[Ceejache]

I hope that you flat out refuse to pay the few months at the higher rate Busman747. A couple of years ago I lived in a bedsit for six months and at the start of my tenancy I was employed but after two weeks due to illness I had to leave my job. The first day I was unemployed I filled out ALL the forms regarding Sickness, Housing and Council Tax Benefit and handed them in to the relevant authorities. My Sickness Benefit was sorted out fine two weeks later but despite numerous calls to the Council nothing happened on the Housing and Council Tax front. Six months into my tenancy my landlord who was understandably upset at having received no rent for five months chucked me out onto the streets and whilst then crashing at a friends house I received a letter telling me I was to attend court for non-payment of Council Tax for the period I was living at the bedsit. I was unable to attend on the date given so I wrote and explained my situation - I heard nothing for two years until the baliffs called and told me I had to pay three hundred pounds or else.

Housing and Council Tax benefits are there to help people who are genuinely in a position where they cant afford to pay rent or their Council Tax (although they are abused by the dossers) and they exist due to people like you and me paying our taxes when we are in positions to do so. HBC failed over a period of six months to help me when I needed it and then after two years of making no attempt to contact me they sent in the heavies.

You will understand if my views of HBC in the past of in the future are less than favourable.