What happens when you are unable to pay your council tax?
- Reminder notices
- Summons notices
- Visits from bailiffs
We aim to help you as much as we can if you are having genuine difficulties paying your council tax. We can also make sure that you have received any benefits or discounts to which you may be entitled.
To be fair to everyone who pays council tax, we must collect any council tax you owe us, after taking into account any reductions.
Why are bailiffs involved?
We appoint bailiffs to act on our behalf to collect council tax arrears from residents whose records show that they owe council tax.
Bailiffs act as the council's agents and have the legal authority to approach you to collect council tax arrears.
Once a bailiff contacts you, the bailiff will charge an additional fee, which you must pay.
Making payments to bailiffs
You should pay the outstanding amount in full, including the additional bailiff fees shown on the bailiff's letter.
Please make cheques payable to the named bailiff firm and send them directly to the bailiffs' office address.
When making your payment, please quote your council tax reference number as well as your bailiff reference number, as they appear on your documentation.
What to do if you can't pay
If you are unable to make full payment, you must contact the bailiff firm directly with your proposal for a payment arrangement. Any arrangement must be agreed with the bailiff firm.
As a rule, all council tax is payable by monthly instalments and the payments must be large enough to clear any arrears over a maximum of 12 weeks (or three calendar months).
Send your proposal to the bailiff firm in writing, quoting your council tax reference number.
What to do if you disagree with our decision
If you disagree with our decision to pass your account to a bailiff firm, you must write to us immediately, clearly detailing the reasons why you disagree. Be sure to include your full name, address and the council tax reference number shown on the summons.
Send your letter to: Council Tax Department, Municipal Offices, Fell Road, Croydon CR9 1BQ.
Please do not ignore the letter from the bailiff as this will lead to further visits from the bailiff firm and added costs.
Web survey
We are keen to learn your views about the council tax pages on our website. Please click on the council tax web survey link on the right of this page if yo want to complete our quick, online survey.
