If you do not pay your Council Tax by the due date, we will take steps to recover the money you owe.
First reminder notice
We will send you a first reminder if you miss a payment and have not paid late before.
If you do not pay after receiving this reminder, you may:
- lose the right to pay by instalments
- be sent a court summons
- have to pay more than £100 in costs
Second reminder notice
We will send you a second reminder if you miss another payment. This means you have already received a first reminder and then paid that amount.
If you do not pay after receiving this reminder, you may:
- lose the right to pay by instalments
- be sent a court summons
- have to pay more than £100 in costs
Final notice
We will send you a final notice if you miss a payment for a third time, or were not entitled to pay by instalments. This means you must pay the full year’s Council Tax.
If you cannot pay in full, you should contact us to agree a payment plan (preferably by Direct Debit).
If you do not pay in full or agree a payment plan, you will be sent a court summons and may have to pay more than £100 in costs.
Court summons
If payment is still not received, you will be sent a court summons which includes £90.50 in court costs.
If you pay the full balance plus the £90.50 before the hearing date, we will not take any further action. The summons covers the full year’s Council Tax up to the end of March.
If you cannot pay in full plus the £90.50 before the hearing date, you can email revs@enfield.gov.uk to agree a payment plan. Make sure you include your Council Tax number in the subject line inside angled brackets, for example <12345678>. You will also need to pay an extra £32.40 for the liability order costs incurred by the council.
If you own or rent the property with someone else and both of your names are on the bill, they will also receive a court summons. You only need to pay one ‘total due’ amount. You do not both need to pay.
Court hearing
You do not have to attend the court hearing unless you have a legal defence against the liability order or you want to challenge the costs.
You have the right to attend if you believe you are not liable for the Council Tax and want to present your case. If you do not attend, the court will grant a liability order in your absence.
Liability order notice
If the court grants a liability order, it allows us to take further action to recover the money you owe.
If you still cannot pay, we may:
- agree a payment plan with you
- take money from your benefits (such as Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or ESA)
- take money from your earnings
- arrange for enforcement agents to recover the money you owe. To find out more about bailiffs visit, GOV.UK bailiff powers when they visit your home. This action is covered by The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013.
- make you bankrupt or insolvent
- place a charge on your property
- apply for your committal to prison
Enforcement agents
We may pass your case to enforcement agents if:
- you have not made a payment arrangement
- you made an arrangement but did not keep to it
The enforcement agent will contact you to discuss payment. Once your case is with an enforcement agent, extra fees will be added to your debt. These are:
| Stage of process | Fixed fee | Extra for debts over £1,900 |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance – contacting you about your debt | £79 | None |
| Enforcement – visiting your home | £247 | 7.5% |
| Sale – taking and selling your belongings | £116 | 7.5% |
Enforcement agents working with Enfield Council are Newlyn PLC, Marston, and CDER Group.
If you have already received a letter from an enforcement agent, you must contact them directly – not the council.
Enforcement agent contact details
- Newlyn PLC
Phone: 01604 633001
Email: contact@newlynplc.co.uk - Marston
Phone: 0333 320 2155
Email: generalenquiries@marstonholdings.co.uk - CDER Group
Phone: 0330 460 5295
Email: info@cdergroup.co.uk or customercare@cdergroup.co.uk