Council tax - Over 2 Grand!

[tigersaw]

Well in a previous thread some of us worked out we were allegedly a couple of hundred pounds better off due to the budget, well here's where its going.
Bear in mind thats 2k of my money after tax already paid, so its more in the region of 3k of my salary in reality.
Like many other people on this forum, I'm beginning to take a good hard look at why I remain in this country at all.

[G]

Shocking really isnt it. Granted I dont pay that much as I dont live in your area/region where its known to be abit more but its still £1600 odd and going up another £80+ something.

I keep telling my girlfriend we should sell up and move to sunny climates and start a cafe/resturant :( She is slowly seeing my way of thinking as the taxes become more and more, sadly until we start to struggle i dont think the reality will hit home as to how crap this country is, so I could be stuck in this country alot longer yet

[Daimo]

Im stuck here for the moment. But when the finances are better, and i have more experience, we're outta here.

[chazzyb]

My council tax is going to be ?2388 this coming year. Add water rates at over ?500. Then factor in heat and light... it's truly eye-watering.

[Dicky Ticker]

Surely your council tax is relative to the "Banding-value" of the property,so you must have really nice houses or really crap councils

[G]

Surely your council tax is relative to the "Banding-value" of the property,so you must have really nice houses or really crap councils


I have both lol

[Warthog]

Council tax banding was done on value of property though, rather than size! I am in the highest band paying about ?143 a month, and yet I live in a small crappy house, its all purely worth a lot cos it is in Oxford! Its not fair.

[Daimo]

Sounds like you guys are earning loads of money to be able to afford such big houses therefore the moaning should stop.

Or downsize ;)

http://www.willay.net/popcorn.gif

[Warthog]

Sounds like you guys are earning loads of money to be able to afford such big houses therefore the moaning should stop.

Or downsize ;)

http://www.willay.net/popcorn.gif

Haha what part of my post makes it sound like I earn loads of money? :lol:

[skint]

It would take a lot more than this for me to turn from this country all things being considered and the drawbacks of other options but it's certainly a heap of dosh to churn out. What gets me is in the two tier system where I am the local Council gets a few pennies and on the whole does what I expect, a HUGE amount goes to the dumb County council and doesn't seem to do what I expect, and some big numbers go to the Police and Fire (but won't go there)

I do recall back in the eighties talking to a Highways engineer that a mile of motorway cost about £1m ... then. A roads won't be far behind I guess, then just as its finished Gas or Leccy chaps come along and dig it up :shock:

[Luckypants]

Bring back poll tax - discuss.

IMHO a much fairer way of raising the revenue to pay for local services. Everyone pays the same because we all get the same (basic) services. My bin needs emptying the same as anyone else's and costs the same to do, same with local road use, same with library and education etc. I get the same amount of service for my £1800 odd a year as someone paying £1000. So what is fair about that?

A single fixed payment for local services would be a lot fairer.

[G]

A single fixed payment for local services would be a lot fairer.

+1

Its one of those subjects that grates me and i could discuss all day.

[Gazza77]

Bring back poll tax - discuss.

IMHO a much fairer way of raising the revenue to pay for local services. Everyone pays the same because we all get the same (basic) services. My bin needs emptying the same as anyone else's and costs the same to do, same with local road use, same with library and education etc. I get the same amount of service for my £1800 odd a year as someone paying £1000. So what is fair about that?

A single fixed payment for local services would be a lot fairer.

:winner:

[Caddy2000]

What about waste generation? Single people or couples opposed to families? Is it right that a person or couple who decide not to have children should pay for the education of others? Or for the disposal of all the nappies and waste that they will produce?
Interesting topic, isn't it?
Some people have less of an impact on the world than others - so should they pay less? And in a world where the phrase 'Carbon Footprint' is popular

[Luckypants]

What about waste generation? Single people or couples opposed to families? Is it right that a person or couple who decide not to have children should pay for the education of others? Or for the disposal of all the nappies and waste that they will produce?
Interesting topic, isn't it?
Some people have less of an impact on the world than others - so should they pay less? And in a world where the phrase 'Carbon Footprint' is popular

In a word yes, if use based charging could be implemented then that is even fairer. I recognise that with both a single flat payment or use based charging system some folks would be unfairly disadvantaged and would need to be protected, but paying the same or for what you use is fairer than some arbitrary number dreamed up because you have a big house.

[Daimo]

Im only playing boys ;)

[embee]

It really whizzes me off when they play games with the statistics.

Got mine yesterday, the headline is that the Council tax has increased 3.9%. This is because they only quote the County Council element. Roll in the rest of the items and it becomes 4.9%.

These are deceitful scheming money grabbing wastrel 8@$tards, who spent 18k last year on bottled water for ****'s sake.

Having said that, compared to some of you I'm getting off pretty lightly.

[rob13]

What about waster generation? Single people or couples opposed to families? Is it right that a person or couple who decide not to have children should pay for the education of others? Or for the disposal of all the nappies and waste that they will produce?
Interesting topic, isn't it?
Some people have less of an impact on the world than others - so should they pay less? And in a world where the phrase 'Carbon Footprint' is popular

Fixed your post


I just hope to god that we get rid of this incompetent government at the end of their term, I have so much contempt for them. The simple option would be to round all those up that havent had a job because theyve never got off their lazy arses and told to work or have their benefits stopped COMPLETELY. It angers me that every day we see a tax hike only for these scroungers to be picking up more and more money from benefits when they have put themselves in a position to receive it e.g by having kids at 16 to get a house/child bens etc. I know there are genuine people who cant find work but they are looking. I dont give a rats about trying to remove poverty as its just not going to happen. These people put themselves in this position by trying to live off the state. Everything is a tax and year on year it increases but do we see a genuine improvement in our services? NO! My main worry is that there arent many credible alternatives to the bunch of incompetants who are steering the ship.

I could rant all day but I would be using too much energy, no doubt something which the government will try to tax me for in the not so distant future.

[SoulKiss]

Fixed your post


I just hope to god that we get rid of this incompetent government at the end of their term, I have so much contempt for them. The simple option would be to round all those up that havent had a job because theyve never got off their lazy arses and told to work or have their benefits stopped COMPLETELY. It angers me that every day we see a tax hike only for these scroungers to be picking up more and more money from benefits when they have put themselves in a position to receive it e.g by having kids at 16 to get a house/child bens etc. I know there are genuine people who cant find work but they are looking. I dont give a rats about trying to remove poverty as its just not going to happen. These people put themselves in this position by trying to live off the state. Everything is a tax and year on year it increases but do we see a genuine improvement in our services? NO! My main worry is that there arent many credible alternatives to the bunch of incompetants who are steering the ship.

I could rant all day but I would be using too much energy, no doubt something which the government will try to tax me for in the not so distant future.

Instutute a rule where you have to sign on EVERY day, then do 4 hours community service, picking up litter in parks, or scrubbing graffiti off walls, make it outdoor work and in all weather - dont do the 4 hours, dont get your benefit money.

Going for an interview could count as your 4 hours.

Instead of the cracked idea they had to give all unemployed people laptops and the internet to find jobs, just set up "internet cafe's" in job centers, they can check email etc as they sign in daily.

Have some kind of "email to phone" system where they can ring a freephone number and be told if they have email - they can then go check it, again at the job center.

Have all payments for rent/bills etc paid directly so that it cant go missing between being paid and the bills coming in.

Thats just the beginning of my manifesto for re-dressing the skew of priorities in this country

Vote Soulkiss for Prome Minister, you know it makes sense.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

I just hope to god that we get rid of this incompetent government at the end of their term, I have so much contempt for them.

What angers me most isn't my contempt for the government, it's the contempt Brown has for the country.

I think the majority of people are, when it comes to politics, profoundly stupid because on many things we give our leaders mixed messages, but what I think doesn't matter. Brown is supposed to be an elected representative. ID cards, the European constit... sorry, 'treaty', two very important things I can think of off the top of my head that the majority imo are being very clear that they don't want, but are being ignored.

Everything is a tax and year on year it increases but do we see a genuine improvement in our services? NO! My main worry is that there arent many credible alternatives to the bunch of incompetants who are steering the ship.

Trouble is, and this is why I view a lot of people politically foolish, can you imagine if the government slashed spending on everything overnight? People would go mad, whether services got worse or not.

[Dicky Ticker]

Mr SoulKiss I hope you never have a serious illness or deabilitating illness. I worked for 45years,paid my dues,worked hard,saved my money to enjoy in later life. After waiting 18 months for heart surgery I ended up going private and paid for it myself ?13000.
Now 7 years on I am having similar symptoms again plus waiting for replacement knee surgery and I can,t have that till I am 65 in 4years time. I 've had to give up a profitable business that I spent 30 years building up to go on "Pension Credits" which are reduced by ?1 for every ?500 of savings which means I loose out big time for having provided for my later years,money I am having to use to live on now meaning the government don't pay again
I'm no sponger and your criticism seems very unfair on a lot of people who are in this situation NOT BY CHOICE

[rob13]

Mr SoulKiss I hope you never have a serious illness or deabilitating illness. I worked for 45years,paid my dues,worked hard,saved my money to enjoy in later life. After waiting 18 months for heart surgery I ended up going private and paid for it myself ?13000.
Now 7 years on I am having similar symptoms again plus waiting for replacement knee surgery and I can,t have that till I am 65 in 4years time. I 've had to give up a profitable business that I spent 30 years building up to go on "Pension Credits" which are reduced by ?1 for every ?500 of savings which means I loose out big time for having provided for my later years,money I am having to use to live on now meaning the government don't pay again
I'm no sponger and your criticism seems very unfair on a lot of people who are in this situation NOT BY CHOICE

I dont think Soulkiss was in any way suggesting that GENUINE people who have a GENUINE reason should have to follow this route. We are talking here about the millions of people in this country who would sooner collect their Giro than make any attempt to gain employment.

[gettin2dizzy]

In the North East council tax was increased to help fund breakfast for every primary school child. Why is it everyones responsibility to pay out for this?!

[Daimo]

Just found up mines going up ?11 PM....

Mofos :mad:

[yorkie_chris]

Mr SoulKiss I hope you never have a serious illness or deabilitating illness. I worked for 45years,paid my dues,worked hard,saved my money to enjoy in later life. After waiting 18 months for heart surgery I ended up going private and paid for it myself ?13000.
Now 7 years on I am having similar symptoms again plus waiting for replacement knee surgery and I can,t have that till I am 65 in 4years time. I 've had to give up a profitable business that I spent 30 years building up to go on "Pension Credits" which are reduced by ?1 for every ?500 of savings which means I loose out big time for having provided for my later years,money I am having to use to live on now meaning the government don't pay again
I'm no sponger and your criticism seems very unfair on a lot of people who are in this situation NOT BY CHOICE

B0llocks.

Your situations completely different and just another example of how the current government completely screws over people who've done the right thing and worked and saved like yourself.

The potatoes out there by choice doing no useful work and sitting on the dole with 15 kids (sociologists STFU, they can work and don't it's their choice) are the ones that really need kicking out and leaving to work or starve.

Don't see how wanting to stop paying scratters and scumbags for doing sod all has anything to do with your situation.

[ArtyLady]

In the North East council tax was increased to help fund breakfast for every primary school child. Why is it everyones responsibility to pay out for this?!

because IMO even if you choose not to have children, most of the children whose education you are paying for will eventually grow up to be the people who will run society when you are old. :)

[skint]

mines gone up...

County Council 4.8% not too happy about this!

District Council 1.5% I don't have many hang ups about the district chaps, things go wrong and such but on more than with anything else such as my RICS subscriptions, thieving useless... sorry back on thread... they get the least but have to finance the collection of money and get all the abuse - sh8tty end of the stick I think.

Fire and Police about 4.5% each, I have some hangups about this based on the service I percieve I get compared to CC not much in it...

Parish Council - over 15% increase but what for? I think theuy might cut some grass at the side of the road. This I really dislike, no value that I can identify with.

[Gazza77]

because IMO even if you choose not to have children, most of the children whose education you are paying for will eventually grow up to be the people who will run society when you are old. :)

I don't think G2D was complaining about the education, more as to why he should have to pay to feed everyone's kids because some parents can't be bothered with breakfast. I'd have to agree....

[Warthog]

Bring back poll tax - discuss.

IMHO a much fairer way of raising the revenue to pay for local services. Everyone pays the same because we all get the same (basic) services. My bin needs emptying the same as anyone else's and costs the same to do, same with local road use, same with library and education etc. I get the same amount of service for my £1800 odd a year as someone paying £1000. So what is fair about that?

A single fixed payment for local services would be a lot fairer.

See this is a really interesting post. I was a bit young (not to mention living in a different country) to remember the poll tax riots. But as far as I can see, it seems a much fairer system?? Best thing would be just a standard charge per adult and a standard charge per kid, all based on the amount of services they usually use. I pay as much council tax as a family of 4 or 5 would in the same house. How does value of house relate at all to amount of refuse generated or amount of police time needed?

[G]

I pay as much council tax as a family of 4 or 5 would in the same house. How does value of house relate at all to amount of refuse generated or amount of police time needed?

Do you know what really takes the ****.

I have a tiny general waste bin and a normal size recycling bin.

So I can throw out half the general waste as the next street along....but pay the same.

[ArtyLady]

I don't think G2D was complaining about the education, more as to why he should have to pay to feed everyone's kids because some parents can't be bothered with breakfast. I'd have to agree....

Ah I get you - yeah he has a point there :!:

[kwak zzr]

my council tax isnt that bad but then again i live in a cheap house in a s#itty area lol.

[SoulKiss]

Mr SoulKiss I hope you never have a serious illness or deabilitating illness. I worked for 45years,paid my dues,worked hard,saved my money to enjoy in later life. After waiting 18 months for heart surgery I ended up going private and paid for it myself ?13000.
Now 7 years on I am having similar symptoms again plus waiting for replacement knee surgery and I can,t have that till I am 65 in 4years time. I 've had to give up a profitable business that I spent 30 years building up to go on "Pension Credits" which are reduced by ?1 for every ?500 of savings which means I loose out big time for having provided for my later years,money I am having to use to live on now meaning the government don't pay again
I'm no sponger and your criticism seems very unfair on a lot of people who are in this situation NOT BY CHOICE

A couple of people saw what I was getting at, and it wasn't aimed at people who are unable to work.

It was aimed at people who are unwilling to work.