TOT scams

[alan_m]

My local council posted on their own web site and in the local social media groups warnings about email scammers asking for bank details for the £150 energy tax return.

Although they seem to have dealt with a large number of DD refunds they seem to be in trouble with DD refunds that have bounced (perhaps names not matching - change of names because of marriage etc.). They also seem to be in a bureaucratic mess with retuning money to people who pay their council tax by other means.

They are now asking people via email for bank details - the very thing a month ago they were saying that people shouldn't do if they received an email wanting these details. No wonder scammers find it so easy!

Who could have predicted that such a convoluted method of returning money would lead to problems, perhaps not for those use DD but for the 2 millions without a bank account or those who chose to pay by a different means?

[#Paul]

What baffles me is that for those not on DD, the easiest way for the rebate (as mediated by your council tax bill) would be for the council to send a new bill with the rebate deducted from the total. In almost all cases, surely, for those with non-zero council tax bills, they don't have to hand out money at all -- they just have to ask for less than usual. Or is there something I have misunderstood?

As far as I remeber the timings, my council could probably have tweaked the *original* bill itself; unless, I suppose, they have a particularly unweildy billing system.

#Paul

[S Viemeister]

When I received this year's council bill, the £150 was shown as deducted from the total due.

[Robin]

Different strokes for different folks. AIUI LAs in Scotland were given discretion as to how to make the payments and most did what yours did. Different in England where the central gov line was:

"The rebate will be provided as a separate payment, rather than as part of your council tax bill.

This allows the support to be provided to households more quickly, rather than the benefit being spread as a discount across the usual 10 or 12 council tax bill instalments during 2022-23. It also means that households that do not pay council tax - for example, if they are exempt or have nil liability - are not disadvantaged."

[lacksey]

Its the only sensible way to do it. Costs peanuts that way.

Every other way has a stupid cost.

Stupidly to make it more visible, stupid.

No reason why they can't be paid differently, stupid.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yes, Rodders, you really are.

[fred]

In days gone by when you gave someone a cheque , that would show all you banking details, name, account number, bank sort code etc

[Tim Streater]

Still does, but typically you know who you've given a cheque to.

[alan_m]

The difference is that you don't put your account password on a cheque!

[#Paul]

It might indeed "allow" support to be provided to households more quickly, but since it nevertheless does nothing to *ensure* that support actually is provided more quickly, it is therefore useless for that purpose. If I were to wear my cynics hat, I might be inclined to believe that its very purpose was just such a delay.

I'm not that bothered about exactly when the rebate will turn up myself; but am not impressed that those who might need it have to wait for some undefined period for something - presumably - to eventually happen.

#Paul

[alan_m]

I've read that maybe the councils have until September to pay the money. My local council paid by DD on 4th April BUT for those who pay their council tax by other means and those where the DD has failed the saga continues.

[Richard]

Mine paid on 27th April. Would be interesting to know if councils are stalling based on politics.

[#Paul]

I would imagine stalling based on not even having enough money to cover their various pre-existing statutory obligations would be more like it. But it might depend on the council.

#Paul

[alan_m]

#

Correction : 4th May

[Richard]

So, political then.

[#Paul]

No.

#Paul