I have to prove that I didn't live in a certain house in 1991/92! Obviously I don't keep any records (eg rent book) from that time, so I was wondering if anyone can help me figure out where to look. I've moved about a bit in my life and can't quite remember what I was doing then, I just know that I didn't live in this particular house (my cousin did ;) ) Hellllpppp!!!

Electoral register for that year maybe?

Maybe getting hold of your credit file to prove you were at another address???  Although voters roll does sounds best option!

The thing about the electoral roll is that it only shows where you were registered to vote, and there is no proof that anyone is still living at a certain address at a given date. Unless you re-register. Which I obviously didn't, as I didn't live there. If that makes sense There were a few years where I wasn't actually on any electoral roll on given dates. Not trying to make it any more confusing than it already is. ;) I'll try it though, you never know.

Gemma, thanks, but I didn't actually try to buy anything on credit at the time needed. My partner bought everything :D

Bank statements? Libary card? Doctors?  Oh dear thats a tough one isnt it to prove you wasnt there rather than proving you were there

That's the problem I'm having. Especially as it is going back so far. I mean. who keeps records for over 15 years? :rolleyes:

Would it not be easier for your cousin to prove she was there rather than you? or is that no good?

Not really. They believe that I moved in with her for a while. I had actually asked the local council to send any mail to her address, as I was in an abusive relationship. The council now believe that I actually lived there, and won't take my word for it that it was just an agreement between us. No-one, not even the council, has records for that date. :( Hence my problem..... They want me to pay council tax (or community charge, as it was known) for the time they say I stayed there. I, quite obviously, don't want to pay it ;)

If thats the case then it is up to them to prove that you were living there, not for you to prove you weren't...
call their bluff and tell them to prove it... they can always take you to court but without any evidence they're stuffed.

I think you can swear a Declaration (used to be called an Affidavit) before a local solicitor which might suffice.......

Margot

I didn't think "creditors" for want of a better word could come for money once 12 years has passed?

I would get some advice from either a solicitor or the CAB & I'm sure they'll agree that it is upto the council to prove that you lived there. 

I didn't think "creditors" for want of a better word could come for money once 12 years has passed?
I believe this to be 6 years.
If they havnt chased you for the debt within 6 years of you 'not paying' Then they have to wipe the debt off.
So have they contacted you at all in the last 15 years????
I would give the CAB a ring or go and see your local branch :- http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice
As you may well be worrying about nothing.
HTH
Lea :)

If you don't have anything to prove you weren't living there, do you have anything to prove you WERE living somewhere else?

Bank statements, bills, hospital, doctors, dental records what address did these get sent to? What address did they have for you at work, whose name was the gas, leccy & phone in? You could try tracing any of those?????

I contacted the CAB yesterday and the lady read a document out to me that stated that the council can go back 20 years! to claim back payments. I had contacted them as I thought the law had changed recently to 5 years. So either their info is out of date, or it's one of those English versus Scottish law differences. I'm in Scotland. I had very little in my name at the time in question. My ex was a control freak and almost everything was in his name. I will try a couple of things, but it doesn't look too hopeful. Apparantly I have to prove that I wasn't living there. Might go and see a solicitor to see what I can do next.

I know it is not your debt but have you tried contacting these :-
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
They are very very good and may well be more up to date about the time spans for getting money off you etc.
And also might be able to help you work out a way to prove you werent living there.
All the best of luck.
Lea :)

what about your employer at the time?  Would they have records to show where you were living?

Council Tax is one of those "pay it or go to jail" charges along with tax.  This doesn't seem right though.  Poor you!

My employers at the time were taken over by Tesco's a few years later, so I doubt if there are any records left from that time. Most businesses only keep things for a few years.

I'll try that website. You never know. It's the proving that I didn't live somewhere that's a pain in the a**! How can you prove you didn't actually live in a house? After all these years. :(