Shropshire pensioner fuming over council tax court threat
Pensioner Rita Barton says she has always paid her council tax bill. So imagine her horror when a letter came through her door implying she was a tax dodger – and telling her she would be sent to court.
Mrs Barton, 65, says she is "fuming" and says she has receipts to prove that she has paid her bills each month.
She says she is registered disabled and struggles to get the money together to pay the tax, claiming she is being prosecuted because she refuses to pay by direct debit at the beginning of the month.
Mrs Barton. of Shifnal, began paying her bill at the end of each month while her partner Roger Cole, 67, was still working and has continued to pay regularly.
She said: "I got a letter asking me to pay it at the beginning of the month. I phoned them up and said I'm sorry but my partner only gets paid at the end of the month. Then last month I got a letter saying I'm behind on my tax.
"I was fuming. I know my council tax is paid. They are getting it every month. I'm not in debt to the council.
After the initial shock she is determined to fight the case.
"My son has spoken to a solicitor who says they'll be laughed out of court," she said, adding: "It's not right the way they deal with these things. They need to get a grip of themselves."
"It's a struggle, but bills have to be paid. You go without something for one month, you go without something the next month. They still tax you on your pensions and that's wrong – you've already paid tax on that."
Mrs Barton she was also worried about the effect the strong wording in the letters could have on elderly people as it could provoke health problems.
A Shropshire Council spokesman said it was unable to comment on individual cases, but added: "At the start of the year everyone is given instalments to pay their bill and the instalment date for cash payers is the first of the month.
"If during the year a tax payer who has already received two reminder notices for late payment fails to pay a third instalment on time, then the remaining balance for the whole year becomes due and a Final Notice is issued."
"Because direct debit is by far the cheapest and most reliable method of payment, we do try to negotiate people back on to their instalments if they have received a final notice, on the proviso that they bring their instalments up to date and set up a direct debit.
"We also offer instalment dates of 1st, 7th, 15th, and 22nd of the month for direct debit payers as an added incentive to choose this method of payment.
"If people choose not to take this option then the full balance remains due and payable and further action will continue."
