Grieving daughter sent 1p council tax demand

 

Ann Jones was mourning the loss of her mother Miriam Watkin, who was popularly known as Maggie, in May when the unexpected council tax demand was delivered.

 

It showed that 1p was the outstanding amount after the council had taken into account deductions from the £918.32 annual charge for the Band B property at Leighton View, Welshpool.

 

It stated that an instalment of ‘1 X 0.01’ must be paid by ‘cash or cheque’ by June 21. As with any other council tax demand, it could have led to a prosecution had the amount gone unpaid.

 

“It was a difficult time having just lost my mother and I found it very insensitive,” said Mrs Jones, who added that the council staff was very helpful and understanding but she still had to pay. “I ended up paying last Friday and made sure I got a receipt for it as well!

 

“It just seems a waste of money for them to be pursuing an amount like this from the family of someone who has been paying her council tax all of her life without fail.”

 

However, Powys County Council said it was issued by mistake and have apologised this morning.

 

Cllr Tony Thomas, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "We have procedures in place that prevents demand notices of such a low value being issued. Unfortunately, in this instance the demand notice was issued by mistake.

"Although it is pleasing to hear that our staff were helpful in this case, I do apologise for any distress receiving such a demand notice may have caused."