A summons will be sent if you have not paid your Council Tax after you have received a reminder or a final notice. The Magistrate’s Court issues the summons and will include £70 costs now payable by you.
If your Council Tax bill account is in joint names, each party to the bill will receive a summons. This means that each party is jointly and severally liable for the amount shown on the summons, not just an equal share of it.
It is up to all the persons named on the summons to decide who should pay the debt. If payment is not received, the council can recover the full amount from any party issued with a summons.
You should pay what you can before the court date, although if we do not receive payment in full, we will still ask the court to issue a Liability Order. If a Liability Order is obtained from the Magistrate’s Court this will include additional £25 costs. The total £95 costs are payable by you.
You can contact the council to make a payment arrangement at any time.
If you disagree with the amount you have received the summons for, or if you wish to discuss any discounts, reductions or exemptions, please phone 0151 443 4476.