Council Tax Summins

Willis75

This is for my daughter. She has just received in the post today a Court Summons for unpaid council tax for 2022/23. (roughly just over £1000)

It is the remnants of a 2 year billing when the council, despite requests from my daughter did not set up her bill for 2 years resulting in a bill of £5000 plus charges. She is up todate on current year.

She had been paying the arrears off at £100 month. She became very ill just over a year ago  and still is, and currently not working. When her works sick pay stopped she ended up …and is still on £90.50 per week UC roughly £360 per month. 

I did not realise that out of this small amount she was paying £100 per month plus £12 council tax support, £180 utility bills and going without food. Could not pay her mortgage and currently now sold house, car etc. and is homeless staying with various relatives until the council rehome her.

Anyway, she, with help contacted the council and got the arrears reduced to £20 per month. She has paid this religiously and it shows on her bank statements.

The council have not sent any letters..final demand etc., before legal action. The court date is in 10 days and if she wanted to challenge it, the letter said it had to be challenged at least 2 weeks before the hearing. Impossible as only just recieved the letter 10 days before.

The letter states she CANNOT attend the court. If she does she will be turned away.

We are at a loss as how to deal with this. Who do we contact at this late date. She is extremely vunerable and her medical condition is covered under the Equality Act 2010.

Can anyone advise please. Thanks

fatbelly

On the specific issue, you contact the council after the liability order. This is just rubber stamping what she owes and it means the debt will never go time barred. Get some sort of instalment arrangement. Even if she doesn't pay it.

On the more general point, she needs debt and benefit advice. Shame she did not do that earlier, or she may have been able to avoid losing the house. When she sold the house was she left with a surplus, or a shortfall? What happened to the surplus? Or the shortfall?

How can she be up to date on the current year when she is homeless?