Council Tax, Scott & Co looking for money

[LoraxxZeus]

Hi there,

 

I just got back from my honeymoon to realize I had failed to pay my council tax.

I had been given a reminder letter later June to remind me to pay it.

 

I forgot to do it before I left for my holiday and now Scott & Co are demanding £1269.47 in a one off payment,

which I simply don't have.

 

 

I never had the cash at the time to pay the £288 in the first place

(2 months worth, no idea why I got hit with 2 month at once, just moved here, possibly why?).

 

I have no idea what to do here,

they say in the letter they can take my property and freeze my bank accounts.

 

 

I have literally just moved house,

got a new job,

got married and to add insult to injury

my motorbike was stolen and the insurance refused to pay out,

leaving me with a £1800 settlement fee with the finance company.

 

I can easily afford to pay the monthly installments, I just can't afford to pay the whole whack up front.

 

Any idea what my best course of action is?

It's the weekend and their local offices appear to not be open.

[maroondevo52]

Hello and Welcome,

 

Have you received a Summary Warrant, or is this the only letter you've had from Scott & Co.

 

When you don't pay your Council Tax by the due date, the council should issue a reminder requesting the overdue amount to be paid within seven days. If you don't pay the amount due on the first reminder, you should be sent another reminder but the option to pay in instalments will be withdrawn, however, you will be given 14 more days to pay.

 

If you have received two reminders from the council about unpaid Council Tax and still have not paid, then the local authority can apply to the Sheriff Court for a summary warrant. If the council are granted a summary warrant they will send Scott & Co. your name, address, and the amount you owe, on top of the amount of Council Tax you owe, there will be an additional 10% penalty charge added for the summary warrant. Scott & Co. will send out a summary warrant stating the amount owed and how to pay it.

 

It is advisable to contact Scott & Co to come to a repayment arrangement, otherwise the council can obtain a charge for payment.