A woman has been billed for three pence from Bromley Council after it accidentally undercharged her for council tax.

Jodie Johnson was initially charged £184, paid it, and then received a letter explaining that this was a miscalculation and she actually owed three pence more – totalling £184.03.

She had sold her property and was settling the remainder of the tax that needed to be paid.

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Jodie's husband, Julian Chapman, said that he thought that the cost of the letters sent, the envelope, the postage and time spent on it will “have cost Bromley Council more than the three pence in question”.

He feels that it lacks common sense to use council resources to chase such a miniscule amount of money.

Julian told the News Shopper: "We were just staggered that they actually expected that to be paid and that somebody has spent time writing a letter from the council to that effect which in stationary has cost more than that three pence seems a bit ridiculous and a very pointless waste of resources.

"I think it's stupid. 

"I think there is a degree of common sense here and they must have at least expended several tens of pounds in time and stationery to do this.

"I just felt it was absolutely crazy that they spent that much time pursuing three pence when they made the error in the first place."

Julian said that the couple has not paid the outstanding three pence so far.

However, they do think that Bromley Council is serious about expecting the payment due to the effort gone into writing and sending the letter.

Julian added: "My wife just sold her flat that she had in Bromley for a number of years.

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"She had been paying the council tax month by month and when the sale was agreed, she asked for a final statement on what was outstanding for council tax to settle everything up.

"She was sent something through which appears to have been incorrect by three pence.

"So, we paid that and then this thing came through saying that there was a discrepancy of three pence, admitting that the mistake had been made by someone in the council.

"We haven't replied so far.

"If they had sent something to say this is outstanding but we are not going to bother pursuing it and we are closing your account on this, I think that would have been far enough."

Bromley Council did not respond to our request for comment.