Legal Advice anyone?
Feb 28 2005 21:25
I recently received a bill for 580 quid from Glasgow Sherrif Officers (at Large! I kid you not). I live in Finland now and moved away from Glasgow in 1999 (Jan). It's a poll tax bill and I have no way of 'proving' that I paid it. Can these people still ask for money after 5 years?
Any advice (constructive!) would be appreciated.
Feb 28 2005 21:42
#2
Send them back a Finnish penny.
Feb 28 2005 21:43
#3
i thought all debts were quashed if youv'e been outside the uk for 5 years.
crazy tho that they were able to track u down
Feb 28 2005 21:44
#4
Oh, Glasgow City Council seems to be in the habit lately of trying to scare people into paying tax they don't need to pay. They still send you council tax bills even if you're on benefits or have a student exemption.
Feb 28 2005 21:49
#5
Thanks for the speed and quality of the replies. i will approach the Edinburgh group, thanks. Finnish Penny? Hey, this Euroland, 'cents' if you dont mind. I have no idea how they found me. I have lived in three different countries and had 5 addresses.
It's minus 20C here tonight!
Thanks again
Feb 28 2005 22:59
#6
The time limit on poll tax is ten years. So it has clearly expired. Do you mean Council Tax? This also has a ten year limit. If you have paid it, it is probaly a fuck-up in the system and it may be worth starting a correspondence with the council. It partly depends on the council's track record, on how far they're likely to go. I think it's unlikely they would purue this much farther the costs would be horrendous.
Edinburgh Claimants are very cool:
http://www.autonomous.org.uk/claimants/debtworries.html
You can also phone or email them:
West Glasgow Against Poverty are also excellent and might help you (I'm not sure of their exact policy): http://www.oxfamgb.org/ukpp/db/index.php/browse/org.html?search%5BID%5D=245
Of course they'll only know about UK law as regards debt. That might be handy, but you should look for groups with local knowledge as well- details of debt collection laws for Finland would be handy, and you'll need to find out about any treaties that would allow them to come after you where you are (maybe the British Embassy can tell you?).
Here's some legal information, which looks like it should be useful if a little scary:
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/scotland_factsheets/factsheet_03.php3
I hope that helps,. good luck!