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Original poster

Council tax debt

20 replies

sheard · 20/04/2019 01:30

I've had a liability order against me for council tax due to sickness lost some income got behind both back working but struggling !not entitled to discount or benifit but can I try to reduce amount they want repayment back at due to reduction in income??anyone had this after a liability order has been made??

OP posts:

kamelo · 20/04/2019 02:39

Firstly double check you are not entitled to a council tax reduction, they are available for a number of circumstances.
Failing that, speak to the council and explain your circumstances. It's not that you don't want to pay, rather a can't pay so much in one go situation. They want payment and if it takes a little longer then so be it. They would rather slower payments than no payment at all.

Alicewond · 20/04/2019 02:45

Talk to them and arrange a repayment plan, but yes you will need to pay it

Backwoodsgirl · 20/04/2019 03:20

Talk to them and set up a payment plan, they seem very willing to set up something. when we left the UK we were a couple months behind, they sent us a couple letters to our new country but we never got round to responding. That was 4 years ago.

ivykaty44 · 20/04/2019 06:50

Have the council been taking the debt from your earning? Or have you agreed with the council a repayment plan for the outstanding debt?

If the latter go back to them and change the arrangement, are you keeping up with this years council tax? If you haven’t already ask if you can have both debts added together

ButDoYouAvocado · 20/04/2019 07:01

Several years ago we were in a similar situation. They were very happy to set up a plan. However I very stupidly paid late when we were struggling. The bailiffs were round very quickly and were not interested in negotiating.

Work out what you can afford and set up an arrangement ASAP, but get some advice on budgeting or what assistance you might be entitled to from somewhere like the CAB.

Original poster

sheard · 20/04/2019 15:59

No a arrangements in place but my situations changed and income dropped

OP posts:

Poppyfr33 · 20/04/2019 17:10

Send the council a breakdown of your income and expenditure and based on your net figure make an offer of payment towards the debt.

ivykaty44 · 20/04/2019 18:22

Op contact council tax and ask to set up a schedule for both the debt and this years council tax. Explain that you’ve been receiving less wages and want to be paying etc but a smaller amount for the moment

If it helps ask if you can pay weekly - they can set this up

Original poster

sheard · 20/04/2019 19:38

Ivykate44 thanks do you think they will negotiate it they said 200 per month and yes I'm up to date with this year's as only just started but tbh I can only afford around 50pm now paid 600 our 400 left

OP posts:

ivykaty44 · 21/04/2019 07:15

Ian sure they will try, obviously it needs to be paid by next March 2020

Is your lower income permanent? If so look st benefit calculators to see if you should be claiming U.C or council tax reduction and then claim ASAP

Otherwise you may want to visit citizen advice for a financial health check

Or if possible can we help you on here? What are your incomings and outgoings? Where could you shave a bit off

HotChocolateLover · 21/04/2019 07:33

Remember these few things.

You are the customer
They WANT your money
They DON’T want to take you to court

With this all in mind, tell them you have spoken to Step Change and they have advised you to pay higher priority debts first. All you can afford is £1 a month. It might sound unbelievable but we have £20k of debt right now and DH had £1300 from a debt with his previous wife and £2400 from somewhere I can’t remember and each are currently accepting £1 a month whereas before it was £60 and £20 respectively. It can be done but speak to the right people. The average customer service agent can’t agree to this, they probably have a special team so speak to them. Good luck.

ivykaty44 · 21/04/2019 07:50

Hotchocolateliver

The council have already taken op to court and got a liability order - so that they could if they need take the money directly from ops wages at a percentage - there are set percentages. The set percentage of an attachment to earnings is going to be more than a £ a time

Council tax and rent are priority, council tax is a tax and not like other bills as it can escalate very quickly from court to bailiff

HotChocolateLover · 21/04/2019 10:51

I appreciate what you’re saying @Ivy but these two debts were with debt collection agencies. At the end of the day, they can’t take what you haven’t got and there is never any harm in asking. OP, I would ask and don’t take the first ‘no’ for an answer.

HotChocolateLover · 21/04/2019 10:53

Forgot to say, when I said priority debts, I meant priority to me. As in ones charging interest. Those are the ones that Step Change always advise to pay first.

scaryteacher · 21/04/2019 11:11

You can be jailed for non payment. so it is a priority debt. When a Liability order has been obtained, then payment can be forced by attachment to earnings, bailiffs if necessary, and then in some cases, back to court for a warrant for prison.

hotchocolate They can and do want to take you to court for non payment, and it is mandatory to do so when past a certain point in the recovery procedure as laid down by an Act Of Parliament (LGFA 1992 iirc).

OP Two options.
1: Get them to include the arrears in this years debt over 11 or 12 months. Stick to it like glue.

2: Keep up to date with 19/20. Set up a Standing Order for the arrears at £50 per month if that's what you can afford, and it will be gone in 8 months if you only have £400 left to pay. Stick to both payments like glue.

3: For future years, please note that you can ask to pay over 12 months rather than 10. Ensure that this request is made well before the system shuts down for billing, so I'd be asking in February at the latest, and ask for the system to be flagged so that the 12 months happens.

ivykaty44 · 21/04/2019 17:29

Hotchoclate

The debt is not with a debt collection agency- its still with the council, next step is bailiff. Debt collection agency and bailiff are different

Council tax is not a bill like other utilities but a tax and you can be put in prison for non payment, I agree they can’t take what you haven’t got but they would say if you’re on a low income you could have put in for tax relief and they would signpost you to citizen advise for help

My advise would strongly be to try and claim relief as the op has had an income reduction. Then at the same time as trying for tax relief contact council to set up a sensible repayment plan. If then tax relief is applicable this years tax will reduce and op can contact council a second time to get another schedule for payment.

GreenButBlueButRed · 27/04/2019 11:20

Buy yourself some time, it’ll only get worse in terms of interest. File a complaint against the council for refusing to accept a reasonable offer. Speak to CAB and fill in a declaration of earnings & outgoings. If you file a complaint it’ll buy you at least 2 weeks they won’t take any further action for 2 weeks x

Original poster

sheard · 27/04/2019 22:29

I've paid the two hundred but cannot pay new ctax also

OP posts:

Zofloramummy · 27/04/2019 22:35

Then spread this months missing payment over the next 11 months so that you are up to date by the end of the financial year.

LIZS · 27/04/2019 22:40

If you miss two or more payments the council can demand the full amount the year. How quickly can you make it up?

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