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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to not be chased frequently for council tax debt during maternity leave

182 replies

Panicatthezoo · 25/08/2023 12:00

I am due 2 grand in council tax payments, please spare the lecture and judgement I know it's stupid but these are from 8 years ago when frankly I did not have the money, it was eat or pay council tax.

I have recently been contacted about this debt, however im on maternity allowance at the moment and obviously on a very tight budget,
I do have a partner however these debts are from before we were together and frankly I don't think it's fair to drag him into it when it's from a time he wasn't in my life.

Can I defer paying this debt until I'm back in full time employment or will I be made to pay on the basis I have a partner (not married) in full time employment? Any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 25/08/2023 12:01

You need to talk to them and come up with a suitable arrangement to pay it back.

tescocreditcard · 25/08/2023 12:02

Council tax is one of the few debts you can go to prison for not paying so you need to go back to them, URGENTLY, and work out a payment plan. Yes, you will still have to pay it on maternity leave.

Whataretheodds · 25/08/2023 12:02

Have you discussed a repayment plan with the council?

If your partner is living with you then full council tax is due each month- how are you splitting that and other bills?

Tippexy · 25/08/2023 12:02

If you are due £2k do you mean they owe it to you?

TenOhSeven · 25/08/2023 12:03

What's being on maternity leave got to do with it? ConfusedYou owe money, they're entitled to want to know how/when you plan to pay.

ComtesseDeSpair · 25/08/2023 12:03

Have you spoken to the council or debt collector about a payment plan? They’ll keep chasing you for payment unless you speak with them, explain your financial situation, and arrange payment by instalments.

Overthebow · 25/08/2023 12:03

Have you spoken to them about it? I’m not sure if they will let you defer payment, but they may be able to come up it’s a more affordable payment plan with you. If not, then you may need to go back to full time work now to pay it.

TheBarbieEffect · 25/08/2023 12:03

Why on Earth would you think being on maternity would get you out of paying?

You owe it, you pay it.

Furryrug · 25/08/2023 12:03

I'm not sure being on maternity leave will make a difference to them . Offer to set up a payment plan.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 25/08/2023 12:04

Who is chasing you? The Council or Bailiffs?

caerdydd12 · 25/08/2023 12:05

Council tax is the one bill you should never ignore. They can quite easily get a liability order and have money deducted from your pay each month, if a letter goes to your employer they are legally obligated to action it. They can also remove your right to pay monthly for your current council tax and insist it's paid all at once. Maternity leave or not I think you need to take this more seriously before you have it deducted from your wages.

minou123 · 25/08/2023 12:05

The Council don't know you are on Maternity Leave, so you need to call them NOW.

Don't ignore the letter.
Call them today and ask if they will agree a payment plan

Here is some Gov advice
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-arrears

Pay Council Tax arrears

How your local council can help if you're struggling to pay Council Tax - and what action they can take to get any money you owe from you

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-arrears

YourNameGoesHere · 25/08/2023 12:05

Presumably you've spoken to them to arrange a plan to pay it back?

You being on maternity leave now doesn't mean you should just get a free pass given this debt is almost a decade old and you've had ample time to try and come to a resolution and repay it.

FKATondelayo · 25/08/2023 12:05

Unless you've been pregnant / on ML for 8 years YABU.

Viviennemary · 25/08/2023 12:06

You've had 8 years to pay. Why haven't you. Sounds like you've come up with a new excuse. They might let you set up a payment plant if you come up with a good enough sob story.

NerrSnerr · 25/08/2023 12:07

Tippexy · 25/08/2023 12:02

If you are due £2k do you mean they owe it to you?

You know exactly what OP meant, you're just trying to highlight the grammatical error. It just makes you look like a dick.

Cosyblankets · 25/08/2023 12:07

It's but going to go away.
You need to act like an adult and make some phone calls to sort a payment plan.
The fact that you're on maternity is irrelevant. You owe that money to the council. They're not going to give up.
Get your priorities right

tescocreditcard · 25/08/2023 12:07

Oh yes, I'd forgotten they can apply to have it taken from your wages. I remember getting letters when I was a manager telling me to take it from certain staff's wages.

It's very embarrassing. Don't let it get to that point.

IClaudine · 25/08/2023 12:07

tescocreditcard · 25/08/2023 12:02

Council tax is one of the few debts you can go to prison for not paying so you need to go back to them, URGENTLY, and work out a payment plan. Yes, you will still have to pay it on maternity leave.

Depends where in the UK OP is. Scotland and Wales don't do this.

Passivhaus · 25/08/2023 12:07

Just set up a false company to take millions in PPE payments from the government and use that to pay them back. They don't chase the big time scammers only people struggling to get by.

Original poster
Panicatthezoo · 25/08/2023 12:08

The council

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 25/08/2023 12:08

Viviennemary · 25/08/2023 12:06

You've had 8 years to pay. Why haven't you. Sounds like you've come up with a new excuse. They might let you set up a payment plant if you come up with a good enough sob story.

It would have been £20.84 a month over 8 years.

tescocreditcard · 25/08/2023 12:09

IClaudine · 25/08/2023 12:07

Depends where in the UK OP is. Scotland and Wales don't do this.

Show quote history

Oh ok. She still needs to pay it though.

NerrSnerr · 25/08/2023 12:09

You need to call them up and speak to them. It won't go away if you ignore it. They will take it further.

CremeEggThief · 25/08/2023 12:09

Yeah OP, Mumsnet are going to be more able to help you with this more than the Council!🙄
YABU.

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