outstanding council tax query

gstir_2

Hi, hope someone out there can offer me some advice! Generally, we moved house on 4th Dec 06, on the 7th Feb 07 we received letter from council tax saying we owed £360 thus being for the time we moved into house to the end of Feb 07. They said this amount had to be paid within 14 days. However, after all the expense of moving and Xmas we couldnt afford to pay all this money out at once. I called them to see if this amount could be paid over the 10months along with 07-08 payments and was told no. Generally they said if I couldnt pay, then to wait until we received a summary warrant and only then can we arrange a repayment plan. I dont understand this, I want to arrange to pay it back now, and surely if a summary warrant is issued will that not have extra charges included?? Any advice would be helpful as not sure how to deal with this.

CIS

Its standard practice.

In our dept we are currently implementing a policy where if the balance is not cleared in year, it has to be cleared within 6 months of the year end in an agreed plan otherwise we push for summons and then liability order.

Summons do cost, in our area £62, but most councils will only make arrangements after its gone to summons in order that they have the powers to recover money if you default. Paying the lump sum before the court date is the only way you can avoid the summons if they wont make an arrangement.

andym765

Yep above is true £98 charge here for court. Its only magistrates court so isnt to serious wont get a ccj or anything.