Summoned to court over £35 council tax arrears

Pennywise_guy

Good time of day to everyone.

I've been paying all my bill, including council tax and never had any similar problem, thus I count on collective experience and knowledge of this forum.

Today I received a summon to the Magistrates court over a miserable £35 council tax arrears. I was unfortunate enough, to forget to pay this amount on time, when I received a reminder letter, as all of us does once in a while.

However, I would be happy to pay these £35 to council right away, if only it was not for council now demanding me to pay £1000 outstanding council tax for 2014/2015 and extra £45 which is. :shocked:

In my honest opinion, council escalated this whole thing too quickly, after sending one letter and treats me as if I am someone who owed thousands of pounds for years, never showing any desire to pay. Feels like living in gangster movie, where you get your legs broken if you are a bit late with your payment.

Please advise what course of action should I take not to pay the whole lump sum that council demands right away?

arbroath_lass

This is normal, you get one reminder then if unpaid, or the next time a payment is late, the whole year's is due. Call your council, apologise and ask very nicely if they will let you bring the account up to date.

fatbelly

Most councils will still allow you to set up a payment plan to clear the whole sum in whatever remains of the tax year, but will still press on with the liability order. You will need to be talking to them about a payment plan or they will be passing it to bailiffs with £310 of extra charges.

Check you're getting any Council Tax support that you are entitled to, and whether there is any hardship scheme you might be able to use.

CIS

In my honest opinion, council escalated this whole thing too quickly, after sending one letter and treats me as if I am someone who owed thousands of pounds for years, never showing any desire to pay. Feels like living in gangster movie, where you get your legs broken if you are a bit late with your payment.

The recovery process is set in legislation.

You need to contact the council to discuss a payment arrangement.

dancingfairy

As you have messed up the council has removed your priviledge of paying in installments and the whole years council tax bill becomes due. You need to get on the phone to them and explain it was a genuine error and ask to have the monthly installments put back in place. It will very much vary council to council whether they will be happy to give you another chance or whether they will go to court for the liability order.
If when you phone up they are unable/unwilling to help then it would be best to put it in writing to them. This shows that you are trying your best and are not refusing to pay. If any of your usual installments are due you should pay them as normal during this time.
You may feel it is unfair but due to the volumes the councils have to follow the legislation as they just don't have the time and resources to judge each case individually the first time someone misses a payment. There are unfortunately too many people who try to take advantage and not pay/pay late repeatedly/come up with excuses I'm afraid which is why there is a blanket system
df

dancingfairy

The reason they go to court fairly quickly is because it means if they then agree a payment plan with people and they don't stick to it then they can go for bailiffs or some other form of enforcement such as an attachment to earnings etc. Otherwise you end up with the silly situation where you say sorry I was late, it won't happen again, they have to cancel the court summons, you then pay late, they then apply to court again, you come up with another excuses and round and round it goes....
(I'm not saying you would do that but some people do try this).
df

CIS

(I'm not saying you would do that but some people do try this).

It's very common for people to try this though - catches out most new staff at least once or twice.

longtermplanner

Contact a local councillor. Often useful in this sort of situation.

dancingfairy

I just wondering why they have said this. Did you not get a first reminder letter? Have you been even a day late previously this year?
If you are allowed to pay in installments then it might be wise to set up a standing order or direct debit.
It sounds like this could turn out to be a very expensive mistake. Your best bet is to grovel and be apologetic.
df

CIS

longtermplanner wrote: »

Contact a local councillor. Often useful in this sort of situation.

Why ? - the OP has clearly indicate he hasn't paid and the council have taken the correct action

chanz4

pay the amount then goto court if they refuse, tell the judge no arrears and have it kicked out