I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

[bizzybob]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

How many hours do you work? as you may be entitled to some tax credit if you work 16 hours or over even if self employed, your income is below JSA imho, the issue is that Council Tax is iniquitous in that it does not take any consideration of ability to pay. Indeed when houses were rebanded in Wales, people in social houses suddenly found themselves in the same tax band as 4 bed executive homes, D and even E and the council tax rose to almost as much as the rent, obviously unaffordable to a low wage family. In England although there has not been a rebanding people in newer build homes including social housing, have higher banding from day one than some large 'tween the wars semis.

Exploring wasy to raise your income are paramount here, and involvement of your local council member may be a good ides

[bluebottle]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

So as the linked website says we do not need to pat CT???

The linked website is a FOTL website for determined "Won't Pays". Whether or not the charging of Council Tax is lawful is a completely different matter. Until someone is able to show the charging of CT is unlawful, we continue to pay it until Parliament comes up with a more workable alternative, such as local Income Tax, which has been mooted a number of times and is easier to administer and collect, but has been ignored for purely political reasons.

[bluebottle]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

I would hope your right Bluebottle problem is as we know the OP may lose the appeals then if bailiffs are on the case the shite piles up.
I agree its wrong that the council have taken this action while an appeal is ongoing but as we all know its not the Council taken the action its the morons in the CT office who knowing that joe public will pay the cost of their F ups they have nothing to lose.

Then it's down to the Council's Scrutiny Committee, made up of elected councillors, to hold the council officers to account. Notwithstanding, elected councillors would be expected to take competent professional legal advice as to the lawfulness of the council officers' actions and any action taken in the Council's name. There really is no excuse.

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Further to my question, is the stuff about liability orders in this link true ? http://www.landofthefree.co.uk/site/...-get-summonsed

As far as I am aware,,there is no 'get out' clause on Ctax...unless someone would be so kind as to enlighten me

I thought it went,,,Bill..no payments....reminders...no payment...Magistrates=Liability Order=no payment=bailiff

[wales01man]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

So as the linked website says we do not need to pat CT???

[bluebottle]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Further to my question, is the stuff about liability orders in this link true ? http://www.landofthefree.co.uk/site/...-get-summonsed

The whole issue of Council Tax Liability Orders is a sham. As stated in one of my earlier posts, the court hearings breach Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and, in all probability, Articles 17 and 18, also. This means they are almost certainly unlawful. This, in turn, impacts on the lawfulness of the Liability Orders and enforcement action.

[wales01man]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

I would hope your right Bluebottle problem is as we know the OP may lose the appeals then if bailiffs are on the case the shite piles up.
I agree its wrong that the council have taken this action while an appeal is ongoing but as we all know its not the Council taken the action its the morons in the CT office who knowing that joe public will pay the cost of their F ups they have nothing to lose.

[NorthTower]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Will do....but I will need a little while to blank out my personal details....please see my recent posting also on what looks like a related issue...

[NorthTower]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Further to my question, is the stuff about liability orders in this link true ? http://www.landofthefree.co.uk/site/...-get-summonsed

[bluebottle]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Deleted.

[wales01man]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Would the best advice be for the OP to make a repayment arrangement with the council before the bailiffs get involved and add fees that will add to the stress of the debt.
Then fight the council the chances are they may lose and if the bailiffs have got involved the debt will rise and all the shite that goes with the bailiffs.

[bluebottle]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Any chance of scanning and posting up the papers you received, please? Evidence is emerging that the collection of Council Tax is riddled with fraud and corruption and Liability Order hearings breach Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (aka The Rome Convention). In short, the way in which local authorities and magistrates courts conduct the process is almost certainly unlawful.

[NorthTower]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

My council tax amount is about £15.00 a week,I am claiming council tax benefit, for most of the amount due, so they awarded me about £13.50 a week but there is a left over balance of about 1.50 a week, that I just can't afford to pay, as my weekly self-employed income is between 25 - 50 a week. So the debt has built up at the rate of about £1.50 a week. I have sent them detailed statements of my accounts several times. I am single, no dependents, and claiming housing benefit for my rent to a social landlord.

[ploddertom]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

Can you not claim Council tax Benefit? What are your family circumstances? Are the Council aware of your circumstances?

[NorthTower]

Re: I am on a very low income and have council tax arrears...

I did not attend the hearing, as I could not afford the bus fare. I am self-employed making about £40 a week, I was told I can't claim JSA, and the council want 239.87