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Hi all
Newbie here so please excuse my naivety if I say or do something wrong.
My wife and I have been lucky to build up a small portfolio (After she was made redundant) of 4 small terraced houses which we rent out via an estate agent. We literally buy houses in the worst condition possible and our building contacts and family assist us in renovating them back to a good standard. We are not a business or similar, we are just a married couple who work in other professions.
Whilst it may not be important here I'm only stating the condition of the houses to inform you that there is a period of relief from our Council because the Houses are uninhabitable and are being renovated. With regard to each of the 4 houses we have been fed differing, contradictory information from our Council.
So, rewind to 9 months ago when the Council sent us 3 contradictory demands/letters regarding Council Tax on the latest house we purchased and renovated. My wife wrote to the Council (by recorded delivery) and asked for clarification of the amount owing taking into account the period of relief and the differing/contradictory demands we had received.
The Council ignored our letter and hit us with a summons and a £65 court charge fee. I wanted to go to court to show the magistrates that we had tried to clarify the position with the Council but my wife got frightened and without my knowledge she paid the court costs to avoid attending court. I was upset but begrudgingly accepted it.
So, (We move on to House number 2) In January this year we completed another property and the council told my wife (verbally) that there was no council Tax to pay until October 2017 because of the relief on the property due to renovation. Then, amazingly just a few days later we received a demand for £74. My wife wrote back (again, we have proof that the letter was received) and queried the Bill and again the Council failed to reply. Then, again a few weeks later we received a much higher bill which said the whole amount was due because we had failed to pay the £74. Again, my wife wrote to the council and also emailed them too. Again, the Council didn't reply. Then, only 3 weeks ago we received a court summons and another £65 charge because we had failed to act.
To say I was livid was an understatement. Therefore, I wrote the council a letter telling them I would be attending Court on the day (10th October 2017) and I had with me all the letters we had written to them with proof they had received them. I told them I was determined to show the magistrate that we had spent hours replying to letters, Emails etc. I also wrote in the letter that I was bringing a blank cheque made out to the council and whatever we agreed between us in court I would pay there and then. I was absolutely convinced we were in the right and was looking forward to my day in court. In fact, so convinced was I that I tallied up all of the time we have spent writing letters to the Council and charged them for our time.
Indeed, it was a professional looking invoice from me to the council detailing our 2 hours time @ £65 per hour plus our charge for taking time off work attending court tomorrow (£110). So, I subsequently booked a day off work and until 20 minutes ago was preparing to go to court tomorrow. Imagine my surprise when the Council just rang my mobile and admitted that they have made several mistakes. They admitted the court summons was wrong and they were removing it and all associated costs.
Now, whilst I should be satisfied with this I am still annoyed at all the time (actually more than the 2 hours I have billed them for) my wife & I have spent replying to a series of contradictory letters & demands and I want to do something about it. Just like the Council do to others I want to recover the debt I say that they owe me. Of course, I have deducted the costs for the Court tomorrow but still want to Claim for our previous time. Also, there is no guarantee that we won't receive yet another summons for not turning up to court tomorrow. So, therefore, I would like to ask you guys here:
How can I legally and properly harry & chase the Council to recover the monies for my time spent?
Naturally, if the court case was still going ahead I would have counter claimed and asked the Judge to award us the monies but seeing as the Council have now cancelled the case I can't do that.
I know some of you will possibly say I should just leave it and be satisfied but I can assure you there is still a strong likelihood that the Council will deny ringing me earlier and/or still send further demands and summons.
Also, bear in mind that 9 months ago my Wife actually paid the £65 (for a case that mirrors this one-Where I knew we were in the right) because she was frightened of going to Court.
So: Where do I go from here? Small claims Court? Send an updated invoice for my time and keep chasing the council? What if the council tell me to Bog off and refuse to pay my charges. Where do I go from there?
I should note that I am not frightened of the Council and believe that our justice system is completely fair and impartial and I have no problem with attending court. If anything I am tenacious and am fully prepared for this to drag on and on.
Finally, to compound my annoyance further I just told my boss I now didn't need the day off work tomorrow and he says I have to take it as they have reconfigured other shifts to cover me. So, there's a days holiday lost!
I hope you guys can point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance.
Newbie here so please excuse my naivety if I say or do something wrong.
My wife and I have been lucky to build up a small portfolio (After she was made redundant) of 4 small terraced houses which we rent out via an estate agent. We literally buy houses in the worst condition possible and our building contacts and family assist us in renovating them back to a good standard. We are not a business or similar, we are just a married couple who work in other professions.
Whilst it may not be important here I'm only stating the condition of the houses to inform you that there is a period of relief from our Council because the Houses are uninhabitable and are being renovated. With regard to each of the 4 houses we have been fed differing, contradictory information from our Council.
So, rewind to 9 months ago when the Council sent us 3 contradictory demands/letters regarding Council Tax on the latest house we purchased and renovated. My wife wrote to the Council (by recorded delivery) and asked for clarification of the amount owing taking into account the period of relief and the differing/contradictory demands we had received.
The Council ignored our letter and hit us with a summons and a £65 court charge fee. I wanted to go to court to show the magistrates that we had tried to clarify the position with the Council but my wife got frightened and without my knowledge she paid the court costs to avoid attending court. I was upset but begrudgingly accepted it.
So, (We move on to House number 2) In January this year we completed another property and the council told my wife (verbally) that there was no council Tax to pay until October 2017 because of the relief on the property due to renovation. Then, amazingly just a few days later we received a demand for £74. My wife wrote back (again, we have proof that the letter was received) and queried the Bill and again the Council failed to reply. Then, again a few weeks later we received a much higher bill which said the whole amount was due because we had failed to pay the £74. Again, my wife wrote to the council and also emailed them too. Again, the Council didn't reply. Then, only 3 weeks ago we received a court summons and another £65 charge because we had failed to act.
To say I was livid was an understatement. Therefore, I wrote the council a letter telling them I would be attending Court on the day (10th October 2017) and I had with me all the letters we had written to them with proof they had received them. I told them I was determined to show the magistrate that we had spent hours replying to letters, Emails etc. I also wrote in the letter that I was bringing a blank cheque made out to the council and whatever we agreed between us in court I would pay there and then. I was absolutely convinced we were in the right and was looking forward to my day in court. In fact, so convinced was I that I tallied up all of the time we have spent writing letters to the Council and charged them for our time.
Indeed, it was a professional looking invoice from me to the council detailing our 2 hours time @ £65 per hour plus our charge for taking time off work attending court tomorrow (£110). So, I subsequently booked a day off work and until 20 minutes ago was preparing to go to court tomorrow. Imagine my surprise when the Council just rang my mobile and admitted that they have made several mistakes. They admitted the court summons was wrong and they were removing it and all associated costs.
Now, whilst I should be satisfied with this I am still annoyed at all the time (actually more than the 2 hours I have billed them for) my wife & I have spent replying to a series of contradictory letters & demands and I want to do something about it. Just like the Council do to others I want to recover the debt I say that they owe me. Of course, I have deducted the costs for the Court tomorrow but still want to Claim for our previous time. Also, there is no guarantee that we won't receive yet another summons for not turning up to court tomorrow. So, therefore, I would like to ask you guys here:
How can I legally and properly harry & chase the Council to recover the monies for my time spent?
Naturally, if the court case was still going ahead I would have counter claimed and asked the Judge to award us the monies but seeing as the Council have now cancelled the case I can't do that.
I know some of you will possibly say I should just leave it and be satisfied but I can assure you there is still a strong likelihood that the Council will deny ringing me earlier and/or still send further demands and summons.
Also, bear in mind that 9 months ago my Wife actually paid the £65 (for a case that mirrors this one-Where I knew we were in the right) because she was frightened of going to Court.
So: Where do I go from here? Small claims Court? Send an updated invoice for my time and keep chasing the council? What if the council tell me to Bog off and refuse to pay my charges. Where do I go from there?
I should note that I am not frightened of the Council and believe that our justice system is completely fair and impartial and I have no problem with attending court. If anything I am tenacious and am fully prepared for this to drag on and on.
Finally, to compound my annoyance further I just told my boss I now didn't need the day off work tomorrow and he says I have to take it as they have reconfigured other shifts to cover me. So, there's a days holiday lost!
I hope you guys can point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance.
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