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Original poster

Council tax..... court summons

69 replies

Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:03

Hi....
Posting here for traffic as I need to call at 9am.
I have council tax to pay.... not disputing that.
My income is irregular so pay my council tax in irregular amounts as if I set up a direct debit it may sometimes bounce.
I have had letters from the council tax about non-payment.... I have also contacted them each time and been told it's ok and to keep paying.... so im in regular contact and making payments..... Last one was end November I think.
I got a court summons on Saturday.... there is £200 due on a £1700 Bill, which is less than I would have outstanding if I was paying by 12 month direct debit..... i cant do the 12 monrh dd as it might bounce etc
I am going to call them again today.
But I can't pay this off by the end of the month but I can by the end of March. If it goes to court they won't get the money any faster as I can't make it appear.
Does anyone have any advice before I call them?
Thanks

OP posts:
ThePants999 · 15/01/2018 08:07

You really, really need to find this money, and in future find a way to ensure a direct debit won't bounce. Council tax is the one debt whose non payment is a criminal offence, not a civil one, so you need to prioritise it above others. Borrow if you need to.

Timeforanamochango · 15/01/2018 08:08

If you’ve delayed payments they can issue a summons, it’s always due on 1st of month and your payment plan will be on your bill. If you’ve not stuck to this, You will have had reminders before hand.

Unless you can pay the full balance off (remaining amount for financial year plus court fees) before the court date you will have to let it go to court and set up a payment plan, this can be arranged now if you want to pay it off before the end of financial year.

The court order doesn’t give you a CCJ, you don’t need to attend and it literally is for the purposes of being able to instruct bailiffs etc if you make no effort to pay - a ‘formality’

I used to work for them, everyone freaks out when they get the summons. Truth is, hundreds of people get them and it doesn’t go against you so don’t freak out. Just call them and ask to set up a payment plan.

DancesWithOtters · 15/01/2018 08:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 15/01/2018 08:12

Isn't ct payable over 10 monthly installments, any default requires payment in full.

Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:13

Currently credit cards are maxed out.... bank account is almost at overdraft level.... my husband hasn't been paid from his job in over a year and is picking up some minimum wage stuff but our bills still are as if we had 2 incomes... ive ut everything that can be back to the bone and over Christmas I was doing extra work to bring in more money... Christmas was basic as I made extra council tax payments.... I got present for DS with vouchers from doing surveys.... I teach so long hours and No overtime so no way of getting extra money... I'm not trying to avoid paying it.... just trying to pay it within the 12 months.. ..

OP posts:
Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:15

All my bill have gone out for the month so it's not as if I could bounce something else to pay it.... if I had been paying by dd there would be al.ost £300 to pay

OP posts:
Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:15

Sorry.. .. I'm panicking....

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 15/01/2018 08:18

You need to find the money as they will take you to court. Once this is sort you need to start prioritising council tax. It needs to be paid as a high priority like your mortgage or rent. You should either pay in full or in the instalments.

Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:19

Thanks for that.... no there is just £200 left to pay off a £1700 bill

OP posts:
strangerhoesagain · 15/01/2018 08:19
Flowers
Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:20

I know what should happen.... I thought I was on top of it and not in arrears as I had spoken to them in November and they said it was fine and could see I was making payments....

OP posts:
NewYearNewUsername · 15/01/2018 08:20

You need to go to cab. If you are a one low income household you may be entitled to benefits, especially if you have kids. They should be able to help you figure this out. They may also pass you onto welfare rights or debt councillors if you have a team in your area to help you manage debts going forward.

They can also help with the council tax procedure and tell you what you need to do.

If you've not paid anything since November that's likely why you have this summons. A small regular monthly payment is usually a better option than larger but more sporadic payments.

Crumbs1 · 15/01/2018 08:21

You need to get to a citizens advice bureau today and get someone to help sort out your debts. Your bank might help if you make an appointment. You need to get credit card interest frozen. You might need a day a day off work to do this.
You need to go to Council and try to get a stay but as summons is issued it might be too late.
Why has your husband continued to work for someone who hasn’t paid him for a year. Together you need to get his money from his employer. Citizens advice might help with that too. Your bank might help with a loan over a longer period.

Figgygal · 15/01/2018 08:22

Clearly you can't go on like this why is your husband not working?

Have you been to any debt management charities for advice?

Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:22

I am looking for advice about how to approach them when I ring them in 40mins.... as I've never been in this situation.... it's the irregular but large payments that must be missing up the system... as I owe less than if paying by dd

OP posts:
ItStartedWithAKiss241 · 15/01/2018 08:22

This happened to me last week. Exact same reasons. I explained to a person who told me if I paid a chunk of it off I could then pay a bit next month and a bit the month after. X

Curtainshopping · 15/01/2018 08:23

Your husband hasn’t been paid in a year but has been working? What’s going on there?

Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:23

The problem is he works abroad and can only get min wage work when he comes home.. . He's owed a years pay plus the contracted gratuity for 10 years.... so about 100k....

OP posts:
Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:24

Otherwise he'd have left.... about £80k of that is the gratuity

OP posts:
NewYearNewUsername · 15/01/2018 08:24

If it gets to Court they will likely set a payment plan (they will take your finances into account) Once this is done you have to find the cash to stick to it to the letter.

It will be ok you just need to get proper advice and help to work out a plan. We don't know your circumstances so there's little we can do.

Keep talking to the council is the best advice. If you absolutely have to miss a payment one month then call them. The more you tell them the more they can do.

FreudianSlurp · 15/01/2018 08:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NewYearSunshine · 15/01/2018 08:25

With your erratic payments, it sounds as though you have arrears built up over time and the court summons is likely to be for an outstanding amount from an earlier period.
Do you have a clear statement showing the arrears/payments???

Council tax is one debt you must priorities as non-payment can quickly end up in court - unlike credit cards/loans which can result in poor credit rating/bankruptcy you can't end up in jail!!

Put simply pay your council tax before your credit card if you can't pay both!

Original poster
Socksey · 15/01/2018 08:25

Sorry guys.... I'm just panicking as I've never had this before and always managed to keep on top of everything even with the 50% cut in family income

OP posts:
EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 15/01/2018 08:26

Definitely go to CAB. There are 2 bills you always have to pay, one is rent or mortgage and the other is Council Tax. You really, really to pay the £200 before the Court hearing.

CAB may be able to help reduce your other bills. Around here you can get your water rates reduced if you are really struggling.

LagunaBubbles · 15/01/2018 08:26

He's owed a years pay plus the contracted gratuity for 10 years.... so about 100k....

Eh??