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Council Tax Arrears - Pending Comittal, please help!!!

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dizziekat
dizziekat Posts: 3 Newbie
edited 14 October 2013 at 12:36AM in Consumer rights
Hi guys,

I have some council tax arrears from 03/04 and 04/05. I did have a payment plan in place for these but defaulted about two months ago when I came into financial difficulty.

I have now received a letter (dated 29/09/13, only just opened it as just found it tucked behind my unit) stating unless payment is made in full within 7 days, they will take me to court to consider my committal to prison. Im even more worried now as the 7 days has passed and I have nothing to offer them until I get paid on the 31st. I literally have a few pounds until then, and that's needed for gas, elec and food.

My question is, are these legally enforceable anyway seen as the debt is so old. The total value is just under £400.

Hope someone can help....

** Should have said, I live in Wales

Comments

  • keyser666
    keyser666 Posts: 2,140 Forumite
    These are enforceable.

    What you should do is contact them and state you had difficulty, explain what this was and if need be they will either accept a new offer of repayment or they will ask for it to go to court. If so do not worry, state what the change was and difficulty and explain to the court. You must demonstrate one thing and that is you are not refusing to pay nor are you evading it. Very rare to be committed to prison, normal circs are people willfully stating they aren't going to pay it.

    Dont worry or fret you will be fine.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,929 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Go and pay something on the account. Even if its a £1 or so. It shows your willing to pay something and not refusing.

    A little and often is better than nothing.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • I tried calling them earlier but unfortunately they were closed.

    I have however sent them an email explaining everything, and have made a payment of £1 of each account. Its not much but its something.

    I shall let you know how I get on xxx
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,297 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Has there already been one court hearing (perhaps one you missed)?

    Normally they would issue a Summons for a hearing at a magistrates' court, where they would apply for a liability order. Effectively, that is the court confirming that you owe the money. Once they have a liability order, if you still don't pay they can take you back to court for a commital hearing. At this stage the court has to ask about your financial situation and consider whether you are able to pay: it is only if you refuse to make a payment that, in the court's opinion, you could afford to make, that there is any possibility of prison.
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