Council Tax backdated to 2001-2003

[NewportPag]

Hello everyone,

My girlfriend's parents have recently received a letter from Hounslow council asking for payment for council tax dating from 2001-2002.
It is not for their current house, although they still live in Hounslow.

I find it very odd that a council would chase up such an old payment. They rang up the council who claimed to have sent several letters in the past, however they never received any of them. I'm in no doubt that they didn't. They are sure they have always paid their council tax, but they don't have bank statements going that far back, and they phoned up their bank who said they don't keep records that old.

From a quick search, it looks like the council wouldn't be able to backdate more than 6 years. Would anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance
James

[NewportPag]

Super_G said:

There is no legal limit on how far back the council can or cannot backdate. The six year myth is popular but probably comes from the fact that no longer than several years is reasonable practice. However, the council will struggle to enforce it. Is it worth their legal troubles to chase it in court? Probably not in their interest. However, you never know how far some councils will go to fill their coffers. If it did go to court it would probably be thrown out as it has been so long and it would also bring media attention to their incompetence. Do they want that? Is it worth the public backlash and unwanted spot light?! Again you never know. Rather than take the heat they almost always outsource it to a debt recovery firm.

It would therefore be in her interest to pay the council tax if the council pass it on to a debt recovery company (baliffs):

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/aug/31/chas...

Edited by Super_G on Wednesday 3rd March 14:58

Edited by Super_G on Wednesday 3rd March 15:35

Thanks for your reply, I am quite hopefully that the council will backdown when they actually think about how chasing up a 20 year old debt looks!

Surely a bailiff would think twice before taking on such an old debt.

[NewportPag]

My girlfriend is very thankful to you all!

It turns out that the council has a liability order, but it is from 2012, so it seems like the council likes to make a move roughly every 10 years!
As Chrisgr31 said, they were unaware of this, and have only just found out.

They're going to get back on to the LA today and trying and get some more information.