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Hi guys.
I've been browsing this forum for a bit - a lot of useful information I must say. I'll keep my post short, as it's late.
I was living with my Mother from June 2011. Due to her MS she moved out of the property in question and I took liablity for it.
A few weeks later, the Council Tax statement arrives. First thing I notice was that there we no entries for February and March. I had a quick search on the internet to find that most Councils do not charge for these months. I pressumed me Council did the same. I plan to make payments, as the statement requested, from April 2012. I'll admit fault now, I forgot about the letter for a couple of months but back-dated my first payment and made subsequent payments.
In the mean time, the Council starts demanding tax off my Father, for the property; bearing in mind he hasn't lived here for over three years. I understand that Councils will chase homeowners for tax, but he rang the Council and explained that I was liable and had been making payments.
In September 2012, the property is sold and I move in with my Father. I now start receiving letters from the Council demanding payments off me for the previous months. I wrote to the Council to explain that I had already made payments and could they check their records. They come back to me to state that they cannot find these payments. I then send them a second letter with the amounts and dates the money was paid (At this point I go on holiday for two weeks). I return from my holiday to find that a liablity order has been made against me for lack of payment.
Yeah - I'm pretty angry at this point. So I contact the Council again asking them why they haven't acknowledged these payments. In December 2012 they finally acknowledge that I made the payments - but quickly change their tune, saying that I am liable for another account and for another financial year. They said that the payments I made were for a different account which wasn't in my name.
I have now had to prove that I wasn't liable for the year they are stating and for the account they are stating. They have sent me over 20 letters demanding payment for the two financial years. I have complained several times about this and finally (25th January 2013) they have halted court hearings against me whilst the matter is investigated. But I received a letter on 29th January 2013 from the Council saying that they aren't at fault and payments are due for the accounts/years they are stating.
I feel completely helpless. The Council aren't responding adequately to my correspondence and it seems that they state amounts owed then are asking me to prove I don't owe them. I have put forward an offer to pay off the debt but I feel bullied into it.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks, Joe
P.S. sorry the post wasn't "short".
I've been browsing this forum for a bit - a lot of useful information I must say. I'll keep my post short, as it's late.
I was living with my Mother from June 2011. Due to her MS she moved out of the property in question and I took liablity for it.
A few weeks later, the Council Tax statement arrives. First thing I notice was that there we no entries for February and March. I had a quick search on the internet to find that most Councils do not charge for these months. I pressumed me Council did the same. I plan to make payments, as the statement requested, from April 2012. I'll admit fault now, I forgot about the letter for a couple of months but back-dated my first payment and made subsequent payments.
In the mean time, the Council starts demanding tax off my Father, for the property; bearing in mind he hasn't lived here for over three years. I understand that Councils will chase homeowners for tax, but he rang the Council and explained that I was liable and had been making payments.
In September 2012, the property is sold and I move in with my Father. I now start receiving letters from the Council demanding payments off me for the previous months. I wrote to the Council to explain that I had already made payments and could they check their records. They come back to me to state that they cannot find these payments. I then send them a second letter with the amounts and dates the money was paid (At this point I go on holiday for two weeks). I return from my holiday to find that a liablity order has been made against me for lack of payment.
Yeah - I'm pretty angry at this point. So I contact the Council again asking them why they haven't acknowledged these payments. In December 2012 they finally acknowledge that I made the payments - but quickly change their tune, saying that I am liable for another account and for another financial year. They said that the payments I made were for a different account which wasn't in my name.
I have now had to prove that I wasn't liable for the year they are stating and for the account they are stating. They have sent me over 20 letters demanding payment for the two financial years. I have complained several times about this and finally (25th January 2013) they have halted court hearings against me whilst the matter is investigated. But I received a letter on 29th January 2013 from the Council saying that they aren't at fault and payments are due for the accounts/years they are stating.
I feel completely helpless. The Council aren't responding adequately to my correspondence and it seems that they state amounts owed then are asking me to prove I don't owe them. I have put forward an offer to pay off the debt but I feel bullied into it.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks, Joe
P.S. sorry the post wasn't "short".
to legalbeagles..I'm sure the good folks on here will be able to give you sound advice 
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