Proof of council tax non payment

[jadesdaddy]

Does anyone know if when you are taken to court by the council for non payment of council tax, do the council have to offer proof of non payment to the court or is the councils word that you have not/ are not paying sufficient to have an order of benefits made against a person?

The reason I ask is that I was taken to court in my absence, never informed that this had happened, or that an order had been made against me, until 7 months later when I was informed of deductions to my benefit in respect of council tax, by the DWP despite the fact that I had up until that time been paying.

[enquirer]

Re: Proof of council tax non payment

Does anyone know if when you are taken to court by the council for non payment of council tax, do the council have to offer proof of non payment to the court or is the councils word that you have not/ are not paying sufficient to have an order of benefits made against a person?

In theory, they have to provide some form of evidence - a bland assertion that you 'owe them money' is not enough. In reality, these things are often rubber stamped.

[seduraed]

Re: Proof of council tax non payment

Assemble the Proofs, bank statements , receipts etc and go to the councuil in the morning . Ask to speak to a council employee . If they have made a mistake as seems likely then the council will credit the future account .

[jadesdaddy]

Re: Proof of council tax non payment

There is no mistake, I was not even sent notification that I had been taken to court or what the outcome was, I believe that I should have been sent a copy of the order made against me?

Also I have been in touch with the council many times asking to see the paperwork from court under the DPA only to be told on each occasion that they do not hold this information. When I ask who is the holder of this information so that i can contact them my e-mails are ignored.

They were ordered by the Information Commission to supply me with the information that I have asked for, they ignored this order and instead sent me copies of e-mails that have passed between us regarding this matter. The Information Commission have promised to investigate the council further, but these things move very slowly. I originally asked the question because I thought there may be a case for perjury to be made, I would assume that any representative of the council appearing at court for the purpose of applying for an order of benefits would have to be under oath.