Council tax bill for one day of life: widow sent ‘final balance’ of £4.31 after husband’s death
3:18pm Wednesday 24th May 2006 in News By Kate Southern
Heartless Enfield Council bosses have reduced a widow to tears after sending her an insensitive council tax bill.
Maisie Anderson, 85, of Faversham Avenue, Enfield, lost her husband Stanley, former chairman of the Enfield Pensioners Action Group, on April 2.
After contacting the authority to have her council tax bill adjusted to a single person's allowance, she was shocked to receive a demand for £4.31 accounting for the one day her husband lived in April.
Mrs Anderson, who was married for 65 years, said: "How callous and insensitive can you get?
"My husband will be turning in his grave.
"Stanley worked from the age of 15 to 78, served his country in the army for six-and-a-half years and we have always worked hard and paid our bills.
"As if the trauma of losing my husband is not enough, receiving the letter from the council has upset me further."
She added: "I have lived in Enfield for more than 40 years, and for the first time in my life I felt ashamed to be part of this borough.
"I shall pay the small cheque, but Enfield Council should hang their heads in shame."
A council spokeswoman said: "The council follows a general procedure when someone dies to invoice the executors of the estate.
"The council tax bill for £4.31 was the final balance remaining up until the date Mr Anderson died.
"The current minimum amount for which a bill is not raised is for amounts less than £1. This is in common with most other public utility providers, like gas, electricity and water."
