I need advice regarding council tax

[lorribaby]

Hi there, I am looking for advice for my sister, we live in scotland and my sister has recently moved house. She lives in a place called Twechar and was in a 4 in a block but east dumbartonshire are pulling down the houses so she was moved into a new build house. The council compensate them with £2500 for the move but my sister got a letter yesterday to say she would not be receiving any money....the took a small amount off for rent due to the council but with the remainder the housing paid it towards council tax arrears....my sister is in an arrangement with walker love to pay £25 towards these arrears......can the housing do this is it legal they have moved her into a new house but have left her with no money for carpets etc.... I would have thought the fact she was already in an arrangement she would have been able to receive the balance of the cheque.

All advice will be gratefully received

Lorraine

[umbongo82]

Hi there, I am looking for advice for my sister, we live in scotland and my sister has recently moved house. She lives in a place called Twechar and was in a 4 in a block but east dumbartonshire are pulling down the houses so she was moved into a new build house. The council compensate them with £2500 for the move but my sister got a letter yesterday to say she would not be receiving any money....the took a small amount off for rent due to the council but with the remainder the housing paid it towards council tax arrears....my sister is in an arrangement with walker love to pay £25 towards these arrears......can the housing do this is it legal they have moved her into a new house but have left her with no money for carpets etc.... I would have thought the fact she was already in an arrangement she would have been able to receive the balance of the cheque.

All advice will be gratefully received

Lorraine

Why would you think a council would gladly pay out £2500 when they are owed a debt for rent and council tax? They would say on what basis do you think she has any entitlement to that money when she is in debt with them for other things? An arrangement has nothing to do with it and if she's had most, if not all, her debt wiped out she should be celebrating.

[DominicJay]

Hi Lorraine, im sorry to hear about your sisters dilemma.

Im not to sure how things work in Scotland but I guess ''grubby little parasites are the same wherever you go'' If your sister has been ''compensated'' for moving then you would immediately assume it would be used for just that purpose, ''moving '' '' decorating cost's'' and so on. If your sister has an ongoing agreement with the council and has stuck to that agreement although she may owe some money then why would they even take it back off her given the situation, It just looks like an easy way for them to get it back off her. If she needs it all for the move and other costs then I guess they think she should go ''BEG'' for some sort of crisis loan?. I dont know your sisters financial situation but if she realy did need that money ''desperately'' for her new home then she mite have a case to complain about instead of doing nothing and letting the council take the piss. Councils have certain ways of getting back owed money but as their the ones compensating and its in their system, they are sitting there rubbing their grubby little hands together saying ''lovely jubbly'' we will have that back''' instead of consulting with your sister first.

''Citizens Advice Scotland'' maybe a way to start but I would make it a point that your not happy and try your very best to put them under pressure by whatever means necessary. Even if you dont get a result you will never know if you dont try as most people would just take it on the chin,, I would say DONT and stand up as this is why we are here on TPUC, people here are always willing to help even if some sound ''cold and gutless '' . Good luck and all the best.

[frogmanbrabs]

If she needs dosh for furnishing the place and she's on benefits she could apply for a Community Care Grant (CCG) these don't have to be paid back and are there for basic needs such as a Bed, Cooker, Chairs etc. If she applies though tell her to bear in mind they normally only give you half of the amount you apply for.
ps Take no notice of Mr Umbongo he's really Victor Meldrew.

[DominicJay]

Take no notice of Mr Umbongo he's really Victor Meldrew.

and then some