Need advice on a debt

NickPowell199124

Hi I have a debt on council tax and they have sent me a letter to attend court but can I call up to arrange a payment plan to avoid going ?

sourcrates

NickPowell199124 wrote: »

Hi I have a debt on council tax and they have sent me a letter to attend court but can I call up to arrange a payment plan to avoid going ?

Hi,

You can call them, and I would do so, but as legal action has now been started, I suspect they will follow through with it regardless, may depend on the council, some are more bloody minded than others.

Your council can ask a magistrate for a ‘liability order’ if you owe them unpaid Council Tax. This is a legal demand for payment. The council’s legal costs may be added to the money you owe. You’re allowed to go to the court and give your reasons for not paying if you want to.

bluemeany_2

I believe so, yes.

I've not done it for a personal account, but I have done it for properties at work (supported housing). It was in the context of working with people using supported housing and my company was responsible for the council tax, however letters got lost and we got about six court summons for various properties, complete with court date and additional court fee. I simply called them, informed them when we would pay, and they removed the added court fees and cancelled the summons.

However we were going to pay in full. I think they would accept a payment plan, I've found them to be quite reasonable.

fatbelly

Hi

I agree that phoning them and trying to sort a payment plan is the way forward.

The Magistrate's Court will be uninterested in why this is unpaid - they will just be rubber stamping the council's request. There is frankly no point attending the court for this. Even if you had an argument that you were not liable for the charge, it is best thrashed out with the council and your local councillor before court.

In your case you can just set up a payment plan but they may carry through with getting the order and charging you £40 for this. The main point is to stop it going to the next stage which is usually bailiffs who cause a nuisance and charge £310.

Nothing appears on your credit file.