Council tax arrears ....

Had a letter today from the council saying it has a liability order against us for council tax owed.
I called the council and spoke to one of the people in recovery. He said I have to pay £647 in the next 14 days or they will take further action.
I did say I could make a payment of £150 in the next 2 days but I couldn't afford the £647 in 14 days but he said that £ 150 was nit enough and only the £647 would be accepted to stop further action. I told him I didn't have that amount he said try and get it.
I don't know what to do.

Hi,

I've moved your thread to a more appropriate Forum.

Regards.

Scott.

Thanks but isn't this a debt issue??? That's why I used the debt forum to post this thread.

Originally Posted by hammers69

Had a letter today from the council saying it has a liability order against us for council tax owed.
I called the council and spoke to one of the people in recovery. He said I have to pay £647 in the next 14 days or they will take further action.
I did say I could make a payment of £150 in the next 2 days but I couldn't afford the £647 in 14 days but he said that £ 150 was nit enough and only the £647 would be accepted to stop further action. I told him I didn't have that amount he said try and get it.
I don't know what to do.

Was you aware of the liability order ?

No not until I got the letter this morning.

Originally Posted by hammers69

No not until I got the letter this morning.

In that case I would phone up the court and explain the situation..

I don't even know which court it was or when it happened. I am willing to pay it just can't afford the amount they are saying I have to pay or else

Hi,

I moved your thread here as it was a council tax debt and this Forum deals with council tax ect.

Do you want it moved back to General Debt ???

Once a liability order has been obtained, the council can then come to an arrangement to pay by instalments.
Ask them for a copy of the liability order by return of post.

The guy I spoke to said I have lost the right to pay by installments and the £647 has to be paid within 14 days. I want to know can they really force me to pay an amount I just don't have, unless I don't pay my rent... Which I don't want to do that and end up in a mess there too.

You need to put it in writing that you are only able to pay installments, take the letter in by hand and also cc it to your councilor and MP if needed.

They cannot make you pay it all in one go if you are not in a position to do so....that would be seen to be unreasonable of them. :-|

Originally Posted by hammers69

The guy I spoke to said I have lost the right to pay by installments and the £647 has to be paid within 14 days. I want to know can they really force me to pay an amount I just don't have, unless I don't pay my rent... Which I don't want to do that and end up in a mess there too.

Did you ever receive the summons ?

If he has received a summons then he should the same letter to the court as well.

Originally Posted by Allwood

If he has received a summons then he should the same letter to the court as well.

Don't understand what you are saying there allwood?

Originally Posted by hammers69

The guy I spoke to said I have lost the right to pay by installments and the £647 has to be paid within 14 days. I want to know can they really force me to pay an amount I just don't have, unless I don't pay my rent... Which I don't want to do that and end up in a mess there too.

The important thing here is not the right or not to pay by installments, but have they got a liability order.

Have you received any correspondence about being in arrears?

Originally Posted by Allwood

Sorry about that Conniff....

if he has got to go to court then it is always good to let the court know that he has made contact with the council and informed that he can only pay by installments.

It don't work like that. If the council are seeking a liability order, the judge 'cannot' take into account the ability to pay. It is a yes or no decision, either you owe tax in which the order will be granted or you don't and show that you don't and the order won't be granted.

There isn't a ccj sitting in the court for council tax as the granting of a liability order gives the council powers to send in bailiffs, make an attachment of earnings, get a charging order or if the arrears are shown to be because of willfull non payment, seek a prison sentence.

There is a liability order. I recieved it yesterday. No I didn't get a summons.

The non receipt of a summons is not really of any consequence in your case. There would have been no point at all in attending court to try and defend something that was indefensible.

You really should visit the council house and talk to someone, they will come to an arrangement, but you must remember, that any amount agreed will have to be paid alongside the present tax payments.

Failing to come to an agreement will mean other action is taken and that can be a deduction from any benefits you are receiving.
If they take the bailiff route, you must be given 7 days notice of one calling.

It seemed to me that the guy I spoke to in recovery wasn't up for making any arrangement other than pay the £647 we won't take further action. He gave me 14 days in which to do so which end on the 14th. He said by paying this amount in full I will show good will and will be able to carry on paying my council tax by installments. I havnt got all that at once plain & simple. Maybe I should just phone & pay as much as I have over the next 14 days and hope for the best.