Council Tax Court Summons

Jonny_Wills

Hi All

I feel that my council is using a stacked system to rinse me again. They have sent me a Summons out of nowhere adding a hundred pound fee.

The thing is they gave no warning that I was in arrears or that they were preparing for this action. My instinct tells me that they have to have prepared the grounds to be able to spring a summons?

By this I mean they would have had to have told me, not just expected me to pay the council tax because I have an online account. As it stands I have been unwell and paying off a previous council tax amount, so i am surprised they haven't alerted me or simply combined the two sums.

What can I do? Is there any legal recourse I can take? For example highlighting they have not observed a correct procedure before going to court?

Any help or pointers gratefully appreciated.

Kind regards,
J

elsien

Do you not check your online account?
are there any notifications on there?

fatbelly

The first thing to do is to talk to them. I take it that the debt you are already paying is for a previous year. Is the latest one for year 23/24?

I suspect they want a liability order on it so they can stack it against the other one. There is no real requirement for this, with the extra fees, but all councils do it.

I take it that paying it off in one lump is not an option for you?

Have you got any discounts, like single person discount that you may be entitled to?

Are you claiming council tax support?

Do you have other debts?

thebullsback

its a Tax it has to be paid.

lincroft1710

Are you in arrears?

Has a payment failed to go out?

It would be very unusual for a council to issue a summons for CT arrears/non payment without good reason.