COURT SUMMONS - Council Tax

wordsay

Hello,
Thank you to anyone who is having a read of this. I am not sure where to post this so I have stuck it here.

Here is a basic break down of my situation, I'm going to keep it brief because I don't want to put a sob story soap opera we all have one I get that. I just need some basic advice.

Me:
- under community mental health service many mental health issues and I'm loaded to the head with pills, if you shake me you'll hear the 40 something a day I take.

- Partially sighted under hospital as out patient constantly
- unemployed, on benefits.

Half of the time I haven't got a clue what's going on, or what plane I am even on. Sometimes I'm here, sometimes my minds away it's just how it is.

With the cuts going on, I don't have enough money going around and about to pay council tax. I have tried to reason with them at times but they won't accept my offer and this has been going on for 2 years now.

The bill has got bigger and bigger, now they want £287 which I don't have, I have a court summons to appear in court on

27th June

I will not be able to make that day, I'll need to arrange someone to take me and bring me back as it's a good half hour in a car.

Can this date be changed? How do I do it?

sourcrates

wordsay wrote: »

I will not be able to make that day, I'll need to arrange someone to take me and bring me back as it's a good half hour in a car.

Can this date be changed? How do I do it?

Hi,


No expert on this subject, but there should be a number to call the court on, give them a ring and explain the situation.


Also contact your council, as this matter should never have been sent to court, you should ask them to take back the debt on the grounds that you are a vulnerable person.


They have a duty of care to treat you in a correct manner.

CIS

Also contact your council, as this matter should never have been sent to court, you should ask them to take back the debt on the grounds that you are a vulnerable person.

There's nothing in legislation to prevent a summons being issued due to vulnerability (vulnerability can be so subjective the legislation does not regard it).

Can this date be changed? How do I do it?

Start by asking the council to adjourn the hearing.

dancingfairy

Is it a council tax summons or are you personally being summonsed? If it's a bog standard council tax summons at the magistrates court then you never used to have to go( I don't know if it's changed recently?). You could go if you wished but basically has to state that they have billed the correct person and you were liable for council tax. Once the council had this order then they might consider a payment plan or a deduction from benefits or bailiffs etc etc.
What has happened before now?
Have you had a reminder letter?
Have you made any payments?
Do you have evidence of any letters you have sent offering a payment plan?
If you can it's good to pay them a set amount regularly even if it's not the full amount as it shows willing and shows you are not deliberately neglecting your council tax.
Have you got any support from a CPN or counsellor or psychiatrist, social worker?

Obviously if it's not a normal council tax summons but is actually a summons on you where you have to go then that's a different matter entirely. Have you sought help from one of the debt charities? Maybe try calling National Debtline or Stepchange?
df

CIS

If it's a bog standard council tax summons at the magistrates court then you never used to have to go( I don't know if it's changed recently?

There's no requirement to attend unless it for a committal hearing.

wordsay

Im clearly not understanding all these letters, sorry about the photo quality and thanks to anyone who's given help and time.

I cannot post a link to a photo of the letter as i am a new user so its a blocked function. But if anyone would be kind enough to have a look maybe post it for me id be most grateful.

DS4215

Have you applied for your council tax discount? - if you are unemployed and on benefits your payments could be zero anyway (unless this dates back to a time when you were working).

ShirePiskie

Hi

without prying, if you are under the community mental health service do you have a care worker/ CPN/ day centre you can ask to help you with this/ contact them on your behalf/ be with you when you make contact?