Taxing experiences

Following the launch of a council initiative to combat postal scamming, The Journal has found that the scale of council tax demands sent to students with exemptions is still high, and that flaws persist within the current system.

Several individual Edinburgh students contacted The Journal explaining different and recurring problems they have faced when dealing with the council.

Fifth-year MPhys student Oliver Proctor told The Journal he never had any difficulties until this year: “In an attempt to sort the council tax for the new flat containing two students and one non-student, I phoned the council and was told that I would need to send them a copy of my certificate of matriculation for the coming year, despite never having to have done this in previous years.

“Interestingly, my student flatmate only needed one phone call to be noted as council-tax exempt! Maybe they just didn't like me.

“After some hassle I got hold of the certificate and sent it off. Despite this, a few weeks later I got a bill for the full council tax.”

Student president of the Edinburgh College of Art, Jake Rusby said he had also faced problems: “Personally, I have had very frustrating dealings over council tax. In each of the four flats I have lived in Edinburgh there has been some complication in ascertaining that I was a student.

"This often meant filling out multiple forms and making a number of phone calls to the council.

“We also get a lot of students coming to the student union who are very anxious about threatening letters sent out by Scott & Co on behalf of the council. These can be sent after students have registered their student status with the council.”

The flurry of written demands come in the same month that councils across Britain are taking part in ‘Scamnesty’, a campaign which gives the public the opportunity to pass any postal scams they receive on to the council for investigation.

After collecting the demanding letters from several students, The Journal took advantage of the UK wide scheme and handed them in to the council via the Advice Shop on South Bridge.

Edinburgh graduate Katie Oakes’ lease ended in June a month after her student status expired: “When I left Uni, I got billed for council tax at my old address. They sent loads of letters and then court orders and then threats to seize my bank account operations unless I paid up.

"The only reason I knew about any of this was some friends of mine had moved into my old flat.

“I rang them to find out what was going on and had to give a forwarding address. It took them about two and a half months to send me anything, and they then gave me one week to pay or I'd face late charges.”

Councillor Phil Wheeler, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, told The Journal: “Before offering a student exemption we must have proof of their details. Not all educational establishments provide us with these. If a student attends an educational establishment which does not send us their list, then the student must provide these details themselves. It is also important to note that not all students qualify for council tax exemption."

In an attempt to avoid situations like these, Edinburgh council has teamed up with Snapfax to encourage students to fill out their exemption forms.

A spokesperson from Snapfax said: “Basically, the council are desperate to get students to fill out exemption forms so they can stop sending out demands. We’ve sent out texts asking students telling them to send a quick email saying ‘hi’ to revenuebenefits.students@edinburgh.gov.uk and wait for a response. It’s really simple.

“I think problems arise when there is a non student also living in the flat. The council needs to check every member of each flat in order to award the correct exemptions. The council is really keen to sort this out quickly as it’s obviously costing them a lot of money in postage and admin.”

Second year linguistics student, Ruth Cape has only just sorted out her exemption from last academic year: “After receiving the demands we phoned, emailed and wrote but to no avail. I have only just received confirmation that I don’t need to pay but we’re still waiting to hear about my flatmates.”

Cllr Wheeler said that they were fully aware of this fact and defended current practices: “The council is extremely proactive communicating to students on how they should go about applying for council tax exemption. It is also our intention to simplify the process as much as possible for the benefit of students as well as the council. Officers attend matriculation events, the council has a dedicated student email address and we advertise in Snapfax.”

NSA President Kasia Bylinska told The Journal: “I know from my own experience that Edinburgh council's system is very inefficient and badly coordinated. A student can send their exemption form and later get a letter from the council calling for payment. The student will try to resolve the problem - which will cost them money, time and cause stress.

“I am also aware that some students will get not one but two letters long after they submitted their exemption forms as a final notice. I would advise all Edinburgh Napier students who encountered similar problems to contact our free Independent Student Support Service.”

EUSA President Thomas Graham reassured Edinburgh students: “If there are specific cases out there, our advice place can help you with this kind of issue and you can find out by visiting the website.”