Recovery process and charges
The process below details how your debt can increase.
A bill detailing your payment plan will be issued, and all payments should be in line with this instalment plan.
If you fall behind on your payments in the first instance, a reminder recovery notice will be issued asking for payment to be made within 7 days. If you do not make the payment within 7 days, you may lose the right to continue paying by instalments.
If you fall behind a second time, we will send out a second reminder recovery notice asking for payment to be made within 7 days.
If you fall behind a third time, a final recovery notice will be issued, and you lose the right to pay by instalments. Payment in full will be requested within 14 days.
If you do not pay the amount requested in any of the three notices, a magistrate's court summons will be requested, incurring a court cost of £75. Other costs in the early stage of recovery are but are not limited to:
A text transcript below describes the costs in the early stage of recovery for council tax.
The first box contains the text "Reminder Letters", followed by a right-pointing arrow to the second box.
The second box contains "A Summons costs you £75", followed by a right-pointing arrow to the third box.
The third box contains the text "Liability Order", followed by three right-pointing arrows on top of each other.
In the top row of the two side-by-side boxes, the first box contains the text "Deductions taken from your benefits like Universal Credit or Job Seekers allowance". The second box contains "Deductions taken from your wages and costs you each time your employer deducts".
In the middle row of the two side-by-side boxes is a box containing "Contact us to set up an arrangement" and a second box containing "No additional cost to you".
In the bottom row of the two side-by-side boxes is a box containing "Enforcement letter costs you £75 and £150 in total, which does not apply if you received Council Tax Support". This box is followed by a second box containing "Enforcement visit costs you £235 and £385 in total, does not apply if you received Council Tax Support".
End of transcript.
Page last updated: 5 October 2023
