Council tax payment difficulties
If you're having difficulties paying your council tax bill then
please get in touch with us on 01695 585090 to discuss a payment
arrangement. We will try to accommodate any reasonable offer. Don't
wait for a reminder or a summons to drop through your door.
What happens if I do not pay my council tax?
If you do not pay you will be sent a reminder. If your payments are
arriving late, you will still receive a reminder.
You must pay the amount on the reminder notice within seven days to
bring your account up to date - and you should continue to pay on
time otherwise you may lose the right to pay in instalments. If you
recieve a final notice then you will have lost the right to pay in
instalments. If you do not pay the full amount or reach a
satisfactory arrangement then a summons will be issued.
What happens if I do not pay after getting
reminders?
If you fail to pay after receiving reminders then your name will be
passed to the magistrates court - and a summons for non-payment
will be issued.
What happens now?
Once a summons has been issued West Lancashire District Council
will apply to the magistrates court for a liability order for the
full amount owed. Court costs of £55.00 will also be added to your
bill.
An arrangemet to pay form will be included with the summons. This
arrangement includes the costs that will be applied for at the
hearing. Paying the instalments does not prevent court
action.
Do I have to go to court?
It is your right to appear in court if you have been summonsed.
However, you do not have to attend court but the hearing will still
go ahead and West Lancashire District Council will still request
that £42.50 costs are awarded against you.
If you choose to attend court it is advisable to contact the
council tax section on 01695 585090.
At the hearing the magistrate will ask you if you have a valid
defence which would prevent a liability order being issued. A valid
defence maybe as follows:
· The bill has been paid in full
· You were never issued the bill
· You were never sent a reminder/final notice giving 7 days to
pay
· You were not sent the summons at least 7 days after the full
balance was due to be paid
West Lancashire District Council only have to prove that
notices were sent out to you. We do not have to prove that you
received them.
If there is no valid defence then the liability order will be
granted by the magistrates.
What happens next?
Once the liability order has been issued by the courts it gives the
local authority extra powers to recover outstanding council
tax.
We can:
· demand information about your job and/or benefits
· deduct money from your salary
· deduct money from your Income Support or Jobseekers
Allowance
· deduct money from your Allowance if you are an elected member of
the council
· use balliffs to take goods to sell to cover the amount you
owe
· ask for a "charging order" to be made against your property
· make you bankrupt, or put a company into liquidation
· apply for you to be sent to prison
Contact us
If you are having problems or you require further
information then please contact the council tax section on 01695
585090.
Related information
>
Benefits and payments enquiry form
>
DirectGov: problems with council tax payments
> Housing and council tax benefits
> Pay a
bill