Council Tax, rates and benefits systems changes
We've upgraded our Council Tax, business rates and Housing Benefits systems and added better and improved self-service features for all our customers.
Find out about making payment arrangements and information on final notices, court summons, recovery action and bailiffs.
If you do not pay your council tax, legal recovery action may be taken to get the money you owe.
If you cannot afford the payments that are shown on your council tax bill and want to request that your instalments are rearranged to make them more manageable, please contact us.
Have you fallen behind with your payments?
If you have had a reminder letter from us because you have not paid your council tax bill, you can:
- make payment of the outstanding amount to bring your account up to date
- request that your instalments are rearranged to make them more manageable
Contact us to make a payment arrangement request.
Have you had a final notice?
Your council tax is now overdue and the amount due for the rest of the year is payable. You should make payment of the full amount on the notice to avoid further action.
If you cannot afford the full payment on the notice, please contact us to discuss a payment plan.
If the payment is not made a summons will be sent and costs added to your account.
Have you had a summons for a court hearing?
You should make payment of the full amount of the summons before the court hearing to avoid further action and additional costs.
If you are unable to pay the full amount and costs included on the summons contact us.
Recovery action
If you don't make a payment or a payment arrangement, we may:
- pass your debt to an Enforcement Agent for collection
- deduct money from your wages - see how much this could be with our earnings calculator
- deduct money from your Benefit entitlement
- make you bankrupt or apply for a charge against your property
Enforcement agents
Enforcement agents, sometimes called bailiffs, are employed in appropriate cases of non-payment of monies due to the council.
Enforcement agents are instructed to collect the debt outstanding where a liability order has been obtained through the Magistrates Court and all other efforts to collect the debt have failed. Enforcement agents collect their costs directly from the charge payer and therefore the amount payable can be greatly increased.
Anyone experiencing difficulty paying their bill should contact us before the matter reaches this stage.