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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:
IfICantHaveYou · 25/08/2023 12:49

5. I have contacted the council about payment plan and had to send an income and expenditure form, I am awaiting feedback back from this regarding payment plan, I was just looking for advice from others on MN who had possibly been in a similar scenario.

Were you honest and used current household income? I.e your partner?

Babyroobs · 25/08/2023 12:50

Panicatthezoo · 25/08/2023 12:46

Sorry some further clarification:

  1. My child was not planned. Contraceptive pill failure, for all those questioning "why would you have a child".
  1. I had high interest credit card debt of 4k, I prioritised paying that over the last few years as interest would of continued to build and would of been in an even bigger mess.
  1. "What difference does being on maternity make"... a big difference as I get £700 a month, a third of what I'm used to when working full time!? Also they have only contacted me now for the first time in 6 years about this debt and if I'm being totally honest I had forgotten about it!! (It is from a previous property, so unless they sent reminders there but I'm sure the council have means to track where I live through current council tax and rent payments).
  1. My current council tax payments are fully up to date and my partner contributes equally to that, I still don't feel it's fair to drag him into a debt that is not his.
  1. I have contacted the council about payment plan and had to send an income and expenditure form, I am awaiting feedback back from this regarding payment plan, I was just looking for advice from others on MN who had possibly been in a similar scenario.

But you've been earning over 2k a month and not managed to pay anything off a priority debt ? Sorry but I'm really struggling to understand why.

ChimneyPotter · 25/08/2023 12:50

[Edited - sorry just seen the one where you've said you have started to engage with the council - BRILLIANT]

OP I think you've got the answers you need here- you just need to talk to the council about it. The advice is always to do this as early as you can, engaging with them is the way to keep them happy and prevent escalation.

Can I also suggest you talk to an independent debt charity like StepChange? Unless anyone here is a lawyer or debt advisor we're unlikely to know your real obligations and consequences. Getting some expert advice (free) is very likely going to set you up to deal with this in the very best possible way.

What I can say is that debt repayment plans, when agreed, obviously do take into account your income situation etc - which would include things like SMP. There's no getting away from the fact it's a sum you need to repay, though, and it will take a priority over being able to save etc. It's in the council's interest to recover smaller amounts of money slowly rather than something unachievable where you stop paying again. So - take the bull by the horns and start that conversation.

Best of luck :)

roses2 · 25/08/2023 12:51

Students don't pay council tax. Did you get student exceptional?

MaydinEssex · 25/08/2023 12:52

Panicatthezoo · 25/08/2023 12:13

Some really nasty horrible people and responses on this thread, thank you for those with the genuine advice and to the rest thank you for making me feel worse than I already do!

Some of the comments are really harsh towards you, and definitely don't help. Phone the council, and see if you can arrange a face to face appointment to sort out a repayment plan. Ignore the judgmental comments. Good luck 💐

Cowlover89 · 25/08/2023 12:52

You need to ring them to set up a payment plan.

CrossStitchX · 25/08/2023 12:52

Bit of a cheek to ask for a deferral when it's 8 years overdue already. You might be on maternity pay now, but haven't been on maternity pay for 8 years.

TakeOnMe251 · 25/08/2023 12:52

"What difference does being on maternity make"... a big difference as I get £700 a month, a third of what I'm used to when working full time!?

I think the poster meant "why on earth does it matter than you are on maternity leave", not "what financial difference does it make" as you didnt pay it when you work FT anyway.

Duchessofspace · 25/08/2023 12:53

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.

Phone them and explain and talk to them - show willing even if £50 a month now and then £100 a month when you return to work

WandaWonder · 25/08/2023 12:53

What is it with people and as soon as pregnancy/babies are mentioned it seems to need to be excuse for not doing normal things

What has maternity leave got to do with it? You owe you pay

Gladitscloudytoday · 25/08/2023 12:53

KinooOrKinog · 25/08/2023 12:09

You can afford to have a baby but you can't afford to pay a debt you've owed for eight years?

This. Stop being a CF and pay back what you owe

Soontobe60 · 25/08/2023 12:53

Panicatthezoo · 25/08/2023 12:46

Sorry some further clarification:

  1. My child was not planned. Contraceptive pill failure, for all those questioning "why would you have a child".
  1. I had high interest credit card debt of 4k, I prioritised paying that over the last few years as interest would of continued to build and would of been in an even bigger mess.
  1. "What difference does being on maternity make"... a big difference as I get £700 a month, a third of what I'm used to when working full time!? Also they have only contacted me now for the first time in 6 years about this debt and if I'm being totally honest I had forgotten about it!! (It is from a previous property, so unless they sent reminders there but I'm sure the council have means to track where I live through current council tax and rent payments).
  1. My current council tax payments are fully up to date and my partner contributes equally to that, I still don't feel it's fair to drag him into a debt that is not his.
  1. I have contacted the council about payment plan and had to send an income and expenditure form, I am awaiting feedback back from this regarding payment plan, I was just looking for advice from others on MN who had possibly been in a similar scenario.

True, it’s not your partner’s debt, but whilst you're paying it back, you will have less income so he will need to pay more of the current bills himself. Is he contributing more anyway as you're on Mat leave?
They should accept a repayment plan based on your current income - which could be as little as £1 a week. Then it could be increased once you're back in work.

Springduckling · 25/08/2023 12:53

As well as Stepchange, CAP Christians Against Poverty can help with debt

GarlicGrace · 25/08/2023 12:54

Blimey, lots of replies like those helpful "why did you have children?" posts 🙄

Assuming you haven't got a time machine in your under-stairs cupboard, OP, just phone the council. They'll be happy you contacted them before they had to chase you.

If you've been getting single-occupier discount, make sure to tell them about your boyfriend as well. They'll be a lot less happy to later find out you were trying to cheat.

It'll be fine. They can put you on a small repayment now, then lift it after you go back to work.

HarlanPepper · 25/08/2023 12:54

Tippexy · 25/08/2023 12:02

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

clearly not, no, as you can tell from the rest of the OP's post. But why not focus on her misuse of a word instead of her actual question - this is mumsnet, after all.

Tinkerbyebye · 25/08/2023 12:55

YABU. You have had years to pay, 8 years in fact and did diddly squat. You chose to have a child above paying debts,

suck it up buttercup, and get sorting a debt repayment programme and tough shit if it makes it tight for you now

8 years!

starfishmummy · 25/08/2023 12:55

From what you have posted it seems like you
are always going to have a reason in your own mind to justify why you never need to pay it.

You could carry on as you are and ignore it and find yourself at best with the bailiffs coming to relieve you of your possessions, possibly a custodial sentence and your credit rating (and possibly your DPs) completely trashed....

On the other hand you could talk to your DP and sort out paying it - either in full or by making a formal plan - and that would be the end of it.

OverCCCs · 25/08/2023 12:56

Sounds like it’s time to end your maternity leave and get back to work full-time immediately. It’s certainly not ideal, but it’s the unfortunate outcome of your choices.

SheWontSheCantShesLeft · 25/08/2023 12:56

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.

HMRC really do chase big tax scammers.

A much bigger problem is laws that allow the richest to pay far less tax proportionally than everyone else. That’s a political issue, however, and one that it seems the country isn’t unhappy about, given we keep voting in Tory governments.

Babyroobs · 25/08/2023 12:57

starfishmummy · 25/08/2023 12:55

From what you have posted it seems like you
are always going to have a reason in your own mind to justify why you never need to pay it.

You could carry on as you are and ignore it and find yourself at best with the bailiffs coming to relieve you of your possessions, possibly a custodial sentence and your credit rating (and possibly your DPs) completely trashed....

On the other hand you could talk to your DP and sort out paying it - either in full or by making a formal plan - and that would be the end of it.

Probably hoping it would just go away and they would forget about it and other people would pick up the bill.

ARealFake · 25/08/2023 12:57

@Panicatthezoo no problem at all, I know what it is like, I was living alone and made the wrong judgment in paying other things/prioritising other thing, being naive I didn't think of the consequences. Now living with my partner and DD I still have some of these things hanging over my head but have addressed them and am dealing with them, it makes you feel a lot better rather than sweeping them under the carpet. My partner knows about my old debts but does not contribute - they are my responsibility. Same as you all priority bills are paid in full and on time now, you live and learn. Don't let anyone make you feel shit about it, just deal with it head on and be honest with the Council, offer only what you can afford as if you default again you won't get another chance with them. Congrats on your pregnancy, don't let this taint a happy time, get it sorted and move on xx

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 25/08/2023 13:00

You need to speak to the council today.

Council tax is one of the only debts that you can be sent to prison for - so it's vital that you speak to someone now and arrange and a payment plan. Even if that's paying back £5 a week for now.

ARealFake · 25/08/2023 13:00

Should also say, they did not ask for my partners income and expenditure as he is not liable, he didn't live at the property, my repayments are based on my income only. They are aware we live together in this house as still under the same
Council jurisdiction, but do not take his income into consideration x

Bestivalfun · 25/08/2023 13:01

The council are not psychic OP, how would they know you're on maternity leave? I can see you've contacted to make a payment arrangement, this is sensible. Breathing space is also great advice. But you do need to take this seriously now OP if you do make an arrangement. After 8 years the debt is likely to have been summonsed, sent to bailiff and returned from bailiff so the next recovery stage would be pre commital, committal to prison or a charging order placed on your house (if you own one) will be considered.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 25/08/2023 13:02

NerrSnerr · 25/08/2023 12:07

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

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It would make life a lot easier if people wouldn't write the exact opposite of what they mean and expect us to realise.

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