LBBD Council

MW123 · August 2024

A liability order for unpaid council tax in the UK is usually issued by a Magistrates Court, not a County Court. When you do not pay your council tax after receiving reminders, the council can ask the Magistrates Court to issue a summons for a hearing.

The Magistrates will not consider arguments unless they are valid defences (you should have received a list of valid defences with the summons) or take your financial situation into account when deciding whether to issue the liability order. However, the council will consider your financial situation when discussing how you will repay this debt once the order has been made. This is why it is so important to contact the council tax department immediately regarding this summons.

You have mentioned several times that you have asked your housing officer to visit. While I understand they may handle rent related issues, I am not sure their role extends to council tax matters. It might be worth double checking with your council tax department, as housing officers likely have a different role than council tax officers, which could explain why no one has contacted you about this issue.

Thunderbird, I know this situation must be stressful for you and your wife. Seeking help from AGE UK could be very beneficial. They can offer face-to-face support and advice on any benefits or other assistance you might be entitled to.

Unknown · August 2024