Blaby District Council

Summary

If you fall into arrears with the payment of your Council Tax, the Council will take action to secure the outstanding debt by issuing a summons.

The summons shows the amount outstanding, the costs incurred and the date and whereabouts of the court hearing.

Further information

The hearing

At the Court hearing, the Magistrates will consider the Council's application for a liability order. If the Council satisfies the Court that the correct procedures have been followed, then an order will be granted.

Your absence at the hearing will not prevent the hearing from proceeding and therefore it is important to attend if you wish to raise any objection to the Council's application. If you are going to attend the hearing, please advise the Council before the hearing.

The Court is not able to consider your ability to pay and if you wish to make an arrangement to pay you should contact the Recovery Section before the hearing.

If you pay in full (including the costs) before the hearing, the hearing will not proceed.

Liability order

A liability order enables the Council to recover the outstanding debts by various methods:

• A suitable payment arrangement
• Attachment of Earnings
• Deductions from certain types of Benefit
• Bailiffs (with a view to removing goods)
• Commencement of Bankruptcy
• Committal proceedings

Disputing Liability

If you dispute liability your attendance will be required at the hearing, unless your dispute is resolved to your satisfaction beforehand. Dependant upon the nature of your dispute you may also wish to seek advice from a solicitor, as only certain matters can be classed as valid dispute against the application of a liability order.

Accepting Liability

If you accept liability, but are unable to pay the arrears prior to the hearing, you do not need to attend the Court unless you wish to do so. However, you should contact the Recovery Section with a view to agreeing payment terms. If you do not contact us, once a liability order has been granted, we may take further action without prior notice.

Payment Proposals

If you accept liability for the amount outstanding, plus any prior years arrears, but are unable to pay in full, the Recovery Section will accept an arrangement from you to clear the arrears. Please contact them to agree terms.

Related pages on this website

• Making payments to Blaby District Council

Contact us

Officer / Team	Revenues Team
Postal address	Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP
E-mail address	revenues@blaby.gov.uk
Telephone	0116 272 7530
Fax	0116 272 7790

If you need this information in other languages or formats (large print, Braille or audio), please let us know when you contact us.

This page was last updated on 15th June 2009