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Durham County Council f**k up again!
Got a lovely letter from the council this morning - a "final notice" for CT debt from 2013 (for £8.38). No previous bills, no reminders regarding the supposed deficit - all we have ever received prior to this are the standard regular 'bills' with a balance to pay of £0.00 showing. We are currently on benefits and as such receive CTB (now called a rebate), and have no outstanding CT debts!
After calming down my OH (who wanted to go down to the council office and break something) and getting him to agree to me dealing with it, I composed a letter of my own which has now been emailed to the Head of Finance :tinysmile_twink_t2:
I will update as and when I get a reply, and will be going to see my MP first thing Monday morning :tinysmile_grin_t:
After calming down my OH (who wanted to go down to the council office and break something) and getting him to agree to me dealing with it, I composed a letter of my own which has now been emailed to the Head of Finance :tinysmile_twink_t2:
REF:
Dear Mr D,
Having been residents of County Durham since late 2013 (firstly of xxxxxxxx, and then of our current property) my partner and I have always kept your office up to date with our address. Imagine our surprise this morning when we receive a "Final Demand" for council tax (totalling £8.38) for a period in 2013. We have been in receipt of CTB since moving to Co. Durham, as I can easily prove through correspondence received from your council (and the DWP), and there has been NO cut-off of this benefit at any time, again easily provable. Therefore we cannot see how we should owe anything! Add to this the fact that there has been no previous correspondence regarding a deficit, I am bound to believe that you have made a grave error in your department.
I am well informed of the protocol for such things. We should have received a bill and a reminder BEFORE this final notice giving us time to question our liability at an earlier date. These have not been forthcoming. As such, I will be taking this matter up with xxxxxxxxxx MP at the first opportunity, as well as supplying her with all the evidence supporting our case.
I would, however, request that you look into this, and speedily forward any documentary evidence your department holds that substantiate your demand for payment. I also insist on a full enquiry into how a matter as serious as this can be allowed to get so far with no prior correspondence from yourself.
Any attempt by your department to acquire a Liability Order in this matter will be vehemently fought by both myself and Mr Xxxxxxx, up to and including us bringing our evidence into court in support of our claim. Additionally, an online thread will be started to document this travesty to its end.
I can be contacted at the above address or alternatively via email xxxxxxxxx
Kati
Dear Mr D,
Having been residents of County Durham since late 2013 (firstly of xxxxxxxx, and then of our current property) my partner and I have always kept your office up to date with our address. Imagine our surprise this morning when we receive a "Final Demand" for council tax (totalling £8.38) for a period in 2013. We have been in receipt of CTB since moving to Co. Durham, as I can easily prove through correspondence received from your council (and the DWP), and there has been NO cut-off of this benefit at any time, again easily provable. Therefore we cannot see how we should owe anything! Add to this the fact that there has been no previous correspondence regarding a deficit, I am bound to believe that you have made a grave error in your department.
I am well informed of the protocol for such things. We should have received a bill and a reminder BEFORE this final notice giving us time to question our liability at an earlier date. These have not been forthcoming. As such, I will be taking this matter up with xxxxxxxxxx MP at the first opportunity, as well as supplying her with all the evidence supporting our case.
I would, however, request that you look into this, and speedily forward any documentary evidence your department holds that substantiate your demand for payment. I also insist on a full enquiry into how a matter as serious as this can be allowed to get so far with no prior correspondence from yourself.
Any attempt by your department to acquire a Liability Order in this matter will be vehemently fought by both myself and Mr Xxxxxxx, up to and including us bringing our evidence into court in support of our claim. Additionally, an online thread will be started to document this travesty to its end.
I can be contacted at the above address or alternatively via email xxxxxxxxx
Kati
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