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Council tax nightmare

Robert124

Today I received a letter informing me that my council tax support has been stopped and I would be receiving a new council tax bill in the near future.

The letter explained that since I had not taken up their personal work support programme within the time limit specified 25th  may 2017,  I am no longer entitled to any council tax support.

I had in fact rang them on the18th may 2017 and made an appointment for late June to attend their personal work support programme.

I rang again and after over 20min gave up and went to see them in person.

At the council tax head offices I gave my version of events and explained that I had already made an appointment for this personal work support programme over the telephone around three weeks ago.

The poker face lady insisted that there was no record of my appointment in the system.  She even showed me the computer screen of appointments for that particular morning.  And I looked.... And there I was.  My appointment was on the screen.  But she insisted, no that's not you.  The problem was that the name on the appointment did not match the name on my letter.

My letter included my middle name.

The screen appointment did not.  It was just my first name and surname.

So the two were not identical.

So although the address, NI no.  claim no.  DOB were the same.  Because my middle name was missing from the appointment.  My council tax support has been stopped.

And very aggressively she informed me that since I had 'not engaged' with them.  Universal credit has been informed.

  • Robert124 said:

    The original letter that stopped my council tax support included a right of appeal.

    So I have posted a polite letter detailing the misunderstanding between the names.

    The embarrassing situation is that I think the lady I dealt with yesterday is actually autistic. I had contact with five individuals at the council offices.  She was in a corner on a computer away from dealing with the public.  Her speech and mannerisms reminded me of what I was like 20 years ago.  The strict attention to detail and literal  thinking, unable to see that the names were actually the same, except for the middle name.

    That could explain that then; one of those 'like-shall-meet-like' or 'birds-of-feather-flock-together' scenarios - with a temporal variation of twenty years. Interesting, provides a bit of contrast on the old journey of life theme - even if embarrasing!  

  • The original letter that stopped my council tax support included a right of appeal.

    So I have posted a polite letter detailing the misunderstanding between the names.

    The embarrassing situation is that I think the lady I dealt with yesterday is actually autistic. I had contact with five individuals at the council offices.  She was in a corner on a computer away from dealing with the public.  Her speech and mannerisms reminded me of what I was like 20 years ago.  The strict attention to detail and literal  thinking, unable to see that the names were actually the same, except for the middle name.

  • Perhaps send a copy of the letters you recieved from the county council, and the personal work support program, to the council tax department; with an explanory letter, and ask that their admistration era, and any resulting actions on their part be rectified. Thank them, and add that you look forward to hearing from them in next 28 days from their reciept of the letter

    At the bottom of the letter put "Copy to County Council", underline it, and below which "Copy to DWP" and do not underline it. Make sure you number the page 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 or however many - but seriously keep the letter as short and concise as possible - and focus wholly on the admin' error. Do not get caught up in making complaints about personnel etc - admin error only.

    Send a copy of the letter document to the DWP also, inform them in writing of the county council's administration era and why you are writing, and at the bottom put "Copy to DWP" and underline.

    Keep a copy of both letter dicuments, and send the copied letters by recorded 'next-day' delivery.

    Hopefully you already know this but in case anyone else does not - I thought it might be useful possibly.