Arrears and debt recovery - council tax

Some people find it difficult to pay the Council Tax.

If you find that you are also unable to manage your monthly instalments you should contact us straight away.

We will ensure that you are receiving your relevant discounts or check to see if you are entitled to council tax benefit. Depending on your circumstances it may be possible to re-negotiate your instalments.

If you do not contact us we will start recovery action, and this could lead to costs being added to your account.

What if I cannot pay my instalments on time?

If you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax you should contact us and speak to an experienced officer who will be able to advise you. If you do not pay and you do not contact us you run the risk of recovery action being taken against you, for which you may incur court costs.

Can I pay my share of the bill?

You are held jointly and severally liable to pay the Council Tax with the other person(s) you live with in the property.

Unfortunately we cannot accept part payment of the Council Tax as settlement of an individual's liability, so paying an amount which is thought to be an appropriate share will not clear your liability.

I have received a reminder, what do I do?

You should bring your account up to date immediately and pay your future monthly instalments on time. This will ensure that we do not take further recovery action against you.

If you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax you should contact us immediately and speak to an experienced officer who will be able to advise you.

If you do not pay and you do not contact us you run the risk of recovery action being taken against you, for which you may incur court costs.

I have received a final notice, what do I do?

A final notice has been sent to you as your account is in arrears for at least the second time this financial year. A reminder notice has already been sent but you have not kept your instalments up to date.

You have now lost your right to pay by instalments and the full outstanding balance must be paid by the date on the notice. If you do not pay the full amount a summons will be issued for which you may incur court costs.

If you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax you should contact us immediately and speak to an experienced officer who will be able to advise you.

Why have I received a summons?

You have received a summons because you have not paid the amounts that were due according to your instalment scheme, or the subsequent reminders / final notice.

Regrettably this is the next course of action that must be taken to enforce the debt. However we are keen to discuss with you the reasons why you have not paid and consider the options available to you in settling the balance outstanding.

If you have any queries, please contact the council tax recovery team quoting your account reference number as shown on the summons.

Do I have to attend the court hearing?

It is your right to appear at the Magistrates' Court. However most of the questions you may have and reasons why you have not paid, can be resolved before the hearing by contacting the council tax recovery team quoting your account reference number as shown on the summons. .

Other people in the household have received a summons. Do we all have to pay the amount on the summons?

A summons has been sent to every person named on the bill. However the amount shown on the summons is due only once. The reason for issuing a summons in this manner is because you are held jointly and severally liable to pay the debt, and the whole balance outstanding can be enforced upon any one of, or split between the individuals named on the summons.

For this reason it is important that the full balance of the outstanding council tax is paid by the court date. Unfortunately we cannot accept part payment of the debt as settlement of an individual's liability, so paying an amount which is thought to be an appropriate share will not clear your name from the summons.

What will happen if I do not pay the amount shown on the summons?

The council will apply for a liability order which incurs further costs to be added to your bill. The liability order will empower the council to collect the debt by a number of different options.

I think that the amount shown as outstanding on the summons is wrong

If you do not agree with the amount that is shown on the summons, you must contact us straight away. Whatever the reason, we will listen to you, and advise you on the next course of action that you must take.

I cannot attend the court hearing on the date shown

The council has already made the complaint to the court, and this date has been set by the court. This is not usually changed except in extreme circumstances.

If you wish to change the date of the hearing, please contact the council tax recovery team, quoting your account reference number as shown on the summons. We will then discuss with you whether or not you need to attend the court at all.

Do I have to pay costs?

Yes. The costs added to your council tax have been awarded to the council by the magistrates' court. The council will pursue the costs outstanding in addition to any unpaid council tax, or even if the council tax debt has been paid.

What is a liability order?

A liability order is granted by the magistrates' court giving certain powers to the council to collect the debt that it is owed.

The order is for a fixed amount of money, plus additional costs. Both of these amounts are payable without any further delay. If the payment is not made within 14 days of the date of the hearing, further action may be taken against you.

The options available to the council include deductions from Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance, an Attachment of Earnings Order, the use of bailiffs, or even committal to prison.

Do I have to send back the details of earnings form?

The details of earnings form must be returned to the council within 14 days. Failure to do so may lead to a fine being imposed on you. If the form is returned the council can choose the most appropriate option for recovery of the outstanding council tax.

I have received an Attachment of Earnings Order. What should I do?

The council has decided that it can best recover the outstanding council tax by collecting the balance through your wages or salary. Your employer has been ordered to make the deductions and pass these directly to the council. The amount deducted will vary depending on the amount that you earn. Details of the amounts that will be deducted are attached to the order. If you have not received these, please contact us. Your employer will deduct the council tax from your wages or salary until the full balance of the order is paid.

In order to prevent the deductions from being made, you may choose to settle the council tax in full. See details of how to pay, however we recommend that you contact us in order that we then contact your employer.

If an attachment of earnings order is in place, you must tell the council if you change your employer.

I have received a Deduction from Income Support/Job Seeker's Allowance Order. What should I do?

The council has decided that it can best recover the outstanding council tax by collecting the balance through your Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been ordered to make the deductions and pass these directly to the council. The DWP will write to you about this. It will inform you of the amount that will be deducted each week and when these will start. This will continue until the amount of the order has been paid or your circumstances prevent further deductions.

Why have I received a bailiff notice?

The council has decided that it can best recover the outstanding council tax by using a certificated bailiff. The bailiff has sent you this notice so that you are aware that they are now collecting your council tax on our behalf. Further costs will have been added to your bill for this. You must now contact the bailiff company to make arrangements for payment.

Failure to contact the bailiffs may lead to the removal of your possessions and will lead to further costs being added to your bill. All payments relating to the debt being collected by the bailiff must be paid to them. They will continue until the council tax debt and costs have been paid in full.

The bailiffs have contacted me. Can I make a payment to the council?

Your council tax debt has now been passed to the council's bailiffs to be collected. All further payments should be made directly to the bailiffs.

Failure to do so may lead to the bailiffs being unaware that you have made a payment. If you have not already done so, you must now contact the bailiffs to discuss payment. Failure to do so may lead to additional costs being added to your bill.