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Labour, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, people, politics, Vox Political
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Mike Sivier's blog 
Letters to the Editor,
Oppressed by Doncaster Council, Charging Two Lots of Council Tax, Been to Court and Still Feel Oppressed.
We sold our last property in April 2012 due to been hit by recession and not being able to afford it. We moved in with a member of our family WHO DID NOT PAY COUNCIL TAX due to being on benefit (pension credits) while we found another property, we informed council and started paying council tax for that property. In September 2012 we brought a house that needed renovating (due to cost and affordability). I informed the council that we had purchased this property and that it needed renovating they advised me to ring back once we moved in. We moved in July 2013 phoned council tax and they advised me that I need to pay back council tax from when we brought the house (sept 2012). I explained that we had being paying at my family’s house and that I thought it was unfair to pay two council taxes they said that the bill was correct and the law had changed for empty properties and that I would be forced to pay it, I asked who I could complain to the answer was no one, so I said I would see them in court.
I received a letter summoning me to court on the 13th Jan 2014 at 9.00 am. I arrive at the court house to be told that I need to go to the council house (no explanation why???) When I arrive I am given a ticket and told to wait to see someone (this was at 8.45 and I was supposed to be in court at 9.00) after 5mins I go back up to the lady who seated me and said I wouldn’t be happy if I missed the court and they got a Liability Order without me being there, she said that wouldn’t happen and I need to speak with the council first (still no explanation why???). When I do get to speak to someone we go through the same story and they tell me the same story that I have to pay (15mins). I am still not happy and still feel oppressed I ask if I go to court now! The lady informs me that I need to speak with her supervisor (no explanation why??) so again I am on the phone to the supervisor (20mins) discussing the same story he is telling me what the lady has already said. At this point I feel exhausted and oppressed I explain that I want to go to court; they both tell me I have no defence!!!!! I said I still want to go to court; the lady makes me wait another 15mins for her to get the paper work to go to court. At 10 o clock I arrive at court I acknowledge another man who was in the same position as me expecting to be in court at 9.00am. There were loads of people coming into the council house expecting to be in court!! Out of all those people two of us made it to the court. In court I explained my story and the council said the law had changed and that I was liable to pay the tax. The magistrate said that they can sympathise with my story but they have to give the Council the Liability order because that is what the law states. At this point I feel overwhelmed with oppression that I break down and cry and voice that I feel oppressed and that it feels like they are all in each other’s pockets, that I have no problem paying council tax but cannot afford to pay two, that I have been honest and told them where we were living when I could have said we were living in the renovated property then I would have only paid one council tax (I leave).
Questions
Why are we penalised for being honest?
Why are we penalised for making a derelict property better, when surely it is better for the local community?
I can understand if I had loads of money or I was buying, renovating and selling.
Why are the council oppressing people?
Miss leading them in letters and on the phone, then face to face when they believe they are going to be heard by the court (an authority that is supposed to be fair and equal). The people they are oppressing are more prone to financial pressure which usually entwines with other social difficulties like lack of education etc. which again entwines with personal issues like depression and mental health problems. We don’t want to be controlled we want the system to be fair.
Why is there not an independent company that you can go to with complaints when you feel oppressed by the council? How is it fair and equal that all other companies have independent complaints procedures like Ofsted, Financial Ombudsman but the council have all the power?
Kind Regards
Sharon Shaw