In arrears with your Council Tax payments? Let us help you address the situation quickly. We can advise you what to do:

• If you have arrears
• If your offer of repayment is refused
• With different methods of Repayment
• Regarding Recovery action your local authority can take against you
• If Bailiffs are at your door
• On Council tax benefit

What to do if you have arrears:

Step 1; you must establish how much you can afford to pay in addition to your normal council tax payments in order to repay the arrears. We can help you draw up a detailed income and expenditure form which will include repayments to outstanding credit cards and loans.

Step 2; assuming there is money left over from Step 1, you must next contact your local authority and make an offer. It is vital to make it clear that the amount you are offering will stop any further arrears and court costs occurring. You must continue making the payments to the authority even if your local authority will not negotiate with you. We can provide further details on what to do if your offer is refused) - see below.

What you must do if your offer of repayment is refused:

Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for help and assisitance.

You may find that your local authority insists that arrears are paid before you resume normal payments. If it refuses to accept payments towards the current year until the arrears are paid, you should seriously consider making a complaint. Ask your local councillor to help in this process.

If this proves unsatisfactory, contact the Local Government Ombudsman on 020 79153210, and make your case that not allowing you to make payments for the current year means further arrears will accumulate and therefore further court costs that could have been avoided will be incurred.

For more information about council tax arrears please give us a ring on 0800 917 3193 or complete the debt management enquiry form.

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