you still employed in the UK?

Same here, I lived and worked in Basel when I was younger and people were quite friendly, however there was definitely an "us and them" attitude that now seems very familiar in the UK. I think the Swiss don't mind us Brits that much but a colleague of mine who was of Albanian origin was not treated as well as me by Swiss colleagues.

As for OP, she needs to get her story straight really. I mean why whinge about congestion zone discount bureaucracy when you don't live in the UK?

I know few people who did move like this when one went ahead ranging from 2 months to a year. Not sure why some people are surprised. It happens more often than people think.

Your DH has to communicate with them, not you. That might help. I get why you are frustrated when they say they don't believe you. That's ridiculous of them. Just provide them with proof of your address, don't explain situation. Some people will simply not get that one went ahead.
You might have to fully deregister from everything. One friend just cancelled everything in UK, took himself of electoral roll etc. Some UK banks allow you bank account when you are abroad as well so change from uk address.

I’m Serbian, and politically there have been issues between Serbia and Switzerland, but I can’t say I’ve ever been treated badly in Switzerland as a result.

There was a lot of immigration from Albania and Kosovo to Switzerland, which wasn’t always welcomed. There’s a stereotype that Albanians (and Roma, actually) are criminals. I’ve noticed similar sentiments towards Albanians in Italy, and even in the UK.

It does sound like the congestion charges will impact her DH, and her if she’s also traveling backwards and forwards at all. She hasn’t been the clearest, but I don’t think what she’s saying is unbelievable.

I have never been resident in Switzerland but until 2012 I used to own a holiday flat in a ski resort that I rented out when I was not using. Found Swiss local authorities a nightmare - particularly the annual tax return for the rental income where I had to detail my worldwide capital assets as well as income. They asked about my religion and I foolishly put Church of England which they decided meant I had consented to pay extra tax to go to the local Swiss Calvinist protestant church. By the next tax return I had had a crisis of faith and become an atheist!

No I decided to leave my job when I had a baby.

So will be getting back to work in a few weeks time in Switzerland.

you can’t make this up 😂

Well I get your point. It doesn’t seem like a big deal but they specifically asked for a new tenancy agreement. What if I live with my relatives or friends, what if I own a place. You may think it’s unreasonable but I have no desire to share any of these personal details with these people who I have no respect for based on years of horrible experience every step of the way.

I said I’d send relevant forms and they must accept it I am being told.

Its quite amusing how the congestion charge issue still baffles some people…

I gave up on Candymay as I know you can’t pass on experiences. Maybe she’s never been outside of the village she’s from and that’s why she finds it so unbelievable that people actually move countries and travel to see each other on a regular basis. I highly suggest getting out and opening your mind to the wonders of the world :-)

Just pay your dues. I pay 2 x full council tax because I have two properties in U.K. Obviously I’m not at two places at once but that’s the rule. And no single person discounts because they only apply at your main residence. I don’t complain. That’s the way council tax is set up. I’m not looking for loopholes and getting myself agitated.

youre trying to look like a jet setter whilst simply being a tax evader