Indeed I have. I have set out the terms of my defence and clearly stated that I did not live there. I hope that I have spoken with someone with reason at the council and that they will do their research properly before continuing this folly...

Because in their eyes I failed to notify them I had moved out...it's the flimsiest of cases at best. Don't worry, once I have closed this pathetically desperate money-grab down, I fully intend to take legal action against the council for harassment!

Hi Kurvaface, I spoke with the Complaints Manager at the council today and they have put an 'hold' on my account, which hopefully give me some time to get the paperwork together that I need. I think if I can demonstrate when payments were made, addresses and other information I can prove to them that I wasn't there and hence not liable. I know my rights in terms of bailiffs and that as long as I don't let them in they cannot do anything. I'm just concerned they'll try and get heavy. Anyhoo, I'll keep you posted on what's happening. The guy at the council said as long as there's some documents that demonstrate my address it should be enough. Cheers Dan

So I got the nice and attractive pink letters today threatening bailiff and court proceedings against me for the 'unpaid' council tax...I managed to get my bank to agree to send me my statements within 10 days, so hopefully I will get those soon. Still not sure if they are going to be good enough to prove where I was living at any one time etc. Does anyone have any advice as to how I should proceed from here? Would you recommend writing to the CEO of the council perhaps? Anyone got any advice on how I can get the information from councils as to old bills that will prove I was paying council tax elsewhere when Hackney claim I was living there? I have so far come up against a brick wall from these other councils. I'm getting a bit desperate now...cheers guys. Dan

Hi Slick...thanks for your comments Yes I did tell them but they insist that they need to see 'proof' of when I left. At the moment I have had no written correspondence from them on the matter, I've just spoken with someone in their 'Recovery Team.' I have already complained to one of the managers in the department, and they have to respond within two weeks apparently. In the meantime I'm going to get as much info as I can from other councils/ utilities companies etc, but I really think that the bank statements will surely show where I was and who was receiving payments from me? Anyway, I'll keep you updated. Thanks again

Thanks Slick! Appreciate everyone's thoughts...just goes to show that you should always keep old correspondence and documents even if you think you'll never need them again! In regards to HMRC - does anyone know if they are able/ willing to re-issue things like P60s that show your address and employer details etc? I'll send an SAR request to Barclays. In fact I'l go and see someone in branch rather than talk to someone on the phone first to see if I can't gently persuade them...aftera ll I'm sure they'd be annoyed at losing a customer if they aren't willing to help out that way. Have a good weekend guys

Indeed but the letting agent is no longer in business and given the fact that I spoke with a subsequent letting agent for the property I was actually living in they revealed that they keep no records beyond 6 years either, so no dice on that front I'm afraid. The only saving grace in the whole affair is that one of my landlords during the period was actually my father, who may be able to speak with the council in Hertfordshire where I was living (in his flat) and they may be able to give him a copy of the council tax bill form there - but again that is dependent on them having those records still on file. I was wondering about the electoral register - does anyone know how long that information is kept on file...and in order to go on the electoral register, don;t you need to be listed as a council tax payer??

For a period nearly two years after I left the property. I was paying it whilst I was there and naturally stopped when I moved out. Weirdly they are not trying to charge me for the period immediately after I left but two years afterwards...go figure?!

Hi Kurvaface From what I can gather (unlike pretty much every other legal entity, business or government department) I don't think council tax falls under this legislation. This is from what I've garnered from looking at other threads and some online research. Sadly it seems I'm facing an uphill struggle with this one

Hi guys, Apologies if this has been already been discussed, but time of pressing for me and I can't find anything by searching some threads. Anyway, if anyone is able to help I'd be very grateful. I'm trying to get copies of personal current account statements from Barclays whom I have had an account with for many years. This refers to activity on my account from the prior 2000-2005. I need these statements to mount a legal defence against Hackney Council who are chasing me for council tax I do not owe. Long story short - in order to prove when I moved out of a property I need to show when my payments to the letting agent ended back in 2001. However, having spoken to Barclays today they tell me it is not possible to get information any older than 6 years old as they are not legally obliged to hold information for any longer than that. This seems amazing to me as surely that information is somewhere? Has anyone got any experience in this kind of matter? Many thanks Dan

Hi all, I have read a few threads about this and it seems that there's a bit of a pattern when it comes to local authorities and how they try and bully people into paying debts they don't owe...anyhoo, if you are able to offer any advice whatsoever, I would be very grateful as I'm in a really difficult situation which has come out of the blue... I lived in Hackney between late 2000 and early 2001. I paid council tax for the property in which I lived during that time. OK so far. Now I live in Southwark and have only recently returned to the UK from a short period of time in NZ...I recently got a letter (without any covering letter or explanation) saying that I owed council tax (amounting to around £1200) for the period 1/4/03 to (specifically) 21/7/04. As you can see this is over 2 years after I moved out of the property in question. Now it would seem at first glance that this is something easily defendable...however; 1) I do not have a copy of the short-hold tenancy agreement from that time any more (it's over 10 years ago and I have lived in several other paces since then and having emigrated, destroyed most of the old documentation from that time, foolishly thinking I wouldn't need it ever again!) 2) The letting agent form that time no longer exists...not an uncommon situation. 3) After having done a property search on Land Register, the flat in question was sold this year, so the landlord at that time is God knows where... 4) Barclays Bank today informed me that they are only obliged by law to keep records of statements and account activity for 6 years...so I can't even get a copy of my statements from that time to show I wasn't paying the letting agent, and hence not living there! 5) Having spoken to both Wandsworth and Stevenage Borough Councils (the two places I lived in during the period of time in question), they tell me that without a current council tax account number they are not obliged to assist me and furthermore (in their own words) 'probably don't have records that far back anyway.' Apparently Hackney Borough Council issued a Liability Order on me in 2004. I have never seen this document and the only thing I've heard from them since is when this bill arrived. It's a complicated story (as these things always are of course), but I need some advice on where I go with this, because at the moment Hackney are saying that unless I can prove when I moved out they are going to pursue me... What I don't understand is why they are not also claiming against me for the period immediately after I stopped paying council tax (remember I moved out early 2001 and they have a payment in April 2001 on their records), but some two years afterwards? Presumably someone was paying it and they are happy that they got their money, or they can;t find the tenants that moved in after me and as muggins here was the last person on the bill, they presume (or hope) it was me after all... I'm lost as to who to approach...I've tried my letting agent from subsequent properties I lived in over the disputed period but they also inform me that they are only legally obliged to hold records for 6 years... Any info gratefully and appreciatively received! Dan