Council Tax !!!???

[cliosmum]

I'm absolutely fuming! Just received a letter from Council Tax Office to say that they've changed the due date for monthly instalments from the end of the month to the 1st of the month. This means that when I start paying Council Tax again in April it must come out of my March pay instead of my April pay. I work full-time on minimum wage and my budget is really tight. The �120 saved from not having to pay CT in March was ear-marked for another bill.
Seemingly, the only way round it, which is what I feel I'm being bullied into, is to pay by Direct Debit, where they let you choose from 3 different dates in the month, 1st, 15th or 28th. But even if I do that and choose the 28th I'm still snookered because I get paid on the last Friday of every month, which quite often falls after the 28th, so if there's not enough money in my account I'll get a bank-charge.
Don't suppose there's very much I can do about it, but I had to get it off my chest.

[raysparx1]

Hi cliosmum, Give the council tax office a ring and explain to them what your position is, I know they have these fixed dates but a lot of councils will understand and try to be a bit flexible, they would rather you paid it when you can than not pay it, so have a chat to them to see what they can do for you. good luck, Ray

[R1Geezer]

just pay it when you like mate, they'll moan but in reality as long as you are paying they'll find someone else to haunt.

[cliosmum]

Hi Ray, Thanks for your advice! Knew from previous dealings with this particular CT Office that it would be futile, but tried your suggestion anyway. I phoned them and explained my circumstances and said I would pay by DD if they would allow the payment to be deducted on the last day of every month. Nothing doing! Must choose one of the 3 dates stated or nothing. They also told me that if I continued to pay by instalments and didn't pay on the 1st of every month they would add a charge for being in arrears - they're all heart!

Hi R1 Geezer, In view of the above, I think I'll take your advice.
Cheers to you both!!! Cliosmum

[dundurn]

The problem with direct debit is that unlike a standing order, they institute the payment process, not you. For them to add another date to the list means another whole bank tape, just fot your one payment. The reason they've chosen the 28th is because it's the latest date in the month that occurs in every month, I agree, though it seems crazy to change an established procedure and then not be open to the possibility of the payer coming up with an acceptable alternative.

[saxy_jag]

I had something similar with my council last year. It was actually overdue. I told them (didn't ask) that I would pay them by standing order on the the 1st of each month, as I often don't get paid myself (I work for the same council) until the 30th or 31st , so 28th would be useless.

By the time they wrote back to say I couldn't do that, and that I should make two months' payment in the same month to even it out, I'd already made four payments under the proposal, with only another three payments to go. I pointed out that even if they wanted the account paid off by 28th January, they wouldn't get it until 1st Feb in any case. They haven't responded yet and now the account is paid.

I intend to pay by the same arrangement this coming year (only on time this time). I say when my money comes out of my account, not them.