What happens if I don't pay? |
| Each year we issue you a Council Tax bill which tells you
how much to pay and when, this is known as your instalment
plan. | |
If you miss an instalment you will get a reminder notice
giving you seven working days to pay the missing instalment.
What happens if I am finding it difficult to pay on the 1st
of each month?
If you are finding difficult to pay on the 1st of
each month, consider paying by Direct Debit as this gives you a
choice of 5 payment dates and you can be sure that your payment
reaches us on time each month and you won't have to worry about
further recovery action being taken.
Download a
direct debit application form or contact our Customer Contact
Centre on 01952 383838 who can arrange for this to be set up.
What happens if I don't pay the amount as stated on the
reminder notice?
You must pay the amount stated on the reminder within seven days,
this will bring your account up to date, you will then need to pay
all your instalments on time. If you do not do so then you will
lose your right to pay by instalments and asked to pay the
remaining Council Tax in full.
If this is not paid, the Council will apply to the magistrates'
court for a Liability Order.
What happens next?
You will be sent a summons telling you when the court will consider
an application and how much the council is seeking to recover. This
will include the cost to the council of making the
application.
To stop this action, you will need to pay the full amount as stated
on the summons including the costs before the court date.
If you unable to pay the full amount before the court date, get in
touch with us straightaway, we may be able to agree a special pay
arrangement.
This will not stop court action and further court costs will be
incurred.
Court proceedings are dealt with by the magistrates' court not the
county court, therefore you credit rating will not be affected by
this action.
Do I have to go to Court?
You do not have to attend court, the Council will
still request that costs are awarded against you.
The court is obliged by law to issue a Liability Order unless you
have a defence to the application. It will be necessary for the
Court to know which of the following defences you will be relying
on:
1) That the amount due has not been demanded in accordance with
regulations made pursuant to the Local Government Finance Act
1992.
2) The the total amount due has been paid in full
3) The complaint for the Liability Order was made more than six
years after the day on which the sum became due.
It is not a defence to say that you can't afford to pay
If you have one of the above defences you will need to write to the
Council straight away, so that the court hearing can be adjourned
to a future date.
At the adjourned hearing you will be given your right to avail
yourself of a legal defence and the Council will be required to
give the Court full details of how the Council Tax has been
demanded.
Joint and Several Liability
Where two or more persons are jointly and severally liable to pay
Council Tax, summonses may be served on all liable parties for the
full amount including costs. We can then look to any of the jointly
and severally liable parties to pay the full amount of Council Tax
plus costs.
What are Liability Orders?
If a Liability Order is granted by the Court, the Council then have
certain powers to enforce payment of the sum due.
A Liability Order allows us to take any of the following action if
you do not pay:
- Demand information about your job or benefits
- Deduct money from your wages
- Deduct money from your Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance
(Income Based)
- Employ bailiffs to remove goods to sell to cover the amount you
owe
- Ask for a charging order to be made against your property
- Make you bankrupt
- Apply for you to be sent to prison
After the court date, we will issue a letter stating that we
have obtained a Liability Order and are requesting information
about your employment and earnings.
If you are unable to pay the sum due in full, you will need to
return the form with 14 days. We can then decide how to recover the
debt. You are legally required to give this information, it may
help you pay the bill.
Special Pay Arrangement
If you would like to make special pay arrangement to clear the debt
you will need to contact our Customer Contact Centre on 01952
383838.
Please note you are still required to return the letter we have
sent requesting information.
Whilst the arrangement is in place and you pay on time, no further
recovery action will be taken. Once you default, we will then carry
on with recovery action.
Attachment of Earnings Order
The Council can order your employer to recovery the amount direct
from your wages or salary and pay it straight to Council. This will
be a set percentage of your NET pay. Your employer may also charge
you a £1 adminstration fee.
Attachment of Benefits Order
If you are in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance
(Income Based) the Council may be able to apply for deductions from
the benefit. However, if you are in receipt of either of these
benefits, always check that you are in receipt of the correct
amount of Council Tax Benefit.
Bailiffs
If you haven't returned your letter within 14 days or you haven't
contacted us to make a special pay arrangement, bailiffs will be
instructed to visit you. Extra costs will be added to your account
when the bailiffs visit and any future arrangements will need to be
made with them.
We employ one bailiff company, who are:
Bristow & Sutor
Bartleet Road
Washford
Redditch
Worcestershire
B98 0FL
Tel: 0871 677 0070
Payment Difficulties
If you have any difficulty paying your Council Tax,
please contact the Customer Contact Centre on Telford (01952)
383838 as quickly as possible. Do not leave the matter until court
action has been taken, as this will result in you paying additional
costs. It is possible that an alternative payment arrangement can
be agreed with you, and formal recovery action can often be
avoided. | |
 |
| Please note - Some documents published before
1st December 2006 may contain incorrect contact
numbers. |
|