Help - Council Tax

MustBeatThis

Good evening,

OH just found a small pile of post we'd missed, which contains a notice that we'd missed a Council Tax payment in April. Apparently we've got a Court summons for tomorrow

If we ring them and sort it out in the morning are they likely to withdraw?

Mind you, I haven't got enough in the account to pay it, so not quite sure how we'll handle that one ...

I'll have to check back on my statements but I can't right now because my online banking only goes back 31 days. I know the DD went out OK for May because I remember checking the date it's due for this month...

I feel really sick. We have got huge debt problems which we're trying to solve with the help of the lovely people on here. I have been trying to keep away from CCJs so this really makes me feel queasy.

PNPSUKNET

The council will get the order no matter what, however if you attend its likely the judge wont order costs

MustBeatThis

Thank you for replying.
Neither of us can make it. OH has just taken on a job (thank goodness) but it's miles away from where the hearing is. I'm supposed to be somewhere else in a meeting. I'm going to see if I can change that but the thought of going just terrifies me. :eek:

Mind you if the money isn't in the bank I'm not sure what good that will do. We'll ring them first thing, the hearing is midday...

If only we'd seen that letter before!

TUS

Lesson learned I guess.

CIS

The council will get the order no matter what, however if you attend its likely the judge wont order costs

I've attended numerous council tax summons courts and never once seen the magistrate refuse costs on a granted Liability Order. The council will run the costs past the court before introducing them so that the courts agree they are reasonable in advance and it stops then questioning costs at a later date.

OH just found a small pile of post we'd missed, which contains a notice that we'd missed a Council Tax payment in April. Apparently we've got a Court summons for tomorrow

If we ring them and sort it out in the morning are they likely to withdraw?

Before the Summons is issued a Council Tax reminder must have been issued.

If you believe it was paid then you need to contact the local authority tomorrow and query it, mistakes do happen but they need to be resolved as soon as possible if that's the case. If the Summons is correct then its unlikely they'll withdraw it but you can ask and see what they say.

MustBeatThis

I've managed to pay it online, so we'll see what happens when we phone in the morning, the letter says that if it's paid before the date of the hearing, all proceedings will cease.

I can't work out which payment it is that I am supposed to have missed. It is apparently relating to last financial year. I am not aware of missing any payments then, in fact we negotiated to get it done on 12 payments not 10. So I'm bemused. I take it that they are right, but I'm still bemused. As you say, lesson learned.

CIS

So I'm bemused. I take it that they are right, but I'm still bemused. As you say, lesson learned.

Its worth checking still. I work in council tax and do see accounts where there have been payments that have gone astray as mistakes do happen. 99% of the time the records are right but theres always that 1% where there has been a problem.

clang_uk

When I was renting the council missed my landlord's direct debit and we all got summons, he called, paid and they told us not to worry about it. It seems to be a standard system, but call them first and sort it out. Fingers crossed it'll be ok for you.

MustBeatThis

CIS wrote: »

Its worth checking still. I work in council tax and do see accounts where there have been payments that have gone astray as mistakes do happen. 99% of the time the records are right but theres always that 1% where there has been a problem.

I will check!
I am sure I never missed a payment last year but I'm not taking any chances. If it turns out they made a mistake then I'll get this year's bill reduced.
Many thanks!