Paying council tax over 12 months

monkeychops

I want to pay my council tax over 12 months but my council says you can only do this if you pay by direct debit.

I don't want to pay this way as OH is self employed so his earnings are not regular.

I moved last year and my previous council allowed payments over 12 months without direct debit.

Can the council insist on this?

[Deleted User]

monkeychops wrote: »

I don't want to pay this way as OH is self employed so his earnings are not regular.

That's really not a good reason not to pay by Direct Debit, I'm afraid.

Clearly, your Council Tax bill will come due every month whether you have funds in your Bank account or not.

So it's your own responsibility both to pay the bill and ensure there is sufficient money in the account.

To answer your question, your Council can indeed specify that monthly payments must be by Direct Debit. The fact that a different Council did not do that is irrelevant.

monkeychops

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

That's really not a good reason not to pay by Direct Debit, I'm afraid.

Clearly, your Council Tax bill will come due every month whether you have funds in your Bank account or not.

So it's your own responsibility both to pay the bill and ensure there is sufficient money in the account.

To answer your question, your Council can indeed specify that monthly payments must be by Direct Debit. The fact that a different Council did not do that is irrelevant.

I always pay my council tax. Never any problems in over 20 years. I do not like or want it to be by direct debit.

I do have funds in my bank to pay it but not necessarily on the date of a direct debit. I already have some debits going out at various times of the month.

I will just pay over 10 months then. I am not being dictated by the council as to what day I pay them

[Deleted User]

monkeychops wrote: »

I always pay my council tax. Never any problems in over 20 years. I do not like or want it to be by direct debit.

You need to direct your ire at your Council.

You asked a question, I merely answered it.

CIS

monkeychops wrote: »

I want to pay my council tax over 12 months but my council says you can only do this if you pay by direct debit.

I don't want to pay this way as OH is self employed so his earnings are not regular.

I moved last year and my previous council allowed payments over 12 months without direct debit.

Can the council insist on this?

Is this England ?

If so, legislation gives you the right to pay over 12 instalments, it is silent over the payment method (i.e legislation does not specify a specific payment method is required)

LMS123

I pay mine monthly over 10 months but not by DD. I ring an automated council phone number each month and pay via that with a debit card. The phone number is on the back of my council tax bill. However, if I miss a payment the council have the right to demand full payment and the "pay by phone" option will be withdrawn. So I have it on my calendar to ring them and pay each month.

Februarycat

I pay mine over 12 months but not by DD. When I changed mine from the normal 10 months I rang them up to ask about changing to 12, they just sent me out a new council tax bill showing the new amount. Might be worth giving them a ring.