Council Tax complaint idea...

 The following was posted recently in FB with a view to sharing ideas for dealing with Council Tax complaints. It can be copied and pasted into a new doc and adapted to personal situations:

After another Summons and another Liability order on the 24th July, I then complained to the Local Government Ombudsman. I've now sent copies of all letters passed between us to both the LGO and the Chief Exec of the Council, over the past year. Letter to Chief Exec below should fill in the details. This just gone out today:

30th July 2013

Carole *******
** *** *****
*******
********
*** ***

Council Tax Complaint For Chief Executive Officer

Your Ref: *********

Dear Mr *******

I have recently complained to the Local Government Ombudsman regarding your Council Tax Dept. and the decisions they are currently making.

The LGO replied saying they had contacted your office and that you were unaware of any of my complaints. 

I therefore enclose copies of all correspondence between myself and your staff in the Council Tax dept. Along with my dealings with your Revenue Collectors at the ******** Rd, ******** address.

I have also contacted local Councillors and the MP ****** *******. Cllr. ****** ******* promised me he would make sure my letter (3) would reach you, after he had shown it to other interested Councillors. But apparently it did not find you.

None of the Councillors, MP nor any of your staff in the above mentioned departments have ever directed me to any other level of the Council's complaints procedure. Consequently I have been left adrift to face Court Bailiffs for the second time this year. 

I respectfully ask that you browse through this correspondence. That you note my level of income and the option within the legislation for 'nil charge' for those, like myself, who are experiencing great difficulty in paying Council Tax.

Please take special note of the enclosed documents (14), (15) and (16). 

This letter (14) is where I offer to enter into contract with Cornwall County Council to secure local services. Treating them as the trading, profiteering company that they are. (Listed on 'Dun and Bradstreet' - http://www.dnb.com/ the international companies list) This is because they are not making, nor seeing, any sense in their alleged capacity as a 'public authority'. Magistrate and County Courts are also listed on there as registered trading companies. Which means that their 'bailiffs' are actually 'debt collectors.' Who can only extort money from people if they contract in with them.

As you will see in (15) their dogged response to my fair offer of £5 per week was to continue with a fake Summons (no Court Seal, no wet ink signature and no pondering over my case by any individual Magistrate).

Followed by a fake Liability Order (16), (my second this year), granted en masse, along with others in similar positions, with no pondering over each case by any individual Magistrate. But rather fast-tracked by what appear to be merely Council staff.

I took the liberty of contracting the Magistrates Court earlier this year to ask if they had issued a Summons and granted the ensuing Liability Order in my name.

They had never heard of me.

Was it with the Council?, they asked. No, I replied. The Court has issued the Summons and granted the Liability Order, not the Council. The Council are NOT a Court.

In their capacity as registered trading companies Councils can no more demand payment, or assume any liability for payment, any more than British Telecom can. The corporation can only trade with customers via contract. With full agreement by both parties.

Also any supportive statute/legislation would also require the consent of the individual people. 

Statutes are not 'Law' until we consent.

Some serious overhaul of the Council Tax system needs to be undertaken. Knowledge of the trading status of Councils and Courts is spreading thoughout the land. People are forming groups to meet up outside the Courts to challenge the officers within. This tsunami will only grow in size.

Had Council Tax officers/revenue collectors not been so dogmatic in their attempts to wring blood out of stone the people would not have been forced to delve deeper into the true nature of our County Councils and Courts. But here we are ...

I am hoping you can persuade them to take a more lenient tone with those, like myself, who are experiencing difficulties. To adopt clauses that are already available for use in the legislation:

Local Government Finance Act 2012

“SCHEDULE 1A Council tax reduction schemes: England

(2) The classes may be determined by reference to, in particular—
(a) the income of any person liable to pay council tax to the authority in respect of a dwelling;
(b) the capital of any such person;
(c) the income and capital of any other person who is a resident of the dwelling;
(d) the number of dependants of any person within paragraph (a) or (c);
(e) whether the person has made an application for the reduction.

(4) A reduction may be— ...

(d) the whole amount of council tax (so that the amount payable is nil).'

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/17/schedule/4/enacted

These 'court' actions have been taken against me by CCC's vicious revenue collectors. Despite my near zero income. Of which they are well aware. However, I will still continue to pay in £5 per week. Despite not being able to afford to. Despite the continual harassment I receive from the CT office. Despite that I will be taken to Court, year in, year out. As I wait eternally for the 'bailiffs' to come to my door. For a contract I cannot, and do not wish to, enter into.

Many more will soon follow in my footsteps as news travels around. Please give this your urgent attention. 

Sincerely