Q. Why have you sent me a Reminder/Summons?

By law, the Council must send a Reminder if your instalments are not up to date.

Similarly, the Council can only issue 2 Reminder Notices on an account in any financial year. If you miss an instalment for the third time you lose the right to pay by instalments and will receive a Final Notice requesting the full outstanding balance.
 
Q. I have received a reminder but my instalment has already been paid.

If the payment has crossed with the reminder notice and has now been credited to your account no further action will be taken. If the payment has not been credited to your account you should contact the Council Tax Office immediately with details of the payment, including where and when it was made, and quoting any relevant receipt number. If the payment was by cheque you should check with your bank to see if the cheque has been cashed.

Q. Why have you sent me a Reminder Notice, as my bill will be paid by the end of March before the next bill is issued?

Your Council Tax is payable in up to 10 monthly instalments between April and January in a full year.

If you do not pay the instalments shown on your bill you will receive a Reminder Notice.

Q. I cannot pay the full amount shown on the Reminder Notice/Final Notice; what will happen?

You should contact the Council Tax Office immediately on 01507 329592 to discuss the matter.

By law, the Council must send a Reminder if your instalments are not up to date. The Council may consider making an arrangement for repayment of arrears and you should contact the Council Tax Office as soon as possible to discuss this.

Q. What is a Liability Order?

A liability order is issued by a Magistrates Court, on the complaint of the council, for non-payment of council tax. It gives the Council various powers, including the power to:

- Request Information
- Attach your Earnings
- Deduct money from Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance
- Seize goods and sell them to pay the debt using Bailiffs
- Commence Insolvency Proceedings
- Seek a Charging Order Against Property
- Committal to Prison

Please see Council Tax Liability Order for further information.

Q. I have received a request for information, what is it?

A liability order will have been granted by a Magistrates Court to enable the Council to collect their debt. This form must be completed - it is an offence not to complete the form, for which you can be prosecuted and fined.

Q. What is an Attachment of Earnings Order?

It is an instruction to your employer to deduct a percentage from your earnings to pay your debts to the Council.

Q. What is an Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance Deduction?

The council can request that the Department for Social Security/Department for Work and Pensions deduct the sum of £2.80 from certain benefits including Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance. This will be paid over to the council on a monthly basis until your debt is cleared.

Q. Why have the Bailiffs visited me?

They are calling to collect debts owed to the council for which a Liability Order has been granted. You must contact the Bailiffs or the Recovery Section in all cases.

Q. The Bailiffs have done something that I am not happy about; what can I do?

Contact the Debt Recovery Section on 01507 329457 or email debt.recovery@e-lindsey.gov.uk; the law regarding distress (seizing of goods) is very complicated.

Please Note: Even if you have an outstanding appeal against your Council Tax you must continue to pay the instalments until a decision has been reached.

Q. Can I go to prison?

If the council has tried all other options they may request that the Magistrates issue a summons for you to appear before them to explain why you have not paid your debt and to enquire into your means.

If the court are satisfied that you have had the means to pay the debt and that you have either willfully refused to pay the debt or that you have been culpably negligent in not paying the debt you may be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 3 months for each debt. The court may decide to postpone the imprisonment upon the payment of an agreed amount until the debt is paid. The court has the power to remit the debt or part of the debt if it sees fit.

Q. I have received a Committal Summons do I have to attend Court?

If you have received a committal summons you MUST attend court. If you do not attend a warrant for your arrest will be requested.

If you contact the Debt Recovery Section on 01507 329579 or email debt.recovery@e-lindsey.gov.uk, and make an offer to pay, which is accepted, you will then be advised of what to do.

If you pay in full including all costs you will not need to attend.

Q. I have been bailed to attend Court what do I do?

If you have been arrested by the police or a council officer and bailed to attend a committal hearing you should contact the Debt Recovery Section immediately on 01507 329457 or email debt.recovery@e-lindsey.gov.uk.

You must attend the Magistrates Court unless the debt is paid in full. If you do not attend, a warrant for your arrest without bail will be requested.

Q. I have been informed that the police called to arrest me, why?

This could be in connection with a debt owed to the Council, contact the Recovery Section immediately on 01507 329457 or email debt.recovery@e-lindsey.gov.uk.