To expect to not be chased frequently for council tax debt during maternity leave

[Panicatthezoo]

I am due 2 grand in council tax payments, please spare the lecture and judgement I know it's stupid but these are from 8 years ago when frankly I did not have the money, it was eat or pay council tax.

I have recently been contacted about this debt, however im on maternity allowance at the moment and obviously on a very tight budget,
I do have a partner however these debts are from before we were together and frankly I don't think it's fair to drag him into it when it's from a time he wasn't in my life.

Can I defer paying this debt until I'm back in full time employment or will I be made to pay on the basis I have a partner (not married) in full time employment? Any advice would be appreciated.

I got very behind a few years back and yes I was sent a court summons and it could have turned very nasty - I spoke with them on a the phone, the advisor was brilliant and we came to an arrangement to pay an agreed monthly sum I could manage until it was paid off. Just bite the bullet and call them.

If you don't get intouch they will get intouch with your employer and likely just take it out your wage

OP the council obviously do not know that you are on maternity allowance (I am curious why you are as you say you went to uni 8 years ago to expand your earning potential and that you were working FT, so why not SMP?).

Simply contact them and arrange a plan to pay it back in small installments.

You shouldn't ignore this as they absolutely enforce that the debt is paid which will cost you far more in the long run.

I would try and arrange a payment plan asap as they can take you to court and settle without your knowledge. I had mine try and take me to court for £4 once so I am surprised they let you get up to £2k. I’ve also had a court order from them to pay just shy of £200 and didn’t know it had gone to court (about 15 years ago though!) I didn’t even know until Bailiffs turned up at my door. Tell them what you can afford to pay, I’m sure they would be okay if it’s not £1.

Just a warning everyone is saying to call
and set up a payment plan, but I had a very similar situation recently and a payment plan was refused. They said pay it all in 7 days or go to court. The councils have got too many people
not able to pay at the moment so they’re not giving any leniency.

Why would maternity leave get you out of paying money you owe?

Surely you and your partner discussed your joint outgoings and commitments - this being a priority one - before making the joint decision to have a child.

If the debt predated the partner it must also predate the decision to have a child?

But yes you need to talk to them and come up with a plan. I can’t see why this doesn’t come from joint income in your circumstances either.

in ops case it’s already gone to court and the standard template letters would have about making a spa or it goes to bailiffs

indeed if you do pay the full amount this stops court, it can also stop the costs for court action, councils will vary slightly on how they deal with this type of debt