Council demanding I pay up front

mrlogan

I'm occasionally late with my council tax payments just because I forget. So now the council says I have to pay the year up front or else set up a Direct Debit. I hate Direct Debit and obviously I'm not going to pay a year up front.

If I just took the yearly total, divided by 12, and sent accordingly, are they likely to do anything?

Going4TheDream

mrlogan wrote: »

I'm occasionally late with my council tax payments just because I forget. So now the council says I have to pay the year up front or else set up a Direct Debit. I hate Direct Debit and obviously I'm not going to pay a year up front.

If I just took the yearly total, divided by 12, and sent accordingly, are they likely to do anything?

They have written to you because you 'forget'...How sure are you that you wont 'forget' however you divide it up?

Direct debit takes away the 'forgot'........that is their point, why make it hard for yourself?

mjm3346

If I just took the yearly total, divided by 12, and sent accordingly, are they likely to do anything?

Simple answer yes.

mrlogan

Going4TheDream wrote: »

They have written to you because you 'forget'...How sure are you that you wont 'forget' however you divide it up?

Direct debit takes away the 'forgot'........that is their point, why make it hard for yourself?

Thanks for that helpful post. Whether one pays on the day they ask or 30 days later it makes little difference. There's something in business called a "grace period". If they get it late, big deal. By not using Direct Debit, I have control over my own money.

mrlogan

mjm3346 wrote: »

Simple answer yes.

Rather than a simple answer, do you have a useful one?

withabix

There is no random 'grace period' with Council Tax, because the due dates and 'on time' payment window are specificed in the Regulations.

If you don't like Direct Debit, pay by Standing Order, ensuring that you pay on or around 1st of the month, starting in April.

From April 2013, you can pay in 12 instalments anyway, due to a change in the rules.

monstermoo

The Council Tax Dept will send everyone a bill with stated amounts due on stated dates.

They monitor the payments and if you are late paying by the date give or do not paying the stated amount, then you are usually sent a reminder or 2. Granted they may give 7 days grace to receive a payment though-possibly depends on the council

If you have received a final reminder then the bill left to pay is usually due to be paid in full at the stated balance given on your final reminder.

Although I think (depending on the council) you can try to negotiate a
payment plan to pay your remaining balance.

Hope it helps

mjm3346

mrlogan wrote: »

Rather than a simple answer, do you have a useful one?

They can take you to court for non-payment if you fail to pay the full amount due, if you have lost the right to pay by instalments then the full years payment is the amount due.

If you have lost the right to instalments some councils may still accept payments in instalments, but this will depend on their discretion.

(Not sure if the loss of instalments extends beyond the financial year)

Going4TheDream

mrlogan wrote: »

Thanks for that helpful post. Whether one pays on the day they ask or 30 days later it makes little difference. There's something in business called a "grace period". If they get it late, big deal. By not using Direct Debit, I have control over my own money.

There is no grace period with council tax, they already offer people terms, by allowing either 10 or now 12 payments per year so essentially you are paying in arrears anyway.

The fact that you wish to have control over your money is fine but you have to either pay on the due date each month or expect that they will continue to insist on full payment.

Generally they only write to you if you are late paying at least 3 times, forgetting once is an oversight but regularly forgetting is a habit..... and they will take action

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/problems-paying-and-financial-help

dancingfairy

Technically council tax is due at the begining of the council taxyear. Councils /governement recongnise that not everyone can afford to pay up front in full so offer installments. If you fail to keep to the installments then your priveledge of paying in installments is revoked and the remainder of the year is then due.
After sending the required number of letters they can then take you to court. This is likely to mean additional charges added to your account of around 90 pounds. After this they may then choose to send your accounts to the bailiffs which will cost you a minimum of 42.50 (possibly hundreds more if they levy on anthing).
I'm not sure whether your could would bother sending it to the bailiffs if you were making regular payments again but still.
Why would you put yourself through this and risk owing another 90 odd pounds?
You need to go with DD or a standing order or use some other system to remember really.
df

Wywth

mrlogan wrote: »

I'm occasionally late with my council tax payments just because I forget. So now the council says I have to pay the year up front or else set up a Direct Debit. I hate Direct Debit and obviously I'm not going to pay a year up front.

If I just took the yearly total, divided by 12, and sent accordingly, are they likely to do anything?

You had your chance. You failed. Why should the council allow you to fail again?

The council have told you the options now available to you.