council tax summons

mummy2jake

i have been told that as i have not paid this years council tax in full (£424 outstanding) that in order to come up with a payment schedule i can afford they need to issue a summons first.
does this mean i will be taken to court and if so do i actually have to go to court in person?

fermi

There's nothing to stop them agreeing a payment plan befor the court hearing.

Have a read through: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/d_council_tax_arrears.pdf

You will be sent a summons. This is a court document telling you how much the council says you owe and the date and time of the hearing where the court will consider whether to make the liability order. The council can add costs to the amount you owe to pay for the liability order.

You should contact the council and try to make arrangements to pay off the debt before the hearing. You won't be able to do this at the hearing itself. The council might agree to let you pay off the debt in instalments, if you can't afford to pay it all straight away. If you do make an agreement to pay, the council may be willing to cancel the summons or to cancel (waive) the court costs, provided you keep to the arrangement.

I would suggest you contact the council ASAP.

beanielou

AFAIK you dont have to go to court.
You will get a 'time to pay'order which means you can fill in an inc/exp form & agree the payments that you can afford