Advice Needed Regarding Council Tax - Scotland

[Cannedgranny]

My daughter and I moved to Scotland at the end of August 2013. She received a statement from Midlothian Council for the period 30.08.2013 to 31.03.2014.
She has paid up to the 31.01.2014.
Today my daughter received a rather nasty reminder that she still owes the balance for February and March 2014.
Do you have to pay Council Tax in advance in Scotland? It was paid on a monthly basis in England.
Thanks for any advice.

[mazie]

She can't owe for months that we haven't encountered yet. I'd be inclined to ring the council granny. My Daughter and Son moved to Scotland (Edinburgh 3+ years ago now) they love it. Are you enjoying it granny?

[mosesg]

No I pay mine monthly by direct debit. I don't know why they would send you a reminder, I would phone tax office and ask. May have been sent out in error.

[Cannedgranny]

Yes, I love Scotland Mazie. We are 9 miles outside of Edinburgh. Have already
booked our seats for the Tattoo. Did a coach tour to Tomintoul (think that's how it's spelt) whilst my husband was still alive and would love to do it again.
thanks for advice.

[Cannedgranny]

Thankyou for the advice mosesg.

[wolf63]

I am in Perth and pay monthly over ten months. I am sure that it is in arrears. I think that some official letters are worded in a slightly aggressive way so that you take note of their contents.

[mosesg]

Cannygranny welcome to Scotland for all the bad press we get us Scots are a friendly bunch. Oh yes you did spell Tomintoul correctly. I hope you get to see more of our beautiful country

[decmangan]

Perhaps as you moved in august you did not qualify to pay over 10 months and have been billed on a monthly basis. So you still owe for Feb/mar.

[mazie]

So glad you are enjoying it granny. Our kids love Edinburgh and we hope to move this year. x

[decmangan]

By the way that's what you have to do in england . is you pay over 10 months so you pay for Feb/mar in advance effectively. I think you owe the money. If you do not pay they will demand that you pay all of next years in advance. They think that they are doing you an honour by letting you pay in advance and can withdraw that honour if you don't pay.

[Cannedgranny]

Thanks for the replies. I'm stunned to think we have to pay in advance. How do struggling families manage. My daughter will phone them of course.

[factor-fiction]

Before Direct debits came in I'm sure we always had to pay it as lump sum at the start of the year

[factor-fiction]

presumably they have an option of instalments by DD or payment in full.
Have you been paing monthly or did you jsut make a one-off payment?

[factor-fiction]

^ fingers or keyboard are playing up

[woofgang]

In England, before DD's you could have a payment book and go and pay by the month.

[murraymints]

I'm Midlothian...pay over ten months on monthly basis on first of each month...but this covers twelve months ...ie 12 months over 10....we do not make payment in Feb or March...then new bill produced to recommends April 1st...

[murraymints]

Recommence...

[murraymints]

You must be near me....Gorebridge...