Help, council tax summons has come,what do I do?

spinningsheep

Hi, I missed a payment on the council tax and I was misinformed by an advisor on the phone to Stoke on Trent City council. he advised me that as we were going to be moving this month anyway, to get a DD from from my local centre in town and that by completing this, it would give a month's grace, and as we were moving anyway, we could pay the "arrears" then when we organise the new council tax bill at the new house. So, I went and got this form, filled it in, handed it in at the office and was told it would be forwarded on. This was last Weds. I called them today to confirm they have recieved it, and was told no they haven't and a summons has been issued for the full amount owed for the year! And there are no notes by the previous advisor to say he advised me to do this. All the notes say are that he advised me to fill in a DD form as I wanted to pay by DD, no mention of my query on the arrears. Well they are telling me to wait for the summons to come in the next few days, and then ONCE the DD form turns up, they will cancel the summons as the setting up of a DD automatically does this. Is this right or should I worry? I offered to pay the £70 there and then by card but they said its too late. I am fuming that the advisor's miss advice has caused this. I am moving house next Thurs and could do without this extra stress. Will I have to go to court or will bailiffs turn up at my house. I am dead worried, any help or info appreciated. I am a bit dubious about the advice from the helpline as I have been misadvised by them once now already.

Princess_Jane

I'm sure someone better equipped than me will come along, but I thought if you made a reasonable offer to pay, then the council would take it.

My SIL got to the point of having bailiffs at the door for non-payment (very silly girl) and had to be bailed out on the spot.

It's the one bill you can't muck about with, not suggesting you were.

immoral_angeluk

I would put in a complaint. Seems that there's been a serious communication problem with them so definately complain and they'll looki into it and get it sorted.

didi_nodebt

Hi I had the baliffs round my door this morning (I posted Council Tax arreas & Balliffs)for missing a couple of payments which I was informed would be rolled over onto this years payemnt but apprently not...

first thing first its never too late too pay....use the automated payment or pay online...just pay the £70 outstanding, then call the Council back explain what happened and that you have paid the outstanding amount, and if the person is unhelpful then call back and hope you get someone else...in my case the guy I spoke to was so unhelpful to the point of patronising rudeness but when I called back I spoke to a totally different person and they gave me the facts I needed.

There is no grace period with DD CT its just that it takes a month to kick in...

Once you've paid, its harder for them to pursue the summons and even if you in the preocess of moving, please dont stop paying till you re in your new place, then if you have over paid, ask for a refund...council dont give payment holidays...not in london anyway....hope that helps

spinningsheep

Hi guys, thanks for the prompt advice. I decided to call them back again and asked to speak to a manager, who then informed me that the person I spoke to this morning HAD told me the wrong info again, and apologised as both members of staff are agency workers and haven't been there long. And that my problem how!! Their mistakes could have ended up sending baillifs to my door! Anyway, the manager took payment from me there and then, and they have cancelled the summons completely. Result. I am very relieved!!

immoral_angeluk

spinningsheep wrote: »

Hi guys, thanks for the prompt advice. I decided to call them back again and asked to speak to a manager, who then informed me that the person I spoke to this morning HAD told me the wrong info again, and apologised as both members of staff are agency workers and haven't been there long. And that my problem how!! Their mistakes could have ended up sending baillifs to my door! Anyway, the manager took payment from me there and then, and they have cancelled the summons completely. Result. I am very relieved!!

That's a great result.. nice one.

sammy115

From what I understand they are right, they will receive your DD and then realign your payments over the remaining period. I think they have been a bit too aggressive with their wording. They will not have sent you a summons for one missed payment, but they will have sent you a letter along the lines of a default saying that as you have missed one payment the whole amount automatically becomes due.