BritGAF I need advise.
Me and my boyfriend live together in our own flat. I am at uni and will be until 2015 so I am exempt from paying council tax.
My bf was in college from 2012 until earlier this year. He's no longer a student and doesn't have a job, our only 'income' is my student grant/loan.
The council are asking for £500-ish from the period where my bf finished college until now. They have demanded he go to court on December 5th.
What do I do? Can't I just say he moved out when he finished college?
Hmmm. If you (or he) are being threatened with court then it sounds like you have been ignoring letters. that's never a good idea.And you certainly want to avoid a court judgment, as that will effect your credit rating for years.
But also it is not a good idea to lie either. It has a nasty way of catching up with you in the end. Besides, if he is the one being threatened with court then chances are he is the council tax payer - so they know he is there because otherwise he'd have taken his name off the property.
Best bet is (a) check out on the council website whether you are eligible for the single-occupancy reduction like Cumpkin said, then (b) ring the council (or get him to) and politely and honestly explain the situation, apologise for any misunderstanding and come to some arrangement to pay whatever you owe.
And do that
quickly so that the court thing does not happen.
If in doubt, visit your local CAB
this week.
EDIT: The council has discretion to reduce the historic bill in case of financial hardship, and you may be able to apply for Council Tax reduction based on your income. But you'll only find these things out if you call the council - neither of them will happen if you get taken to court first.
evil May Cry
