can anyone tell me if this is a civil court or a criminal court or does it depend on how much i owe.
2006-11-19 07:44:39 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Its classed has a criminal offence.Have you tried to get the council to take so much a week.By law if you offer what you can afford they have to accept it.If they will not accept a payment, go to your local press trust me they will help & it will not be put in the newspaper,If you do not want to go to the paper go to citizens advice they will get in touch with the council for you.Good Luck
2006-11-19 07:54:23 · answer #1 · answered by Ollie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under the fact that it will be a civil service that will be taking you to court, it will be a crown court. Criminal courts dont exist. Jail and fines can be imposed, along with a criminal record.
However, if you offer your council any regular payment, could be as low as £10 a month, they have an obligation to listen. Be as co-operative with them as possible, if you do owe the money, then it is you in the wrong (whether you agree to council tax or not, the fact remains that you owe the money).
Good luck, I hope that you can find a suitable solution.
2006-11-19 07:49:49 · answer #2 · answered by mrben 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It'll go to a county court, you'll then get a month to pay arrears in full otherwise you'll get a county court judgement (CCJ). A CCJ stays with you for 5 or 6 years and ruins your credit rating.
They can also send the bailiffs round to collect the council tax owed, or remove your property to the value of your debt.
In extreme cases, you can go to jail if you continue to refuse to pay them.
It's a con - I'm a healthy young male and hardly use any of the services paid for by council tax. One bin bag a week is collected and I pay £1,500 a year for that.
2006-11-19 07:52:56 · answer #3 · answered by Cracker 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think is a civil court.
Remember that old lady the refused to pay council tax a few months ago, and end up in jail ?, it was all over the news ... She's just out of jail because a bloke paid the tax for her ... In other words, ultimately, if you don't pay the tax, that's where you will end up: jail.
2006-11-19 07:49:11 · answer #4 · answered by Splishy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had this problem ourselves.
It will be a magistrates court and what they will do is make a payment arrangement that you have to stick to. If you don't stick to it they can send a bailiff to seize goods or order an "attachment of earnings" to take regular amounts out of your salary.
They won't send you to prison unless you actually willfully REFUSE to pay.
Try and agree an amount you can afford with them - even if its low - we are in this situation, owe a fortune in council tax and can't afford to pay but because we are working with them they have been pretyt good about it and are letting us pay what we can until our situation inproves.
2006-11-19 08:16:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will more likely be a criminal court, because not paying what you owe is a criminal offence. My advice to you would be to pay up, you use the facilities, street lighting, refuse collection, emergency services etc, it is only fair that you should pay up !, if you don't, not only will you have a record, but people like us, (who DO pay their council tax ) will have bigger bills next year.
2006-11-19 07:50:33 · answer #6 · answered by angelswings 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
firstly don't panic. when you attend court you will be asked to fill out a Menes test form. you will be asked to pay an amount suitable for you each week. unless of course you have deliberately been avoiding this useless tax bill. just don't panic things will go for you. often you will go into a room and wont even enter a court room. hope this is of help. i felt the same when i had to attend.
2006-11-19 08:01:37 · answer #7 · answered by Hunny Bun... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like civil court.
To minimise this problem vote Conservative at local as well as national elections as Conservative authorities always have lower more affordable Council Tax.
2006-11-19 07:57:25 · answer #8 · answered by "Call me Dave" 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be classed as tax evasion hence probably criminal court. Your best bet would be to call them and try to arrange periodical payments to keep out of court... Good Luck :)
2006-11-19 07:48:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one in England likes paying council tax including me but I have done so why haven't you ? It's non payers like you that force the chargers up for people who do pay. You will probably end up in jail soon with a criminal record and no hope for the future.
2006-11-19 07:51:08 · answer #10 · answered by little weed 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋