£300 loan - council tax deferral

macman

HouseTargaryen said:

comeandgo said:

Don’t muck about with council tax.  If payments missed you are expected to pay the full year.  

That's ridiculous because if you can't afford one month, how can you pay 10? Definately not the policy up here.

As far as I can see, the legislation is the same as in England. If you don't pay the arrears within 7 days of the reminder (maximum of 2 reminders), then you lose the right to pay in instalments and the whole year's C Tax becomes due. How each LA enforces this is obviously another matter. C Tax is a priority debt and should be treated as such. It won't affect your credit history, but you may end up with a liability order, which has far more negative consequences tfor your finances than a late payment or default.
If you can't pay it in 10 instalments, them it obviously makes sense to request 12 monthly billing instead.

MalMonroe

HouseTargaryen said:

With the new council tax coming up in April, I wondered if I could not pay council tax for April and then call them up in May and say I can't afford to pay May either and instead ask to pay in 10 installments from June to March. That way I can im effect get an interest free £300 loan. I know someone who did this because they literally couldn't afford it. But I am a good blagger. This wouldn't effect my credit rating would it? 

If people genuinely can't afford council tax, can't they apply for benefits such as council tax reduction? And also, contact the council to let them know.

But in any case, where I live, if people choose to pay monthly rather than annually, it's automatically in 10 month instalments. If you wish, you can then phone and ask to spread it over twelve months instead. It doesn't save anything but the amounts paid are a tad smaller over 12 months. What you are planning is just paying it the other way around.

It doesn't matter whether you're a good blagger or not, you'll still have to pay your council tax. If you're having difficulty you can contact the council and they will put you on a special plan. . . but if you don't need to do it, why bother? Just phone them and ask to pay in 10 instalments if you really want to, that'll be fine I'm sure. No blagging necessary. In fact, I'm now thinking of doing the same thing. I know I won't gain anything but having two council tax-free months is beginning to appeal!