Court summons for Council Tax

[KevinWebster]

I received a court summons for not paying my last instalment of council tax, after the DD failed. My mental and physical health is suffering at the minute and I just kept forgetting to organise it. This is a current theme with me and I can't seem to get my act together.
Anyway, my court summons is for tomorrow. I have paid the bill tonight. Does anyone know if I need to attend? I'll call them first thing but it would help settle my already foggy brain if I had a heads up tonight.

I would attend if I were you, with proof that you've paid it.

Oh really? Calling in the morning, won't suffice? I haven't even told work! Hopefully this is a wake up I might need!

Yes. You will need to attend. The court will not know by tomorrow that you have paid. Take with you proof of the payment you have just made.

Be prepared to have to pay some court costs.

It is unusual to have a summons for one missed DD. Are you sure there are not more missed payments? Try to attend court with as much evidence of your payment history as you can.

Best wishes.

I think you can phone them and explain. You’ve paid so not a lot they can do. IMO there’s not a lot of help to people who are struggling with things like this.

Definitely attend with your receipt, even if its by email. They will likely just have it struck out. If you don't attend they may not recheck the account in the morning and may get a judgment against you anyway.

OP I would also book an appointment with your dr and get some help. Have you got ADHD as forgetting to pay bills and stuff can be symptomatic of it. Hope you get some help.

I used to work in Council Tax recovery. No need to attend at all, even had you not paid. The point of court is to obtain a liability order which gives the council further powers to collect the amount outstanding.

As long as you paid the amount on the summons including any costs it will be marked as paid and a liability order not granted, or further costs added.

When we attended court, anyone who turned up, unless absolutely insistent, never went in to see the magistrate.

As the DD failed, you have other financial issues? I would get in touch with Citizens Advice. They can help you get organised.

Thank you. It is absolutely one missed payment. My DD failed in January so they must have sent reminders that I have ignored. Tonight I paid my DD fee plus £60 summons cost. I don't even know how it came into my head today. I thought court was the 14th. I feel really stupid but like I said, I haven't been in the best place.

Thank you for all your kind words. @ThelmaDinkley I have had some time off work with stress and exhaustion. dr diagnosed b12 and folate anaemia so I've had a month of supplements but I don't think they've boosted me up enough. I am very often forgetful though and I'm sure I have some sort of extra need, wouldn't know where to start with help for that.

Thank you @EwwSprouts. I usually pay by DD and have been crap with money in the past but I thought I was getting somewhere! I'm an overspender but not a credit user because I know I'd go wild

I'd ignore the advice to call or not attend. You don't want the Council getting a liability order this time as if you miss another payment, they can then go straight to Bailiffs.

Got a feeling this is going to be a drip feed thread.

Have you had injections for the B12 diagnosis?

No I haven't @TheThingIsYeah. I have recently had another blood test to see whether the supplements have helped. Absolutely no drip feed intended. My issue is being worried about court and I'm trying to make pathetic excuses for it. I wasn't hoping for medical advice

I think you really need to attend with proof of payment.

I agree mostly with @Lizchaz and used to do similar work. The purpose of going would be to speak to the council rather than the court. My experience was that without going to court to demo the payment to the LA they wouldn't be aware of it on the day but if you've paid already there's probably little point as any LO wouldn't be enforceable.