If you are experiencing problems with debt, please don’t ignore it. There is a great deal of support and independent advice available. For more information on advice services in the area please visit Financial, Employment and Benefits Help.
What happens if I miss paying my Council Tax?
Reminder Notices
If you don't pay an instalment on time, you will receive a reminder notice.
It is important that you act if you get a reminder notice.
If you can pay the amount owed within 7 days, no further action will be taken.
If you don't pay within this time, or you pay only part of what is owed, you will receive a summons to court. It is at this point that you will be asked to pay the full amount outstanding however, you can still talk to us to establish a special payment arrangement.
Final Notice
If you don't pay on time for the third time in the financial year, a final notice will be sent to you.
You may also receive a final notice if there is a balance outstanding for a previous year on a closed account. The final notice will ask you to pay the full year's charge within 7 days.
Summons and Court Hearings
If you don't pay a reminder or final notice in full, a summons will be sent to you and costs of £52.00 will be added to the unpaid Council Tax bill. You do not need to attend Court unless you want to dispute the Council tax liability.
To avoid the court action you can:
- pay the full amount shown on the summons, including costs.
- contact us before the court date to make a payment arrangement.
Give us a call on telephone: 0115 9071000 or complete the relevant online form below:
Request a Special Arrangement and provide proof of Income and Expenditure
Liability Order
Failure to pay the balance demanded in full, before the court hearing date stated on the Summons, will result in the Council making an application to the court for a Liability Order.
A Liability Order gives Erewash Borough Council the authority to take further enforcement action to recover the arrears. At this stage, further costs of £15.50 will be added to the outstanding balance. The types of action that are available following a Liability Order are;
- the use of Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs) to collect the debt
- taking Direct Deductions from your earnings or benefit
- insolvency proceedings (Bankruptcy)
- applying a charge against your property if you are the owner occupier
- to ask the Magistrates to summons you to appear before them to explain your failure to pay, which may result in imprisonment for up to 90 days..
The contact details for the Enforcement Agents that the council instruct are: