Council Tax - Court Summons

Nickroberts1968

Hi i just need some advice.

My partner and i have just received a court summons each for late payment for council tax for the outstanding balance of £25

They want us to pay the full amount which is £60 or go to court and pay £60 plus court costs, we are on benefits and are struggling to live and we just cannot afford to pay the £60 just like that

I feel like going to court and explaining our situation and tell them i find it amazing that they are taking me to court for just £25

Can someone please advise the best form of action as we cannot afford to pay the full £60

Thxs

krok

I am afraid that all of us now have to pay something towards council tax.
It is the law now. I am on benefits as well but i get the council to take what they require monthly from my account. That way you dont miss it so much.

You will have to attend court if you are not going to pay it so i would advise you to just say you now intend to pay monthly.

If you dont pay it they can jail you in extreme circumstances.

This goverment has a lot to answer for, what with sanctions, bedroom tax and council tax.

I hope you sort things out.

Nickroberts1968

Thanks for the reply

We dont have problem paying it its just that we cannot afford to pay the full amount in one go

Im just amazed that we are being taken to court for such a small amount

McKneff

It works both ways thought, there are probably people in the council offices saying.

'I am amazed that some people risking going to court and paying court fees etc for the sake of £25.

Do you see what I mean.

dancingfairy

I would assume it is a computer generated letter but also that they have to apply the rules, and it wouldn't be particularly fair if they let you off for 25 pounds. Someonelse would complain and say well I only owe 30 pounds etc etc.
They have a duty to collect ALL the council tax.
I admit on a personal basis it probably doesn't seem very fair.
Presumably you have missed a payment? If you miss a payment then the legislation says that the whole amount becomes due (ie paying in installments is a privelidge, rather than a right).
You can obviously write and put your case to the council but it will very much depend on how charitable the council are feeling. If you o this you could consider putting a budget sheet in with it and proposing a payment plan to get you back on track and hope they accept that.
Also they are so used to being messed around (ie people saying they will pay if the summons is cancelled and then not paying that they can't often afford to take the risk and cancel the summons in case you don't pay and they have to start again).
You should hopefully find once they have the court order that they are more receptive to payment plan.
Good Luck
df

hallowitch

if you cant pay the £60 the council will go to court and get a liability order against you



its always advisable to go there will be someone from the council (they rent a room in court) you MUST speak to them this your chance to come to an arrangement to clear the debt

inform them that you are in receipt of benefits take proof with you and ask them to deduct payment from your benefits

you might also want to put it in writing and give the letter to them (get a receipt )

jamesd

I don't know if your local council will do it but mine would withdraw a final notice at least once if someone gets current and pays a month in advance. Worth a discussion with your local council if you can afford to do that. Ideally, be prepared to do it in the phone call when you have this discussion.

They won't want the hassle and cost or court action if they can come to some sort of arrangement.

The_Jokecentre_Plus

Just been to my court summons for £170 council tax bill. Never been to court before. After going through a metal detector I was sent up to court with all the potty mouthed convicts. The waiting room was also full of people who had not payed CT for what ever reason. They sent someone in from the council to speak to each person and agreed to take money from benefits via the national insurance number. In my case just £3.60 per week.

Screw the council tax. I would not pay if I could get away with it. If everyone did what they were told we would be robots.:p

RuthnJasper

The_Jokecentre_Plus wrote: »

Just been to my court summons for £170 council tax bill. Never been to court before. After going through a metal detector I was sent up to court with all the potty mouthed convicts. The waiting room was also full of people who had not payed CT for what ever reason. They sent someone in from the council to speak to each person and agreed to take money from benefits via the national insurance number. In my case just £3.60 per week.

Screw the council tax. I would not pay if I could get away with it. If everyone did what they were told we would be robots.:p

Idiot.

OP, the best thing is to talk to your Council direct, they might well accept payment of what was overdue in instalments, as someone else suggested. When I first moved in to my house I inadvertently missed my first month's-worth of CT (£83) and couldn't afford to pay it back all in one go. I spoke to them on the 'phone and they were fine about it and I paid it back over (I think) 6 months. Having said that, however, I dealt with it straight away rather than letting it get as far as talk of courts, etc.

You don't have anything to lose by trying to come to an arrangement with them; I'd definitely worth a try.

Best wishes. Hope all turns out well.