Non payment of council tax
Your council tax bill usually asks for your
council tax to be paid in instalments over 10 months. The
date you should pay is on your bill.
This is normally the 1st of the month, unless you decide to
pay by Direct Debit, then as an incentive to sign up we
offer three different payment dates (the Paying your council
tax page gives you full details of how to sign up for Direct
Debit - our most popular method of payment).
At any time, please contact our council tax team on
01992 785504 to discuss the notice you have received, we may be
able to help discuss a new payment plan.
What happens if you don't pay
First reminder
If an instalment is overdue, a reminder is issued for the amount
of the arrears. If payment of this amount is made
within seven days, your instalments can continue. If you
can not pay the amount of the arrears within seven days, you
lose the right to pay by instalments and the whole balance on your
council tax account is due to be paid. If you do not pay the
whole amount a Summons for non-payment will be issued.
Please be aware that a reminder is not sent every
month.
Second reminder
If you paid in full the arrears on your first reminder, but
you are late paying a further instalment a second reminder will be
issued. If payment of your arrears is made within seven
days then you can continue with your original instalment
plan. If you do not pay the arrears you will lose the
right to pay by instalments and you must pay the whole balance on
your council tax account within the next seven days or a
summons for non-payment will be issued.
You will not receive a further reminder, only two
reminders are issued in any one financial year.
Final notice
If another instalment is missed then the whole balance on your
council tax account becomes due and a Final Notice is issued, if
this is not paid within seven days then a Summons for
non-payment will be issued.
Summons
If you have not paid after receiving a reminder notice, or have
not paid the whole amount of the final notice then you will receive
a Summons for non-payment of your council tax. At this point
you will incur an additional £40.00 in costs. If you pay the
whole amount on the Summons including the costs then the case will
not go before the Magistrates Court.
If payment is not made in full then whatever balance remains
unpaid will go before the Magistrates Court to ask for a
Liability Order to be awarded to Borough of Broxbourne
Council. This entitles us to take further steps to recover
the debt from you.
Liability order
If the amount shown on the summons is not paid in full by the
court date the Council will apply to the Magistrates Court for a
liability order. An order will be granted to the Council if the
Court is satisfied that the Council has followed the correct
procedures in setting and requesting payment of the council
tax. This action will incur costs of £40.00 in addition to
the £40.00 summons costs already added.
Once granted the liability order provides the Council
with the option of the following enforcement powers.
- Request for information regarding your finances
- Payment arrangements
- Attachment of earnings order
- Deductions from benefits
- Bailiff action
- Bankruptcy proceedings
- Charging Order
- Committal to prison
Citizens advice bureau
For advice relating to debts you can contact your local
Citizens Advice Bureau at:-
Citizens Advice Bureau
Old Bishops College
Churchgate
Cheshunt
Herts
EN8 9XP
Phone: 01992 635858
OPENING HOURS:
Cheshunt CAB opening hours:
Monday
10.00am-3.00pm
Tuesday
10.00am-3.00pm
Wednesday 10.00am-1.00pm (Telephone
Enquiries Only)
Friday
10.00am-3.00pm
Additional sessions:
Hoddesdon Library, 98a High Street, Hoddesdon
Monday 5.30pm-7.30pm (General Advice)
One Stop Shop, 123 High Street, Waltham Cross
Wednesday 10.00am-1.00pm (General Advice)
One Stop Shop, Unit 42, Tower Centre, Hoddesdon
Monday 10.00am-12.30pm (General and Housing Advice)
Thursday 10.30am-1.00pm (General Advice)