Summons for non payment of council tax

Wkdwill

Hi

First of all sorry if this is in the wrong place.

Last month I forgot to pay my council tax, I know I was stupid to forget but I cant change the past can I, the reason I forgot is because my husband went back to work last month and we had to wait 3 weeks for his first wage, which left us living on £85 for 3 weeks, I have no idea how we did it but we managed, I got behind with all my bills but we caught up when he finally got paid.

So I realised on Tuesday night about the Council Tax and went to the post office Wednesday and paid it in full, well I actually paid £2 more but thats besides the point.

Then today ive received a Summons for non payment of Council Tax letter dated the same day I made the payment.

Which they have kindly added £50 to as Summons and Court Costs.

What should I do now? Is there anyway I could not have to pay the £50?

Thanks in advance

pennylane99

is it just one month missed?

they dont usually send court summons for one month, you get a reminder first

Trollfever

Visit your local CAB.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/d_council_tax_arrears.pdf

Wkdwill

What it is, we were in a private rented house last year and my husband got ill so we couldnt pay the full monthly amounts so we made an arangement to pay £50 a month then the landlady kicked us out as she wanted to move back in and we got a council house, but we still owed about £300 on the previous Council Tax which they added to our new Council Tax for the council house we had just moved into which took our monthly payments up to £120 a month, which we were staggering, I always phoned the Council Tax office up to tell them if any of my payments were going to be late and gave them dates I would be paying.

Well I only had one more payment to make and I rang them to say I would pay on a certain date when they sent me a reminder, well because my hubby went back to work and we were waiting for the wage I rang them again and told them our situation and that when he gets paid they will get paid, but when he got paid because there was so many bills to pay I forgot all about the Council Tax untill Tuesday night when I was washing up and spotted the reminder on the pin board.

I know its totally my fault I didnt pay it and theres no excuse for forgetting, but its just sods law that they wrote this letter the same day I paid it.

mightymouse

Hi

speak to them monday and normally the fee is waived if paid promptly, the court scenario is just a ruse to get more money.

kazwookie

Ring them again and explain calmly to them and see what happens.

This happened to me ages ago, I got the fee removed, and I have never been late since

Thomas99

If you can afford to pay on time from now (new job etc.), set up a Direct Debit so the payment won't be late in the future.

Wkdwill

Just to let you know I phoned them up today and told them that I had payed it the same day the letter was issued and they said thanks we will remove the £50 from your account.

So thanks everyone who replied.