Council Tax Costs Incurred

Simon1878

Not sure whether this is the right place to ask.

I moved out of my flat on 30th April and asked the council for a full and final bill on my council tax. This was £100.27 for last year and £57 for April. I intended to pay the majority of this if not all on this coming Friday (Payday from new job), I said this to them over the phone when I gave all my final details.

I've just received a letter with a court date of 9th June which doesn't bother me as I'll have paid it before then but what bothers me is the £60 they have charged me as an extra cost.

Is there any way around paying this £60, £60 when trying to get debt free and working really hard to do so is a proper kick in the teeth.

Simon1878

Also what is really disappointing is I'm looking through my letters now and the final bill that I asked for was sent on 21/04 stating that I owed the money which is fine but I'd have thought at least one chaser letter would have been sent threatining court action etc before it actually just went. It's left me a little surprised has this. Over 50% of the amount they are chasing.

skintpaul

I think most councils are getting hard on C/T arrears- most bills should be paid BEFORE end of the tax year, i think?

So, they are chasing for the £100 remaining from 2014/15 period.

Pay the basic amount, send copy / receipt to court, and see what happens!

Simon1878

skintpaul wrote: »

I think most councils are getting hard on C/T arrears- most bills should be paid BEFORE end of the tax year, i think?

So, they are chasing for the £100 remaining from 2014/15 period.

Pay the basic amount, send copy / receipt to court, and see what happens!

Do you think there is a possibility of the £60 being waivered or once it's got this far it's tough !!!!?

skintpaul

You can only ask! I doubt council would get fee refunded from court, so will be looking to recover costs incurred from you..

G_M

Bottom line is that £100 was outstanding at the end of the year. Not good!

Most people pay by regular direct debit spread over 10 (not 12) months, so that their CT is fully paid off by January, so to have a debt still owed in April is a no-no.

The £60 is not "Over 50% of the amount they are chasing." It is the court fee, which is a fixed amount whatever the debt.

booksurr

Simon1878 wrote: »

Not sure whether this is the right place to ask.

I moved out of my flat on 30th April and asked the council for a full and final bill on my council tax. This was £100.27 for last year and £57 for April. I intended to pay the majority of this if not all on this coming Friday (Payday from new job), I said this to them over the phone when I gave all my final details.

I've just received a letter with a court date of 9th June which doesn't bother me as I'll have paid it before then but what bothers me is the £60 they have charged me as an extra cost.

Is there any way around paying this £60, £60 when trying to get debt free and working really hard to do so is a proper kick in the teeth.

so by 1st April 2015 you had not paid off the 14/15 year's council tax despite the fact it is due in full by that date. Yet now you express surprise that you are being held to be late paying your tax and so must suffer the consequences?

CIS

After a closing demand notice is issued and not paid then a final notice giving 7 days for payment would have been issued before the court summons.

If the court costs are not paid then the council can continue to apply for a liability order for the costs shown on the summons - there may also be additional costs for the liability order.