Help - update council tax details/info to include tenant. Capital have sent a form

[the beak]

sorry for the waffle, long post

Hi,

Just received "the letter from Capital regarding and their form 'single person discount review", 14 days to reply etc.
This has plenty of info available of which i've done abit of research inc this forum etc. I've read how the system works, how some people have commented on how they twist words on such forms and the scare tactics the use, how the operate, how they profit etc.

Although the c/tax to the property still has only one adult occupant, it is now filled by one adult tenant as ive rented my place out (now an overseas l/lord but i've always paid the c/tax on time, no arrears etc is involved in this post). Ive paid the c/tax as part of the agreement with the tenant.
I realise my mistake but what is the best way to go about it ? i guess id like to do abit more homework before contacting/having conversations regarding this matter with such parties, hence my post here.

1.Contact my local council directly, inform them of the change/mistake etc ( i understand now the rules regarding the tenant is responsible for c/tax except if property is HIMO - house in multiple occupancy etc. Ask them what the next step is.
2. Deal with Capital - ive read all the negative info around and really dont wanna deal with these guys.

Im wondering if its mainly a technical aspect with regard to the persons name in question, meaning the c/tax is paid and upto date on this property, update of info, maybe a small fine etc?

From what i understand, if Capital do not receive the completed form they send out, they'll cancel my one person discount. This would seem a small price to pay compared to dealing with such a company from what ive read !
I realise ive still got to set the record straight.......hopefully not using these guys.


I was reading these topics, as a matter of research/interest,
http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...-equifax/page4

- search "consumeractiongroup forum show thread single persons discount review and capita"
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...iew-and-Capita


one comment in these threads stood out -
It is not even a civil penalty, leave alone an offence not to declare a person who lives in their household, so you can see that Capita are probably assuming that people are frauds in cases where there is no actusreus and no mens rea.


any info on what my next step should be, what i can research etc would be great.

[seduraed]

Re: Help - update council tax details/info to include tenant. Capital have sent a for

I would email the head of revenues at your local council and explain the situation. Attach a copy of the tenancy agreement . If you have any proof of the date you moved abroad then attach that too. I occupant single persons discount you are supposed to tell the council when you move out if you have a reasonable council (not Cambridge city for example) they may back date or simply allow the single discount from the date you moved out of the premises . Make sure everything is in writing as council employees have selective memories and in some places a policy of lying to customers.

[des8]

Re: Help - update council tax details/info to include tenant. Capital have sent a for

"in some places a policy of lying to customers".
Like here: http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/Ceredigion-parking-chief-appears-court-accused/story-26591125-detail/story.html

[the beak]

Re: Help - update council tax details/info to include tenant. Capital have sent a for

thanks seduraed,

That's what I was thinking. I might give them a ring for a general chat and see how it goes, with going into my account detail specifics etc. Its been a number of years so its not a good situation but one I need to resolve.

The property is a weight around my next and I might just sell over the next months (this would take two month for tenant to leave, maybe a month for a agency to get ready to either sell/let. Although this seems drastic, the tenant is a poor rent payer anyway and I'm kinda over it all. I guess I could serve them notice, get an agent in who I know specialises in this - clean, maint, decorate and then start a fresh, with a new tenant, then a fresh update of details with the council at that time. Or just sell it.

Q) If I don't respond to the Capital SPD letter, as I understand it, generally they'll just cancel the discount and with the 25% they've saved the council, they take a cut of it, then move onto the next person in the huge list ?

Does not responding highlight the situation further, or do they simply just remove the discount in most cases ? , that buys me some more time to do this thing properly through an agent, new tenants, fresh details with the council etc.
Note: its obviously one thing not to respond to their letter ( im never gonna complete it with incorrect details, that would just be stupid)

[the beak]

Re: Help - update council tax details/info to include tenant. Capital have sent a for

Spoke to the council who were very good. They advised my to put the details down in a letter to them, they will amend any amount owed/owing and update the details.

They said to deal with them not Capita. I guess this is because if I deal with Capita and there is an amount owed, Capita will get a big cut of it "for their services" and the local council know this as they outsource to them. Dealing with the council directly I guess cuts out the middle man so to speak.