Can you claim for council costs to your council bill if you have missed 2 payments

wolfgang_2

Hi

I have missed 2 payments on my council tax and they have sent me a summons for non payment of council tax.

They have said that the court costs are £3 and their costs are £50. I asked them to review their costs that they are charging, and they replied:

"The summons costs are broken down as follows:

£20.09 - Staffing cost - Staffing costs includes time spent preparing for
summonses to be issued, dealing with queries, attending court, monitoring
arrangements and doing follow up recovery work.

£25.39 - Support cost - Support costs are charges in relation to the computer system.

£4.52 - Supplies and services - Supplies and services include stationery,
postage and general office overheads.

The sum of £50.00 has been agreed by the Magistrates Court and the magistrates have, as always, absolute discretion in any case."

Are they allowed to charge these amounts or can these costs be contested?</PRE>
Thanks for any help you can provide.</PRE>
Wolfgang</PRE>

Palerie-head

Looks like their charges are water tight - and as they have been open and honest about how they have come to the £50 I don;t think you'll have much luck claiming that back.