Council Tax - Court Summons

John_Pierpoint

Psyientist wrote: »

Hi guys

Ive used MSE for advice before, but never posted.. Here goes..

Thanks to a rather controlling and dishonest ex, I have been left with several £500+ debts which I am starting to make my way through. However, one of them - council tax - is now landing me in court next week due to no less than £5000 outstanding debt, since 2010

I had no idea the bills were not being taken care of, nor that it had reached this point. I am no longer with the man and am currently unemployed, but awaiting a decision on whether I got one of two jobs I have had interviews for. Therefore I will be in a position to make regular payments in the near future, but do not have a bean to my name right now.

I will attend court as it is an actual enquiry into my means etc, ut the form they said was included was in fact, not, and I ony have my bank statements and other debt collection letters as any kind of real evidence to prove my finances for the period in question.

I am terrified of being sent to prison, but am trying to reassure myself that there might be something I can do to avoid this?

I have tried on severa occasions to contact the counci via phone and then email to provide a paper trail, but as yet have received no enmail reply, been cut off twice by mistake, and run out of credit twice.

Is it worth me emailing again, and then maybe trying to go down there in person, or wil they just say I need to attend the court hearing?

Also, will I be "in the dock" at this stage, or can I still deal with a council official/clerk on the day? I have no means to afford a solicitor, so am hoping there is a duty solicitor. I am going to the court tomorrow to make enquiries and will visit the council to at least try. Hopefully they will log my visit so I have some kind of proof that I am trying to amend this situation, and admit full responsibility for the devt and charges incurred.

Note to all - never allow a partner to contol the finances - joint bank accounts all the way.. ! (sorry, still somewhat bitter about the whole thing!)

Finallly, can anyone recommend a good company/contact to debt consolidation services? Id like to try and combine the outstanding debts for water and BT with council tax (if possible) and try to deal with one fixed amount each month?

Thank you for you time, any advice VERY gratefully received.

All the best,

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah,

Congratulations on facing up to the realities of your situation.

You can get some almost instant support and advice (some of it rather too "street wise" for my liking) as you are genuinely "in a jamb" financially.


Debt-Free Wannabe (57 Viewing)
Mutual support & help
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Bankruptcy & Living With It (7 Viewing)
IVA & DRO

It is very important to know your legal rights and prioritise your dealings with all your creditors; regardless of the hassling you will get from debt collectors.

Good luck - don't forget that what fails to kill you makes you stronger.

John.

Psyientist

Thanks guys - genuinely grateful for the advice. I will check out the links and get something sorted, but you have calmed me down slightly about the court date, I just want to get the ball rolling and start sorting this mess out!

Thanks again - happy tuesday

Sarah xx

Savvy_Sue

Psyientist wrote: »

Thank you for you time, any advice VERY gratefully received.

Some good advice already, but here's a link to the part of the main website where Martin deals with debt. You'll find there details of 'good' organisations to help with sorting the debt.

John_Pierpoint

Unfortunately the "good" ones can have a bit of a waiting list, where as the "spivs" can probably sign you up immediately.

NoNoDrama

So i've received a council tax summons for £155! (£80 outstanding council tax plus £75 for cost of obtaining summons). Now i won't pretend I didn't get the reminders, I had the money, it's just a pain paying on their website every month and the backward fools don't even have the option to set up a DD online, you have to post it! Behind the times or what.

The £80 I owe is actually January's payment but I've apparently lost my right to installments and should have paid the whole amount due last month when I got the red letter.

Seems i've been stung here. I've got the money, not a problem, but I don't want to pay the cost of summons £75. Why the hell should I if they are going to get their money before the due date in January? How do I get out of paying the summons? And why is the summons almost 100% of my o/s balance?

How can anyone say suggest this isn't a money making scheme?

fed_up_and_stressed

NoNoDrama wrote: »

So i've received a council tax summons for £155! (£80 outstanding council tax plus £75 for cost of obtaining summons). Now i won't pretend I didn't get the reminders, I had the money, it's just a pain paying on their website every month and the backward fools don't even have the option to set up a DD online, you have to post it! Behind the times or what.

The £80 I owe is actually January's payment but I've apparently lost my right to installments and should have paid the whole amount due last month when I got the red letter.

Seems i've been stung here. I've got the money, not a problem, but I don't want to pay the cost of summons £75. Why the hell should I if they are going to get their money before the due date in January? How do I get out of paying the summons? And why is the summons almost 100% of my o/s balance?

How can anyone say suggest this isn't a money making scheme?

You have not been stung... You have not paid them by the due date and as such are in effect being invoiced for the costs of the summons.

I think it is only fair that people who pay their council tax on time each and every month should not be subsidisng people who can't be bothered to post a direct debit mandate. In fact the thought makes me very cross.

...i would be VERY surprised if the council you are referring to don't allow the option of paying over the phone, making the payment online .. In the local council offices or other options .

Are you seriously trying to say THE ONLY way you could have paid on time AT ALL was by returning the postal dd mandate ? If so I don't believe it.

You are paying late so you are having to pay the extra costs associated with them chasing you e.g posting reminders compared to someone who pays on time each month.

Suck up the costs sunshine. You are not being "stung"

NoNoDrama

"Fed up and stressed", that comes across very well in your posts i will say.

I didn't say it was the only way to pay, the point was that it's draconian for them not to have it in place. Surely you can't be that dumb that you could not decipher that.

Can someone with actual knowledge of the situation tell me how on earth they come up with £75 costs for a summons?

00ec25

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Suck up the costs sunshine. You are not being "stung"

seconded,
you chose not to pay it on time and you chose not to use the available payment methods, you deserve what is coming to you. I have always paid by direct debit since the days of poll tax when everything was done by post. I have never been late with a payment and have therefore been subsiding people like you who cannot manage the simplest tasks for themselves.

PS the council do not have to justify the basis of the £75 cost as it is an admin fee which they set themselves. Obviously they have incurred time and resources in having to chase you which other council tax payers should not have to subside.
if you want to have another rant/raise your blood pressure further then read this which discusses the absence of any basis in "reasonable costs" for the summons charge
http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/council-tax-and-the-law/

NoNoDrama

It's the charge I dispute. How do they come up with the figure? It's a fraudulent figure they have come up with. Is it a set figure per council regardless of the amount owed?

00ec25

NoNoDrama wrote: »

It's the charge I dispute. How do they come up with the figure? It's a fraudulent figure they have come up with. Is it a set figure per council regardless of the amount owed?

it is a charge, it is no more "fraudulent" than the price Sainsbury charges for sausages compared to the (near identical) price Tesco charges. The council sets their own charges and charge what the market will bear