I am not employed and cannot afford to pay so I called up the council, and was told that I do not need to attend the court hearing as it is only the first stage.
They said that I should wait for the second letter, which I will recieve after the hearing, and will need to do something about.
Do I need to attend the hearing..? does it matter..?
2007-02-04 23:31:24 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
If you are unemployed and on a low income you may not be eligible for council tax.You really do need to sort things out!---- go to the citizens advice they will tell you what you should be claming they will be able to refer you to a free solicitor.There are free solicitor provisions in all areas.---Don't delay get advice .Get things sorted out before you have to pay court fees!If you do decide to go to the initial court hearing ,ask to speek to the duty solicitor.The court usher should be able to give you details
2007-02-04 23:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by Xtine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not employed? So did you claim council tax benefit when you claim dole? If not, you owe the money, as it can't be backdated. If you didn't claim, do so now, to avoid any more money being owed.
If you claimed, someone has messed up big time with doing their job properly, and has cost the council a lot of money in court costs for no reason.
Attend the hearing, and in future read the letters you get at the time you get them, before you let it get to this stage. You cannot tell anyone that this is the first communication on the matter.
2007-02-04 23:46:10 · answer #2 · answered by bluebadger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely attend the hearing - the court needs to hear your side of the story so they can make an informed decision.
If you're not there (or someone to represent you) then all they have to go on is what the Council tell them.
If the hearing is some time off then try and resolve things with the Council beforehand. Make notes of all phone calls - who you spoke to, when, what was said. Confirm things in writing and keep copies.
The Council should agree to accept weekly or monthly payments.
You might want to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or a Solicitor.
2007-02-04 23:37:27 · answer #3 · answered by Trevor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's not much point. The 1st hearing just decides whether legally you should pay the bill but it doesn't consider whether you are actually able to pay it. Keep in contact with the council about getting this sorted out once you get that second letter. And try not to worry too much.
2007-02-04 23:39:32 · answer #4 · answered by Well, said Alberto 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please make sure you go to the Court Hearing. The Judge would prefer to hear both sides of the claim, and I would never trust a Council official!
Before you go make sure you have all your documents from the DSS to say hat you are unemployed and have been for however long.
Have you asked the Council for housing benefit? If not you need to get that done as soon as possible , so they can back date it.
MAKE SURE YOU TAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU SEND TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE COURT FOR YOUR OWN RECORDS.
2007-02-04 23:45:07 · answer #5 · answered by kylie_rm13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at first see the CAB which could be functional you and why cant your husband declare income? I presume you do not earn astounding wages? why did not you declare housing income and council tax income, as for the court docket listening to you would accept an income and expenditure sheet to fill in to handle your funds, you could bypass to detention center as others contained in the united kingdom have lengthy gone notwithstanding it will be very not likely. the position I stay outside Glasgow, even as i change into suffering i have been given an eviction be conscious because i had £one thousand council tax arrears via unemployment yet I went and spoke to the council place of work and organized weekly funds and when I were given my redundancy funds by I gave all of it to council tax arrears which left £500 and now i'm operating and incomes a good income i pay £50 in step with month to the arrears, I actually have about 3 extra fee to bypass to sparkling my debt. they are going to organize so that you could pay a set volume yet you ought to pay it or they are going to evict you.
2016-11-02 09:10:30 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go to your housing/council tax benefits office and apply for Council Tax benefit immediately and ask them to back date your claim from when you became unemployed. I wouldn't ignore the letter at all. This should have been sorted out when you made a claim for job seekers allowance, there should have been a form to fill in for housing and council tax benefit in your claimers pack. I would go and sort this out today, if you ignore it you could end up in worse trouble then you are in now.
2007-02-04 23:38:27 · answer #7 · answered by Smoochy Poochy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely positively go to the hearing. You have nothing to lose, and will avoid the potential of an arrest warrant if the council was wrong when you phoned them.
2007-02-08 22:14:40 · answer #8 · answered by Flup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Attend the hearing - lest you end up in jail.
State your case tho' from what I've heard being Unemployed is no excuse to the council for not paying your council tax.
Say hi to the murderers, rapists and scum for me whilst they ignore child molesters and lock you up.
A dreadful state for this nation to be in.
Good luck.
2007-02-04 23:35:34 · answer #9 · answered by Blitzhund 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So you owe council tax but can't be bothered to attend the hearing.
The impression I get is that you are too bone idle to work preferring to live off the taxpayer like so many others.
My advice ,"Get off your backside, go to the hearing and make on offer to pay then get a bloody job"!
2007-02-04 23:38:02 · answer #10 · answered by Barrie G 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋