Council tax

[dukesdenver]

Just wondered if anyone else has had a problem with Southwark Council persistently claiming that you are in arrears even though you are fully paid up? Now I've got a summons and I'm RAGING.

[nunheadbelle]

You'd best sort it out fast with Southwark Council or bailiffs will be showing up next and they charge ?100 odd for each visit. They keep coming until they get the all-clear from the Council even if you tell them there's been a mistake.

[ThinLizzy]

Duke, this happened to me but in Enfield -- got back after xmas to find a nice letter saying I have a liability order against me because I hadn't turned up to court and hadn't paid Aug-Nov council tax, despite phoning them on the day I moved from North to South London and settling my bill. I have to admit, I shouted in a rage at the woman on the end of the phone, even sweeter cause I knew I was right (but felt bad because it wasn't really her fault, and was very nice to her when she got it sorted for me). Anyway, she sorted it out by checking the system and my phone call, and in the end got 90 quid BACK!!! Result -- trouble is, as a psychologist I know the dangers of conditioned reinforcement -- pressing that lever got me a nice cash reward, and has probably made me more angry grrrrr. But fight your corner, although don't let the bailiffs come round

[dukesdenver]

Well the usual emails and phone calls don't seem to work so I may have to try something more drastic!

Bizarrely the amount they say I owe bears no relation to any of the bills I've had - even allowing for the extra costs and what have you.

[Louisa]

dukesdenver, I have had the same problems with Southwark and this is the explanation they gave me.

I am not a fan of Direct Debits, so I usually pay my council tax sometime between the 1st and 10th of each month as and when I have the time by going into the office in Peckham and paying cash over the desk. However, despite doing this, and being upto date with my payments, I received a summons through the post asking me to pay the remaining yearly bill up in one go because I had fallen behind with payments. Raging, I rang them up and was politely informed that because my payments had been erratic and spread over various days of the month, despite being upto date, that the computer showed up my address as red and therefore I had to pay the rest of the year in full. The lady I spoke with then asked me to send a letter expalining that I was upto date and a photocopied receipt prooving payments for the previous 8 months and then I would come off the red list. To be honest, i'd never heard of anything so stupid in all my life. Can you imagine an elederly person who prefers paying with cash receiving this through the post? It's a disgrace, and yet another reason why I have no respect at all for Southwark Council.

Louisa.

[dukesdenver]

Thanks Louisa, I will engage in some light telephone-based ranting tomorrow and report back. I thought I'd left all this behind when I moved out of Lambeth...

[Monkey]

Call the South London Press. Worked for me - had a nice article and photo in the paper (slightly embarrassing ok) and the Council now leaves me in peace.

[SteveT]

Good for you Monkey, councils hate getting publicity which highlights their incompetence.

[dukesdenver]

Good news, I have just spoken to a very helpful chap called Alex who agreed that I was not a criminal and cancelled the summons. Alex, if you are reading, THANK YOU.

Monkey, thanks for the tip. I will hold it in reserve because undoubtedly there will be a next time!

[will dex]

id just like to add that i had the same problem with southwark 3 years ago. it ended (6 months later) with them paying me ?100 compensation for my trouble. And all the OVERpaid council tax back.

i had to write to the boss of the council tax auditing office, who actually is on your side.

Agree with louisa re respect for southwark council after that..