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?

The key is that what you want from the Council is a 'benefit' not an automatic right.

You are eligible for these benefits based on where you live and where you don't live.

If my Council didn't ask residents to prove residency, there you be school admissions chaos, everyone would be claiming 25% off their Council tax...do you understand?

In my experience, when people are telling porky pies, they get very angry, very quickly. Fuming if they are on MN.

I certainly feel like I’ve been paying my dues for a very long time for very little on return. Many years of 45% tax without putting a burden on any public services, so I would refrain from talking about something you have no clue about.

I always get amazed how much British residents get screwed in comparison to many European countries. We pay the same amount of tax for abysmal services. NHS is a joke, you have 0 support if you lose your job, you have the most expensive childcare in the world, pathetic pension etc. and then when I try to actually get things straight I have a rando telling me about paying my dues. Quite amusing.

You’re trying to claim a benefit but you need to prove entitlement to it.

you're getting yourself in knots because you’re angry- fuming- that you can’t get what you want. Pay your bills like everyone else.

Ignore the neigh sayers about Switzerland, I have been in Vaud for 17 years and love it! (Although, in those days, I did just leave the uk. I didn't tell anyone anything? I just sold up, and left...)

Almost as much as how baffling it is a middle aged woman can't deal with council tax 🤣

🤚👍

Blah blah 😌

So hang on, is this thread a load of nonsense by someone pretending to live in Switzerland and be a high earner, then? 😳