Difficulties paying your bill?

One of the consequences of this that the Council is experiencing, is that households are finding it more difficult to keep up with their council tax payments with the level of council tax arrears in Rhondda Cynon Taf increasing year on year since 2020.

If you find that you are struggling to pay your council tax then this is what you should do:

Talk to someone - You are not alone and there is help available. The Council can talk you through some options such as:

• Paying your council tax over 12 months instead of 10
• Pay by Direct Debit and choose a more suitable payment date so that you don’t forget to make your payments
• Paying any arrears you have over an extended period of time

Take control – Debt experts suggest you work out how much you owe, who to, which debts are the most urgent and how much you need to pay each month.

Check you're getting the right money. Use the independent MoneyHelper website or benefits calculators run by Policy in Practice and charities Entitledto and Turn2us

Ask for breathing space. If you're receiving debt advice in England and Wales you can apply for a break to shield you from further interest and charges for up to 60 days.

What happens if I don't pay?

Reminders and summons

If you don't pay your council tax on time, we will send you a reminder notice. If you do not bring the instalment or instalments up to date within seven days, you will lose your right to pay by instalments and, without further notice, after a further period of seven days, we may ask you to pay the full amount you owe for the year.

We will only send a maximum of two reminder notices in any financial year. If the payment is not brought up to date in accordance with the reminder notice, or we do not hear from you, you will be sent a summons to appear at court and incur costs.

If you receive a reminder or summons and are unable to pay, contact us immediately to agree a suitable payment arrangement.

Liability Orders

At the court hearing, which you have a right to attend, we will apply for a Liability Order which will give us additional powers to collect the money you owe. You will incur additional costs when we obtain the Liability Order, bringing the total costs to £61.50.

We will notify you if we are granted a Liability Order and request that you complete a form about your financial position. Failure to complete this form could result in a maximum fine of £500 from the Magistrates Court. Once we have obtained a Liability Order, we can deduct a set amount from your salary or wages. If you receive Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support or Employment Support Allowance, we can ask the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) to deduct money from your benefit.

You should be aware that the following are not defences against the issue of the liability order and generally the order will be granted if the amount is due and has not been paid:

• You do not have enough money to pay the council tax,
• You have applied for Council Tax Reduction, or a discount, exemption or other reduction and are waiting to hear from the Council
• You have an outstanding appeal with the Council or a Tribunal

Attachment to Earnings

If you have received an attachment to your earnings or you are an employer who has been asked to make deductions from an employees earnings.

Enforcement Agent (formerly called bailiff) collections

If all other attempts to reach a payment arrangement fail, we will pass the debt to the Councils appointed Enforcement Agents (EA's) to collect. You will incur further costs and charges when the EA's are asked to recover the debt.

If the EA's are unsuccessful in collecting the debt, we can also commence proceedings to make you bankrupt or place a charging order against your property. As a result of any of these courses of action you will incur further costs and charges.