Forum Topic

Hounslow Council tax

Yesterday’s letter, announcing an increase in the council tax, good timing, a brief reference to Brexit, no mention of Coronavirus ! They also say they intend improving Hounslow, no mention of Chiswick

John Southey ● 1945d46 Comments

Is there anything to stop you from doing this?  I used to do this when I first started paying Council Tax but I know that it is cheaper and easier for the Councils (and everyone else) if you pay by Direct Debit and I eventually changed.

Philippa Bond ● 1939d

I could pay by standing order this year.On scouring the forthcoming bill for 2020-2021 there is no mention of this method. Why has this alternative been removed?

Jeffrey Cope ● 1939d

Any ideas how to contact the council to tell them I don’t have any money to pay them this year?I clicked on the link that says “Talk to us if you’re struggling to pay”It then says “We recognise that sometimes households struggle to pay their bills, therefore please get in touch with us in case you get into any financial difficulties. Get in touch with us and talk to one of our specialist advisors on what options you may have.Remember, the sooner you let us know, the sooner we can do something about your situation and give you more peace of mind.”It then has options to check eligibility for benefit, to contact National Debtline, The law society and Insolvency Practitioners and ends with“You can also contact us for more information.”Any ideas how I actually contact them?

Colin Potter ● 1939d

I have not received my paper bill so I have tried to open an online council tax account to see what I owe.  I cannot get past Security Questions even though I have answered correctly two of the questions they ask. They ask for an online  reference so I have put in my online key from my last bill another question from my personal  details and it keeps saying I have not answered sufficient questions.  Most frustrating.  Last year I didn't receive my Council Tax Bill at all and they sent me a red threatening reminder slightly ironic really as I pay in full in one payment every year.

Helen Whitman ● 1939d

Thanks, Sam, but they seem to be ignoring the problems we faced last week, and it is still a mystery which address they are at.

Richard Greenhough ● 1939d

I have received the following response from Hounslow's Head of Revenue and Benefits"There seems to be some issues with the password reset which can only be used where the customer already has a council tax account, i.e. they have registered and are now needing to reset their password. If they have not created an account in the past and try to reset their account, they will not get a reset link sent, as there is no account to send it to.In a few cases we have noticed, it has been LBH account holders (who have an account for My Hounslow Account) who have tried to access council tax online and reset their passwords, thinking it’s the same account. As the LBH account is not linked to council tax, it is not sending them out a reminder as they have not as yet registered for a council tax account.We will update the text on the website to make it clearer that it is a different account. we will also speak with the Call Centre teams so they are more able to answer these types of call, and are able to provide the support at the first contact." The Contact Number for Council Tax and Benefit enquiries is 0208 583 4242.  The main switch board number is 020 8583 2000 Hounslow Civic Centre is now closed until further notice and staff are working remotely.Please do not hesitate to contact me or my Chiswick Riverside colleagues Cllr Mike Denniss and Gabriella Giles if you need any further information. Please contact one of your own Ward Cllrs (if you do not live in Chiswick Riverside) and you have a Ward specific issue. 

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1939d

Thanks Jennifer I too have Telephone  banking so will give them a call.Stay healthy and safe

Loraine Pemberton ● 1941d

Really

John Southey ● 1941d

I pay by standing order, 12 instalments.According to my bill the first instalment is due by 6th April, 15 days from today.

Robin Cox ● 1941d

My bank takes instructions over the telephone so all done and dusted and I've been able to stay isolated.

Jennifer Selig ● 1941d

If you want good local authority services, you pay for it.

Carl Wynne ● 1941d

Cash cow Chiswick, with Ruth Cadbury leading the charge to bleed it dry.

John Chaplin ● 1941d

Thanks

Hannah Elder ● 1941d

Hi Jennifer Did you set up your monthly Standing Order online or did you go into your bank ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1941d

I would think that if you haven’t received a Council Tax  bill detailing what at when you have to pay, you should email the Council Leader, Steve Curran, and tell him you aren’t going to pay until the Council gets its act together.

Steve Taylor ● 1941d

"I'm in band F and get 25% discount."https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/downloads/file/656/council_tax_booklet_2020202175% of £2321.25 = £1740.94

Robin Cox ● 1942d

I have still not received the council tax bill for April 1st and cannot find it on line.  I'm in band F and get 25% discount.  Can anyone enlighten me?Many thanksHannah

Hannah Elder ● 1942d

I also prefer to pay by Standing Order but they don't give the bank sort code and account number.  Is it safe to assume that these are the same as last year?  Thanks.

Pat Kingham ● 1942d

The LBH website says the council moved to Hounslow House 7 Bath Road TW3 3EB on 15th April 2019. However, the council tax bill dated 16 March 2020 shows them at Civic Centre, Lampton Road, TW3 4DN. Are some departments still there ? Yesterday's inaccurate e-mail advising that council tax bills could be accessed on-line purports to come from Hounslow Revenue Services, PO Box 355, TW3 4PJ, which Streetmap suggests is the Sorting Office on Matisse Road.Obviously a conspiracy to make sure their taxpayers cannot find them.

Richard Greenhough ● 1942d

Mine was accessible today too. So it seems they sent out the e-mails advising that the bills could be accessed on-line some hours before they actually made them available, this wasting the time of their taxpayers who tried to access them on receiving the e-mail. Sam - thanks for getting involved. Perhaps you could encourage them to do things in the right order next time round ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1942d

Thanks, Sam.I tried to register again this morning and it all worked!Well, sort of.  Although they confirmed the registration to the new email address I had provided, the account details still had the old email address and an old phone number, so I edited both of those but it didn't bother to change the phone number.  And the emailed confirmation still quotes their address as Civic Centre, Lampton Road.  And despite saying that I should not reply to the email since counciltax@hounslow.gov.uk is not monitored, they still repeat that address at the bottom of the message.But at least I now know what my Council Tax direct debits will be this year.

Richard Jennings ● 1942d

Using my paper bill, I've set up the 10 monthly  paymentsas requested but not by Direct Debit.  I always set up Standing Order payments which I prefer.

Jennifer Selig ● 1942d

Same problem I was having. Perhaps when the first payment is due I should send them an e-mail advising that my payments system has an error and payment may be made later.

Richard Greenhough ● 1942d

“The same can be said for supermarket car parks “Many people are driving to supermarkets when they could cycle or walk but they want to buy far too much. The supermarkets should ban the use of trolleys limit people to using their own bags so as to limit contamination of trollies and baskets and limit the selfish scumbags from buying far too much

Steve Taylor ● 1943d

This is clearly unacceptable. I am asking for urgent action to ensure a proper service is available ASAP.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1943d

Why can't we have systems that have been tested before they are rolled out?  It happens again and again nowadays.  Do people just accept the word of the silver-tongued sharp-suited - or what?  Where is oversight?

Philippa Bond ● 1943d

I'm getting the same.. can someone post how much a standard Band D bill is for this year?

Kirsten Donovan ● 1943d

Very much so, Richard. Utter shambles. I shall wait and see how much they take the first week in April.

Susan Kelly ● 1943d

First of all, you need a council tax account which is different from the account you might have to do other things on the LBH website (and different from the separate account you need for parking permits!).The letter I got today said I can see my council tax bill online and I would need my council tax account reference and an online key, both of which which the letter included.  But the link they provide goes to a sign-in page that asks for a username and password.  Entering the a/c ref and online key doesn't work.  By clicking the forgotten username link, I discover that no username has been registered against any of my email addresses.  So I try to create a new Council Tax Online account, providing my name and the a/c ref.  That produces:Please check the formA system error has occurred, please try again later.I tried later, with the same result. Have fired an email back telling them to sort out their non-simple non-working system.

Richard Jennings ● 1943d

Yes. Re-set password just now but still can't get on to the site.

Kate Vicic ● 1943d

Richard — yes. I have an account but p/w not recognised.  Clicked to get help email (hope to reset p/w)— email from them invites me to set up new a/c -no other option— but I have an a/c... etc etc . This is just a small taste of the problems — I have given up. 

Les Fletcher ● 1943d

I still choose to get a paper copy as I prefer something solid to read (also never certain anything I do via computor is safe).  My neighbour doesn't have a computer.What is the ENGLISH spelling computor computer?

Jennifer Selig ● 1943d

Anybody else having problems accessing their council tax bill on LBH's website ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1943d

That's the number I gave her but she rang and left her message on a different one - no idea if it was correct.  Maybe in the next 4 months LBH will contact her, even if to demand payment!

Jennifer Selig ● 1944d

"How the devil can you talk to a person at the LBH Tax office?"from the LBH website:Housing & Council Tax Benefit, Council Tax  - 020 8583 4242

Robin Cox ● 1944d

Illegal parking on main roads yes, but in residential streets, while we have issues with schools out, people needing to travel more by car or wanting to travel by car and share possibly care with friends and get to friends and relatives The idea you can get a parking book for visitors parking over the counter just like that do not exist.The last thing some people will need in these times is a parking ticket. Some things need relaxing to help out and not penalize people.The same can be said for supermarket car parks and hospital car parks. Just does not look good and can be a real burden on some at the moment

Julian Pavey ● 1944d

Thanks everyone.  I've now checked in my file and found my tAX DEMAND - THEY DO GIVE A NUMBER RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.  nEIGHBOUR IN A PANIC - SHE'S NOW GOT THROUGH AND LEFT A MESSAGE ASKING TO BE TELEPHONED.  pROBABLY A LONG WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BUT SHE HAS TRIED.  (So sorry  asps lock currently having to see computor screen and telephone nos. with magnifying glass - impossible!"!!).

Jennifer Selig ● 1944d

Hi Jennifer - you Riverside Ward councillors are;Michael Denniss - 07976 703274Gabriella Giles - 07966 270823 (a new number not yet on the LBH website)and Sam Hearn - 07833 376222Obviously email if the issue is complex and or you have a relevant document(s) to attach;michael.denniss@hounslow.gov.ukgabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uksam.hearn@hounslow.gov.ukYou can find the details of the councillors for other wards at http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1944d

"Does it look good when you see parking wardens issuing tickets."Well, the parking wardens need to earn their livings surely? Or do you want them to be sacked? Or are you simply advocating lawlessness and armageddon?

Steve Taylor ● 1944d

JohnJust a thoughtDoes it look good when you see parking wardens issuing tickets.

Julian Pavey ● 1944d

Jennifercme on  07866 784651John

John Todd ● 1944d

Get one of their local councillor onto it, Jennifer. If they don't know who they are then I would suggest emailing either John Todd or Guy Lambert to ask.

Susan Kelly ● 1944d

How the devil can you talk to a person at the LBH Tax office?  My elderly and almost completely housebound neighbopurs have received their new bill which is charged at the full rate.  Both are receiving assistance so are supposed to pay less but there is no phone number - this couple do not have a computor so what are they meant to do?  It is not possible for either of them to get into Hounslow from Grove Park.  HELP.

Jennifer Selig ● 1944d

The only cross-party solution we need is for the present party of national government to provide the funding that's needed to the parties running local government who actually have to deliver the service.

Peter Evans ● 1944d

It's good that they are now allowed by Govt to increase specifically for Adult Social Care.  The Mayor of London has also increased the amount for the Police.  Just wish they'd hurry up with the cross party solution on social care so that everyone knows what they have to allow for.

Philippa Bond ● 1945d

It's the London Borough of Hounslow, so 'Hounslow' in this context, means everywhere from Feltham to Chiswick Homefields.

David McLoughlin ● 1945d