What happens if I am late with council tax bill once?

[Lima89]

Anybody know?

Mines Feb and March I don't pay as I pay over 10 months. So useful as my sons bdays in march so that's his bday sorted with that money. They will just send you a letter. If you don't pay for ages you will get a summons to go to court but if you just call them they will let you set up a payment plan.

My son did this (ASD, I had left it to him to arrange at his request as stepping back from stronger support with life skills but he forgot for the first month in his new home). They sent him a guilt- tripping letter to say "most people " don't omit to pay council tax and they were sure he'd want to be a good citizen etc etc. He sorted out a DD after that but the emotional blackmail probably went over his head,lol.

This is the type on enquiry I deal with regularly in work (council customer services). If you were to walk into my work place, I would be helping you to fill out a council tax reduction form as it sounds like you might well be eligible. It is important to do this asap as the claim can only be backdated so far, so the sooner you get it in the better. I would then be phoning the council tax department for you and letting them know you had applied for reduction and sorting out a payment plan for you. Please contact your council, they will help.

Please phone them. I used to deal with hundreds of council tax accounts and if you speak to them and keep them informed they are unfailingly helpful. If you just don’t pay you run the risk of losing your right to pay in installments. You will end up with additional costs if you don’t engage with them (and a summons, also ££)

honestly they will help you if you phone them.

As someone who didn’t pay for months, I can tell you what happened to us. I was accidentally paying for our old address without realising (hadn’t put the new ref for our DD) and was ignoring the reminders as they always said “if you have paid before getting this letter ignore it”. We eventually got a final demand and then a court summons. Of course I rang them and explained what had happened (and how stupid I’d been) and it was all sorted. I think it took a good 6 to 9 months or so before they started sending final demands and then of course the court summons came last.

Don't leave it 6 months like I did and have Jacobs bailiffs at the door!

Definitely speak to citizen's advice. The council has the power to arrest your wages to cover ourstanding debt.