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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Spartaca · 15/01/2018 08:58

I can think of lots of jobs like that. My friend works on a superyacht for that sort of money, would only be looking at minimum wage at home. Likewise a lot of cruise ship jobs. They have contracted gratuities too.

The OP did make payments in Dec and Jan.

LIZS · 15/01/2018 09:00

If it really is only £200 (no outstanding amount from previous years or misclaiming single person discount etc) then call the council make an arrangement to pay a regular amount to clear it by March then Inform the court. Is your dh still working for the non paying employer. If he is so employable can he really not find something , if perhaps less lucrative and liable to tax, in UK. Are you genuinely clear he has received nothing in all that time but chooses to return.

mindutopia · 15/01/2018 09:05

Just call and talk to them. We also pay our council tax very irregularly. We run a business and our income is high at certain times of the year, but low at others and we have to balance things out according to that. We've never had an issue with council tax if we just call and have a chat. We get a court summons pretty much every year! The last payment is due in October (usually we pay have in May and half in October ish), but October is the end of our busy season, so we ALWAYS forget and get the court summons. It's never been a problem. We just call and talk with them and make a plan to pay. They realistically may want it sooner than later (before the court date), so you may have to find a way to pay (borrow it or cut other costs). But they won't take you to court if you're forthcoming and try to acommodate them.

Original poster

Socksey · 15/01/2018 09:10

I just spoke to a lovely lady.... who said it was set up wrong... set up to be paid over 10 months rather than 12.... she could see all my payments and with so little left to pay she rest it to 12 months and cancelled the summons....
Advised that if I'm in the same situation next year to call at the beginning of the year to ensure I was set up for 12 months again.
Thanks for the support here

OP posts:

GiraffesAreNotShort · 15/01/2018 09:16

Glad it worked out for you and pleased you felt that you weren't scolded. Like I said, I used to work in council tax. I was always as lovely as I could be because I knew it took guts to ring up especially when people were in arrears.

WalkingEverywhere · 15/01/2018 09:22

Ohh I'm so relieved for you! Now you can relax.
Phew!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/01/2018 09:22

"You really really need to find this money.
Oh just like that, because there are £200 trees growing in abundance.

I've never understood summon charges. If you can't pay your original bill. How can you pay the extra they add on.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/01/2018 09:23

Oh that's good.

AntiHop · 15/01/2018 09:26

What a relief. Well done.

scaryteacher · 15/01/2018 09:30

Aww There is a cost to obtaining the Liability Orders, and if CTax remains uncollected, then there is a shortfall in council funding, and we all pay more. It's like if people shoplift, that gets added into your shopping bill via the cost of your goods to make it up.

ReanimatedSGB · 15/01/2018 09:30

Glad you are sorted. I have had loads of these summonses (another one with erratic income) and am still alive and in my house, and they have all been paid off in due course.

tootiredtospeak · 15/01/2018 09:31

So glad it worked out but get onto Stepchange they’ll give you free impartial advice and steer you in the right direction if there are any additional benefits to be had. For example if your husband works abroad depending on how long he is away wouldn’t you get a reduction in council tax for him? Who knows best to get any advice you can.

CoffeeAndEnnui · 15/01/2018 09:40

So pleased it worked out for you. Came on to say that as long as you are open and honest about your situation (and have demonstrated a commitment to pay previously) you will always be allowed to work something out. The prospect of calling is always far scarier than the reality. Being polite and respectful and asking "What can I do to make this work?" is often all that is required.

My partner was medically retired several years ago and we have found ourselves robbing Peter to pay Paul quite regularly since. When money gets tight I am frequently guilty of ignoring post and putting things off but as soon as I woman up and get on the phone (or email, if I'm being a proper wuss) to explain our situation things get far easier.

ilovekitkats · 15/01/2018 09:41

OP, I pay mine over 12 months direct debit as our council allows that. It depends on your local council. It would be better if you could stick to a monthly payment by direct debit, but if you can't just ensure that you pay something each month.

I am glad that you have sorted it out and that the error was at their end.

I do miss having a payment break, but it is more important to me to be able to budget everything over 12 months.

scaryteacher · 15/01/2018 10:57

Tootired Nob reduction as the property would be his sole/main residence where he has security of tenure and a right to return to the property.

EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 15/01/2018 15:52

I’d double check that they have actually cancelled the summons. Maybe ring the Court a couple of days before the hearing. Are the Council sending you a letter to confirm what they’ve said?

x2boys · 15/01/2018 16:19

If you only have £200 to pay just phone them and set up an arrangement I have always found them to be helpful .

x2boys · 15/01/2018 16:22

I should have rtft glad it's sorted.

ThePants999 · 15/01/2018 20:33

Really glad you got it sorted OP, well done!

@Stoptherideiwannagetoff - that's dangerous misinformation, for anyone else reading this thread. What you said would be true of almost any other debt, but council tax is different. Councils don't report to the credit referencing agencies, so council tax arrears don't show up on your credit history - instead, you end up in court. And it's not true they can't do anything to you - people have gone to jail for non-payment of council tax, since it's a criminal matter rather than civil. Though, as has been said, that's reserved for people who are deliberately avoiding payment, they don't jail people who are simply struggling...

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