Missed one council tax payment and now slapped with £110 in charges

BaconLove

I pay council tax from a joint account I have with my partner and we normally deposit a set amount of money each month for the bills.

One month we deposited less than we needed/spent more than we thought and there wasn't enough money in the account to cover the council tax. I realised on the day it went out and went to the bank to deposit cash, but as it had past midday they said it will be returned instead of honoured. Great. So the bank charged us £6 and I didn't think much more of it, I thought they would just try the payment again.

Two months later we received a court summons saying we missed a payment and therefore we now have to pay the outstanding £850.00 plus £110.00 in charges. And that's their best offer.

I've contacted them and they're unwilling to compromise and remove the charges.

How are they allowed to do this? If the banks are not allowed, why are the local councils?

McKneff

Its a concession from the council that you are allowed to pay by installments, and its in the terms and conditions that if you miss one then the whole amount becomes due.

There would have been 'red' letters in between this missed payment and a court summons. Have they itemised the charges.

BaconLove

When I contacted them they said they sent one letter to remind us but I don't remember receiving it. Seems like the council's way of scamming money out of its residents. I should charge them £110 every time their dustmen don't turn up on the correct day.

McKneff

Ask them to itemise the charges.

You said you presumed that they would try again. You knew there had been a problem, why didnt you check that it had been tried for again. Presumably your kicking yourself now.

I dont think its scamming, letters have to be sent to you, the original one, the one telling you about the summons, the summons itself, the court costs, they dont come cheap, and they all add up.

Try ringing them again is all I can suggest, be calm and nice and they might just help.

BaconLove

There have been two letters. One which I don't think I received and one which is a court summons saying I owe them £960.

I asked them to send me an explanation of the costs and they sent me this not very helpful information:

I have also attached a response to the reason why the costs are £110.00. This explains how much it costs to undertake all recovery action. The amount of costs that we apply have to be approved by the Magistrates court.

The cost of Recovery for 2010/11

Accommodation £ 61,570
I.T £ 37,363
Running costs
(includes printing/postage for all recovery documents, legal recharges, Contact
Centre recharges, travel costs etc) £234,625
Court Fees
(charges for liability orders, Insolvency,
Charging Order and Committal applications) £162,734
Recovery Staff Salaries £476,508
Court Team Salaries £192,967
Arrears Collection Team Salaries £285,168
Total Expenditure £1,450,935

Court Costs Income £980,530-

Overall cost of Recovery £470,405

McKneff

I agree, it wasnt much help.

I know it probably goes against the grain but is it possible for you to pay it, just to avoid actally going to court I dont think they are going to be lenient to be honest.

I'm sure more people will be along this evening, wait and see if there are any experts on court/council costs on after tea.

HappyMJ

Not paying council tax does not lead to a CCJ nor does it affect/or trash your credit file.

McKneff

HappyMJ wrote: »

Not paying council tax does not lead to a CCJ nor does it affect/or trash your credit file.

My apologies, I have edited the post the avoid any misunderstanding.

vax2002

I am afraid it is a total scam that will be enforced by bone crushing thugs.
Here is why
The summons is unlawful unless signed by a magistrate.
The court is a "Mock up" in a room rented by the council at the magistrates court.
The magistrates they produce are not actually magistrates at all and when challenged on this one of them got up and ran away ! Yet managed to grant a libility order two hours before the hearing, which later was admitted to be a fake by the council themselves
The liability orders are fake not legal as they have no actual magistrates signitures just signatures of council employees
And the worse bit of it all is they get away with it by using thuggery, deception and lies.
Even some of those who work for the council on such matters are unaware that the "court" is in fact just a rented out room complete with fake magistrate .
You have my sympathy, you have a real fight on your with some of the most devious lying twisting thugs on earth.

HappyMJ

McKneff wrote: »

My apologies, I have edited the post the avoid any misunderstanding.

Thanks..

I'm trying to figure out why so much is owing so late in the year. My entire year of council tax is only £850. By now there would only be 1 more payment of £85 to go due on Jan 1st and that's it.

BaconLove

HappyMJ wrote: »

I'm trying to figure out why so much is owing so late in the year. My entire year of council tax is only £850. By now there would only be 1 more payment of £85 to go due on Jan 1st and that's it.

Hmm that's a good question. The total cost for the year is £1,462.03. So far this year I have paid £740.03, so the total amount due should be £722 and not £850. The plot thickens...