Behind with council tax

bluwind

Hi all, I am looking for some advice/information regarding likely action.
I have religiously paid my council tax for over 10 years. Due to unforeseen circumstance I was late in paying my council tax in November - I paid it in December.
I subsequently missed my December payment and its looking like I wont be able to pay Januarys either; at least not by the 7th.
I am intending to pay both Decembers and Januarys on the 26th January.
I called "The Council" to explain my situation and was greeted by lots of insightful bits of information like "We can take you to court if you are late in paying" and "you only get 7 days from the date of your reminder to pay before we seek legal action".

My question: are they serious?, I have no money in my account save for the kids dinner money and bus fare. What is the likely result of me holding out until the 26th to pay them (Feb and March are council tax free months for me). To pay it would mean going back to a payday loan, I am finally clear of payday loans and never want to go there again.

Cheers

Rob

elsien

You may find this helpful.
http://m.england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/council_tax/council_tax_arrears

To enforce payment, they will have to go to the magistrates court first, by which time you're likely to have been able to pay it anyway. Don't take out a payday loan, try to contact the council again and if you have no joy on the phone, put your situation to them in writing.
Are you entitled to any council tax reduction at all?

fatbelly

Did you try phoning again to see if you could get someone more helpful?

There are (exactly) 3 months left of the tax year and you have little left to pay.

Ask to pay the remainder in 3 instalments on 26 Jan, Feb and Mar.

EssexHebridean

I'd be inclined to put things in writing too - that should avoid the issue of getting someone on the end of the phone who can't be bothered/wants to go to lunch/make a coffee/file their nails and thus is less than helpful. I seem to recall that councils now have to take seriously requests to pay over 12 months, rather than the traditional 10, too?

Regardless of what they say, put a plan in place, as much as anything else that will help your peace of mind.

Guest101

I had similar problem, phoned my council up and they were fine.


Had they not been, I would've written to them asking them for updated bill.


Once received I'd of written again making offer to pay.


By the time they had replied I'd of reached 26th (or in my case 27th) Jan and made the payment.