Council Tax Debt Recovery

How we Recover Council Tax Debts

We send you a bill to tell you how much to pay and when by.
If you pay late we send you a reminder or final notice. If you do not pay you lose your right to pay by instalments. You must then pay the full amount (although we may agree to a different payment arrangement if you contact us). If you do not pay, we send you a summons, this will incur an additional charge.
We then go to court. If the court decides you are responsible for paying and you have not paid in full, they give a liability order. This means that we can collect the money by deductions from your Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or from your wages. We may send the debt to the Bailiffs and you will have to pay their fees. We can only use one of these options at a time, but we can change from one to another.
If you do not pay we can return to court. The court may decide to send you to prison, order you to pay, or tell us to write off part or all of the debt.

Your Questions Answered

Why Have I Been Sent a Summons?

We sent you a Council Tax bill telling you when payment should be made. You were then sent a reminder or final notice because one or more instalments were overdue.
As you have not paid, your right to pay by instalments has been withdrawn. The Summons is for the full amount plus court costs which are now added to the total due.

What if I paid recently?

If you have paid the full amount for the year please telephone the Revenues Helpline to check that your payment has been received.

What if I am unable to pay?

Arrangements to allow time to pay can be made by contacting us.

Can I still get help if I am on a low income?

You can claim Council Tax Benefit at any time. Please remember that benefit is normally only paid from the date of application.

I am a student. Do I have to pay?

You may be able to claim a reduction or an exemption from Council Tax. This will depend on the circumstances of any other residents. Please make immediate contact with us for further advice.
I have applied for Council Tax/ Housing Benefit but have not yet heard from you. What should I do?
Please make immediate contact with us.

Do I have to attend the Court Hearing?

No! A liability order will usually be granted in your absence. However it is your right to attend the Court Hearing to present your case if you feel that you are not liable to pay the Council Tax. However, it is quicker, easier and cheaper to sort it out before the hearing by contacting us to discuss your circumstances.

What is a liability order?

A liability order allows the Council to take further action without going back to the Court. This includes deducting the Council Tax from the Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or earnings or taking a person's goods and selling them to raise enough money to pay both the Council Tax and the Court costs. The Court may also allow us to charge for bringing the matter to Court

What happens if I attend Court?

Court staff will direct you to the Courtroom where the application will be heard. Council officers will also be there to help
Every effort will be made to ensure your application is dealt with promptly at the stated time. If there is not enough Court time your application may be put back to a later date
Please Note:
If, after hearing both sides, the Court is satisfied that you are liable, by law the Court must grant a Liability Order and cannot refuse to do so.

Can I bring my children with me?

There are no creche facilities at the Court. Children are not allowed into the Courts themselves.

What should I do if I need an interpreter?

If you need an interpreter please contact us before the Court hearing. It is unlikely an interpreter will be available at the Court if you have not contacted us first. You may bring your own interpreter

Can I bring a friend to represent me at Court?

Only the Magistrates at the hearing can agree to someone speaking on your behalf. The Magistrates have allowed reasonable requests in the past.

What should I do if I cannot attend the Court Hearing?

Contact us; you may not need to attend anyway.
I am disputing the Council's summons but need more time to prepare my case. What should I do?
If you wish to ask for the hearing to be adjourned you can write to the Court at the address on the Summons stating your reasons. The Magistrates will consider the request at the Court Hearing. (Please send us a copy of the letter).

What happens if I have moved home?

If you have not told us yet, please contact us before the Court Hearing

Is the information I give confidential?

Your Council Tax records are confidential and are protected by law from illegal disclosure.

Other people in the household have received a summons. Do we all have to pay the amount on the summons?

No! Every person named on the bill will receive a copy of the summons. Only one amount of Council Tax and court costs need to be paid

I am liable to pay Council Tax with someone else. I have paid my part but have now received a summons. Am I still liable for the remaining balance?

Yes. However the Council will pursue the other people for their part if you provide proof of payment. If we cannot recover the money from them you may still have to pay.

Useful Contacts

Equita Ltd (Debt Collection Service)

42-44 Henry Street
Northampton, NN1 4BZ
Tel: 0870 5581581 / 0870 5566665
Credit card hotline: 0870 1670707
Payments to be sent to Equita Ltd
Central Payments Ofice, PO Box 30,
Erith, DA8 1ZJ
http://www.equita.co.uk/
The chargepayer should contact the telephone number on the letter they receive.

This document was last updated on 2008-05-14 12:59:03 published by the Revenues and Benefits team. Document Reference:LBE_111503

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Directory: Home About Enfield Enfield events calendar Advice and benefits Business Community and living Council and democracy Education and learning Environment and planning Health and social care Housing Jobs and careers Leisure and culture Transport and streets Emergencies Contact us: Ask us a question Civic Centre Silver Street Enfield EN1 3XY Telephone: 020 8379 1000 Fax: 020 8379 4453 Textphone: 020 8379 4419 Note: Calls may be recorded. How to find us	A to Z of Services: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z .Translation. Council Tax Debt Recovery How we Recover Council Tax Debts We send you a bill to tell you how much to pay and when by. If you pay late we send you a reminder or final notice. If you do not pay you lose your right to pay by instalments. You must then pay the full amount (although we may agree to a different payment arrangement if you contact us). If you do not pay, we send you a summons, this will incur an additional charge. We then go to court. If the court decides you are responsible for paying and you have not paid in full, they give a liability order. This means that we can collect the money by deductions from your Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or from your wages. We may send the debt to the Bailiffs and you will have to pay their fees. We can only use one of these options at a time, but we can change from one to another. If you do not pay we can return to court. The court may decide to send you to prison, order you to pay, or tell us to write off part or all of the debt. Your Questions Answered Why Have I Been Sent a Summons? We sent you a Council Tax bill telling you when payment should be made. You were then sent a reminder or final notice because one or more instalments were overdue. As you have not paid, your right to pay by instalments has been withdrawn. The Summons is for the full amount plus court costs which are now added to the total due. What if I paid recently? If you have paid the full amount for the year please telephone the Revenues Helpline to check that your payment has been received. What if I am unable to pay? Arrangements to allow time to pay can be made by contacting us. Can I still get help if I am on a low income? You can claim Council Tax Benefit at any time. Please remember that benefit is normally only paid from the date of application. I am a student. Do I have to pay? You may be able to claim a reduction or an exemption from Council Tax. This will depend on the circumstances of any other residents. Please make immediate contact with us for further advice. I have applied for Council Tax/ Housing Benefit but have not yet heard from you. What should I do? Please make immediate contact with us. Do I have to attend the Court Hearing? No! A liability order will usually be granted in your absence. However it is your right to attend the Court Hearing to present your case if you feel that you are not liable to pay the Council Tax. However, it is quicker, easier and cheaper to sort it out before the hearing by contacting us to discuss your circumstances. What is a liability order? A liability order allows the Council to take further action without going back to the Court. This includes deducting the Council Tax from the Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or earnings or taking a person's goods and selling them to raise enough money to pay both the Council Tax and the Court costs. The Court may also allow us to charge for bringing the matter to Court What happens if I attend Court? Court staff will direct you to the Courtroom where the application will be heard. Council officers will also be there to help Every effort will be made to ensure your application is dealt with promptly at the stated time. If there is not enough Court time your application may be put back to a later date Please Note: If, after hearing both sides, the Court is satisfied that you are liable, by law the Court must grant a Liability Order and cannot refuse to do so. Can I bring my children with me? There are no creche facilities at the Court. Children are not allowed into the Courts themselves. What should I do if I need an interpreter? If you need an interpreter please contact us before the Court hearing. It is unlikely an interpreter will be available at the Court if you have not contacted us first. You may bring your own interpreter Can I bring a friend to represent me at Court? Only the Magistrates at the hearing can agree to someone speaking on your behalf. The Magistrates have allowed reasonable requests in the past. What should I do if I cannot attend the Court Hearing? Contact us; you may not need to attend anyway. I am disputing the Council's summons but need more time to prepare my case. What should I do? If you wish to ask for the hearing to be adjourned you can write to the Court at the address on the Summons stating your reasons. The Magistrates will consider the request at the Court Hearing. (Please send us a copy of the letter). What happens if I have moved home? If you have not told us yet, please contact us before the Court Hearing Is the information I give confidential? Your Council Tax records are confidential and are protected by law from illegal disclosure. Other people in the household have received a summons. Do we all have to pay the amount on the summons? No! Every person named on the bill will receive a copy of the summons. Only one amount of Council Tax and court costs need to be paid I am liable to pay Council Tax with someone else. I have paid my part but have now received a summons. Am I still liable for the remaining balance? Yes. However the Council will pursue the other people for their part if you provide proof of payment. If we cannot recover the money from them you may still have to pay. Useful Contacts Equita Ltd (Debt Collection Service) 42-44 Henry Street Northampton, NN1 4BZ Tel: 0870 5581581 / 0870 5566665 Credit card hotline: 0870 1670707 Payments to be sent to Equita Ltd Central Payments Ofice, PO Box 30, Erith, DA8 1ZJ http://www.equita.co.uk/ The chargepayer should contact the telephone number on the letter they receive. Contact Us and Useful Contacts This document was last updated on 2008-05-14 12:59:03 published by the Revenues and Benefits team. Document Reference:LBE_111503
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