If you are in arrears with
your Council Tax payments you need to address
the situation quickly. We can help.
What to
do if you have arrears
Step 1 is to establish
how much you can afford on top of your normal
council tax payments in order to repay the
arrears. Draw up a detailed income
and expenditure form including repayments
to your credit cards and loans.
If you have
any money left after your other costs, step
2 is to contact your local authority and
make an offer. Explain that the amount you
are offering will prevent any further arrears
and court costs. If your local authority will
not negotiate with you continue making the
payments to the authority (for further details
on what to do if your offer is refused see
below). You can either contact the authority
yourself or ask your local Citizens Advice
Bureau for help. Go to the website www.nacab.org.uk
for information on contacting your local CAB.
If you do
not have sufficient funds to make a repayment
offer you will need further advice. Step
3 is to contact one of the following organisations:
Payplan - The Free Debt Advice Agency
Freephone 0800 917 7823
Email: help@payplan.com
Web: www.payplan.com
Citizens Advice Bureaux - www.nacab.org.uk
National Debtline - 0808 808 4000
These organisations
will provide advice and help you work out
a repayment schedule.
If
your offer is refused
If your offer
is refused contact your local Citizens Advice
Bureau for help.
Some local
authorities insist arrears are paid before
you resume normal payments. If they refuse
to accept payments towards the current year
until the arrears are paid, then you should
consider making a complaint. Ask your local
councillor to help.
If this is
unsatisfactory, try the Local Government
Ombudsman on 020 79153210, and argue that
not allowing you to make payments for the
current year is allowing further arrears to
accumulate and further court costs to be incurred.
Payment
methods
There are
several possibilities for paying your Council
Tax bill:
1. Pay the
whole amount in one lump sum by cheque
at your local council offices.
2. Pay your bill by direct debit over ten
months, or by Girobank Transfer.
3. Pay your bill monthly or at shorter
intervals over the counter at your local
council offices in cash with a payment card.
4. Pay your bill with a swipe card
at your local council offices.
Steps
your local authority can take against you:
Within 28
days of non-payment of your council tax the
local authority can ask the Magistrates Court
to issue a court summons. It is likely that
the local authority will give you time to
make an offer of repayment for the arrears,
however, it is important to contact them straight
away.
If you have
not paid within 28 days and have missed two
payments previously the local authority is
entitled to ask for the full amount straight
away. It is still worth attempting to contact
them with suggested repayments as some local
authorities will consider your offer.
If you have
received a court summons and have not paid
the arrears, the local authority can then
ask the Magistrates Court to issue a liability
order. The outcome of this may be one of the
following:
 Deduction
from your wages through an attachment to earnings
Deduction
from Income Support
Deduction
from Jobseeker's Allowance
Instruct
a bailiff to seize goods from your home to
cover the amount of the arrears. For more
information on bailiffs click
here.
Council
Tax Benefit
You should
qualify for a discount of 25% from the local
authority if you are the only adult living
in your property.
If you or your family only has a low total
income you may be entitled to Council Tax
Benefit which will pay all or part of the
bill. It is important to claim this as soon
as possible as backdating is generally not
allowed. You may also claim Second Adult Rebate
or you may be entitled to a reduction if the
property has been adapted for people with
physical or mental disabilities.
Students are
exempt from paying Council Tax.
|