Woman who dodged £13K council tax paid just £170 in 16 years

Trusted article source icon
Friday, July 30, 2010
Profile image for This is Grimsby

This is Grimsby

A GRIMSBY woman who failed to pay nearly £13,000 in Council Tax, over a period of 16 years, has claimed the local authority should have done more to help her.

Jacqueline Taylor of Bramble Close, Grimsby, admitted failing to pay £12,675.28 – the highest amount ever owed in the borough.

Taylor has now been ordered to pay back £7,847.98 of the debt at £50 per week after being found guilty of culpable neglect – which means it has been ruled that she had sufficient cash to pay the bill, but spent it on other things.

She was also given a suspended custodial sentence of 90 days.

Grimsby Magistrates heard the debt dated back to 1994, when Council Tax was brought in to replace the hugely unpopular Poll Tax and that Taylor had faced "genuine financial difficulties".

However, a spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council said it had done "everything in its power" to help her get back on track – sending "a minimum" of 85 letters to her and arranging at least 34 visits from bailiffs to her home and workplace.

See today's Grimsby Telegraph for further details.

63
Tweet this article
Report

63 Comments

  • Profile image for mikegearless

    by mikegearless

    Monday, April 30 2012, 11:51AM

    “I do think it strange that the GT suddenly has a plethora of non-stories co-incident to this one being strangled.....comments?


    http://tinyurl.com/c7zupph

  • Profile image for p_rhana

    by p_rhana

    Saturday, April 28 2012, 2:07PM

    “@Jack_knife

    A number of old threads and old names singing the same old tune have reappeared in fact and I think you've already spotted another one. It's as I've been saying, there is a concerted attack taking place against local government. The mythical hydra springs to mind and like me, you should go on a spotting exercise. I've been advising readers to do that for long enough.”

  • Profile image for jack_knife

    by jack_knife

    Saturday, April 28 2012, 11:46AM

    “You all are commenting on a story that is nearly TWO YEARS OLD! Look at the date of the thread. -----30 July 2010.

    The GT must really be hard up for new to dredge up this thread again, and it's not the only old one they have used yesterday.”

  • Profile image for grimrich

    by grimrich

    Friday, April 27 2012, 5:02PM

    “wow this is now the 4th story concerning council tax ive read on here the council must be desperate for cash as they really hammering home what you will get if you dont adhear to our scam tax check john harris http://tinyurl.com/cfx7m7

  • Profile image for parryman

    by parryman

    Friday, April 27 2012, 3:51PM

    “we did everything we could to help her dont think you would have done your dept is the most arrogent unhelpfull bunch i have ever come accross you love your day in court the only help you like is the costs”

  • Profile image for BatmanFonever

    by BatmanFonever

    Friday, April 27 2012, 12:18PM

    “by NoToTheVillageHall

    "I always find that it's not what you say, it's how you say it."

    Well say something then......”

  • Profile image for NoToTheVillageHall

    by NoToTheVillageHall

    Friday, April 27 2012, 11:00AM

    “I always find that it's not what you say, it's how you say it.”

  • Profile image for porcelainblak

    by porcelainblak

    Wednesday, January 25 2012, 6:58PM

    “Josephine:

    Don't you ever think what would happen if ALL of us dodged paying our council tax for 16 years before you spout your namby pamby do-gooder drivel?

    This woman has stolen from every single one of us, don't you get it at all? She has stolen from YOU - surely that bothers you a tiny little bit? Why don't you invite her to live with you at your house then you can spend your time patting her on the head and telling her how hard done to she is, and whilst you're at it you can pay the theiving so and so's council tax at the same time.

    What's that I hear you say - not flaming likely?”

  • Profile image for Geoff_Crayon2

    by Geoff_Crayon2

    Wednesday, January 25 2012, 4:10PM

    “Turpin!

    Re; http://tinyurl.com/8887we7

    You're not kidding.”

  • Profile image for nogoarea45

    by nogoarea45

    Tuesday, January 24 2012, 3:23PM

    “How to boost our pension!!

    1 From now on we pay no council tax

    2. In 16 years time (When we are 81 and 82) we will pay half of our debt back at £50 a week

    3. In the meantime we will enjoy all the benefits of NOT paying council tax - holidays, etc.

    4. We will love the incompetence that allows us to do this while proper tax payers suffer

    Brilliant idea Jaqueline!! Should have spread the word sooner”

        Your comments awaiting moderation

        Add your comments

        max 4000 characters