Thread: Council Tax Liability Hearing Question - Confused

Hi All,

Coniff has kindly answered many questions for me on behalf of my friend who has a liability summons due to be heard next week and there is one thing I am unclear on and don't want to mis-advise her............

In one thread, could have been in reply to a question by me or someone else on the site - I have read so many threads I can't remember what I have read and where - it was mentioned about if arrears had been settled before the date of the hearing then the liability hearing wouldn't go ahead but the summons fees would still be payable and these would be taken before anything else paid.

What I am unclear about is this..................

Are those arrears simply the back payments missed that led to the council issuing the summons in the first place or are those arrears the full amount of the years council tax?

I ask because my friend has jumped through hoops to make 3 months payments (the 2 months missed because she was in hospital and then the June payment) all before the end of may so, if anyone were to look at her account for the year to date split into monthly sums she has paid up to date. However, if it is the full year's council tax then she has only paid 3/10 of the years liability and so is still in arrears for the full years sum.

Sorry for the rambling thread here but I want to advise her and know there is no way she will be able to pay another £700+ before next tuesday.

Feebee_71

The reminders are issued for the balance outstanding for payments due to that date, once the reminder is not brought up to date within 7 days of the date it was issued then the full years balance becomes due immediately.

You cant only settle the balance which would have been due by the Court Date (i.e the missed instalments) , it needs to be the full years balance, as shown on the summons, to prevent the Liability Order being issued .

Sorry Feebee I should have made myself clearer. SS is correct.

Firstly, don't worry about the liability order, it doesn't really mean anything except they will be allowed to use lawful means to collect.

When the liability order has been granted, your friend should contact the council who will come to another arrangement for her to pay off the remainder of the year, it won't all be due at once.

The order will only really come into force if she should miss a payment under the new arrangement.

Thanks for the info guys,

I now understand it more so should be able to help her after next week.

Feebee_71