council tax right or wrong

[scorpious123]

i think it is really disgusting that another pensioner goes to jail for refusing to pay his council tax. we are one of the heaviest taxed countries around vat income tax etc.i pay a very very high income tax every week and national insurance and i pay 1500 pounds council tax.
we all have parents or grandparents or no someone old so why is that that when you reach 65 years old you have to pay i think it is totally out of order that when someone retires they should have to cough up and pay for this so could council tax . i for one would pay a little bit extra so they benefit and are exempt from this council tax because maybe later on when we all get old it would come to us as well and we would be exempt at 65. Why are we letting a goverment push our poor old pensioners around ?

[B00]

Well in all fairness, the gentleman in question could afford to pay his council tax, he just took a stand against the tax on behalf of other pensioners.

As for paying extra myself to cover a pensioners portion of council tax, im afraid to say that as selfish as it sounds, no I would not be willing to do that.

I'm constantly skint myself and whilst I sympathise with anyone, not just pensioners, who are struggling to pay their tax, I' m exactly the same boat- I struggle to pay all my bills, council tax included.

[cruella]

While I do not agree with any council tax, I have to agree with BOO.
There is a thread in News about this and I have already given my views.
I work with the elderly and everything is means tested.
Therefore, very few pensioners pay a lot of council tax, especially if they are on benefits or income support. They also get a lump sum each year to help with their heating bills, not to mention all the other services they are receive
Most of the pensioners I work with have a bigger income than I have for working full time. I don't get any rebates, I pay more or less the same as yourself in council tax.
Not having a go at pensioners, only stating facts.

[scorpious123]

it shouldnt matter if this gentleman could afford it or not he should not be paying it in the first place, he is retired.
yes BOO there are many in the same position as you but later on you would benefit aswell if your are skint now wait till your 65

[B00]

Really Cruella?

Would you be so kind to check out my state pension Q a couple down from this one? I'd be interested to hear your views.

[B00]

Why shouldn't they pay? They expect the same services as you and I don't they?

[scorpious123]

hi cruella i understand that some pensioners are getting rebates and some are not it should not matter if you have half a million in the bank at somepoint they have payed there taxes
and nothing should be means tested thats so unfair for anyone

[cruella]

BOO
Just posted on your thread.

[Catron]

Sorry, I do not understand your argument. You wish us to all pay more so that pensioners, who live in houses like the rest of us shouldn't pay even though they are availing themselves of as much of the council's services as the rest of us?

[B00]

Just read it- food for thought Cruella, thank you.

scorpious, sorry for the slight thread hijack.

[scorpious123]

catron when you are only on a pension whether it a large one or not it should be free all i can say is im just glad that i will be fine with my nest egg saved when i retire

[bednobs]

tbh it seems a bit of a crap arguement to me too. The only fair way to do it is a local income tax, whereby people pay in relation to what they can afford

[cruella]

Sorry scorpious
No one I know is living on JUST a state pension.
I also do not agree that everything ought to be free to them.
Most of the things they get are anyway, including paying very little council tax.
As I said before, they have a larger income than I do when working full time and I pay full council tax. In fact, full everything.

[burbie]

Prisons are supposed to be full. There is no room for thieves, murderers, muggers, rapists, etc. So how come they can find a place for an OAP who is simply maklng a stand, and has done no harm to anyone.
We all all being robbed by the goverment, and I wish I and everyone else had the guts to do the same as him, but we all just pay up and struggle on.
It isnt just pensioners, anyone on a low income finds it difficult to pay higher and higher bills.

[Skreecheeboy]

The council tax is completely unfair and should be replaced by a combination of income tax and taxes on 2nd homes. Pensioners should also pay but not more than they can afford.

[jake-the-peg]

This is the guy who was convicted for non payment last year and was released when an anonymous donor paid his tax and fine.

Please don't ask me to feel sorry for him!

There is a case for special treatment for those pensioners that are hard up but once again the "I don't like paying tax" brigade are jumping on the bandwagon.

At least scheechboy has a rational alternative rather than the politically immature "scrap it" routine you hear so often.

I think a local income tax will eventually come, probably in about 15 years time when the baby boomers are all retired with pensions suffering from the decline in the stock market.

Then the over 60's will have enough political clout to effect a change

[theonlyone]

Our council tax bill will equate to �30 + a week ,we don't use the services as in police (never there ) fire brigade (hopefully not ) , why should we have to pay all that money .
The bin ,recycle service here is good , can't fault it , but we have no street light and the road is full of pot holes . Have been on to them about resurfacing ..not bad enough but have done all the pavements in a road that no one ever walks along !!

[scorpious123]

this man was making a stand for all of us when we reach 65 years old. these pensioners have paid for this country over and over in taxes. not like some of these people that are coming over here on a bannana boat thats why your council tax is probably high,