Can I make an Arrangement to pay my Council Tax? Will I have to pay any costs? Will I have to go to Court?
If you contact us before the Court Date, we may be able make a suitable payment arrangement with you. However the Council still need to ask the Magistrates to grant a Liability Order unless the Total Amount Due, including costs, is paid before the hearing date. If you can’t pay in full, the Council will apply for a Liability Order at the hearing.
If you contact us after the Court Date, we may make a suitable payment arrangement with you unless we have started any Recovery Action against you.
You can avoid further recovery action such as Enforcement Agents (previously known as bailiffs) or Attachment of Earnings Orders, by entering into a Special Arrangement (‘SPA’) to clear the debt.
You can use our on-line Special Arrangement payment plan facility. Alternatively please contact a Customer Advisor immediately
If you make an arrangement, payments must be made on or before the agreed date.
Costs
Summons Costs of £84.00 and Court Costs of £0.50 are included into the arrangement. However no further recovery action will be taken as long as you make the payments agreed in your Special Arrangement.
Court
All Council Tax hearings are held at Dudley Magistrates Court.
You have the right to appear before the Magistrates, but there is no need to attend the Court Hearing once an arrangement has been made if you do not want to do so.
Normally customers should only attend Court if they have one of the eight valid defences against a Liability Order.
Failing to Pay a Special Arrangement
If you do not keep to the Special Arrangement agreed with us then we will take Recovery Action against you. This could be:
- Enforcement Agents (previously known as bailiffs);
- Deductions taken directly from your wages/salary or state benefit;
- Bankruptcy proceedings being taken against you;
- A Charging Order placed on your home forcing it to be sold;
- Committal to prison.