Recovery Process

start

Find your way through the recovery process for council tax!

The recovery process

Council Tax

next

This activity is designed to aid your understanding of the consequences of council tax non payment.

ThE RECOVERY PROCESS

Summons

Second Reminder

Final Notice

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION ONE

Council Tax

Mr Ojo didn't pay his June instalment. He received a reminder, which he paid and has now missed his August payment. What letter has he now received?

WELL DONE!

Council Tax

Mr Ojo will receive a second reminder!

Mr Ojo would have received his first reminder in June when he forgot to pay an instalment for the first time. He then paid it to bring his account up to date. Forgetting, or not paying in full, another instalment will result in a second reminder being issued. This is the last reminder that will be issued on this bill.

NEXT QUESTION

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Council Tax

Mr Ojo will receive a second reminder!

Mr Ojo would have received his first reminder in June when he forgot to pay an instalment for the first time. He then paid it to bring his account up to date. Forgetting, or not paying in full, another instalment will result in a second reminder being issued. This is the last reminder that will be issued on this bill.

TRY AGAIN

Summons

Second Reminder

Final Notice

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION TWO

Council Tax

Mrs Kaur received a final notice last month. She couldn't afford to pay it all at once, so she just paid what she could towards it. Today she has received another letter. What is it?

WELL DONE!

Council Tax

MRS KAUR will receive a SUMMONS!

Mrs Kaur has already received a final notice, so the full amount became due. Although she has made a payment towards it, although it will reduce her outstanding balance, it will not stop recovery. Failure to pay the outstanding amount after a final notice will result in a summons being issued and summons costs being added to the account.

NEXT QUESTION

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Council Tax

MRS KAUR will receive a SUMMONS!

Mrs Kaur has already received a final notice, so the full amount became due. Although she has made a payment towards it, although it will reduce her outstanding balance, it will not stop recovery. Failure to pay the outstanding amount after a final notice will result in a summons being issued and summons costs being added to the account.

TRY AGAIN

Adjustment notice

Reminder

A bill

Council Tax

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION THREE

Miss Kia moved into her property last month. She registered for council tax and received a bill, but she is contacting the local council to apply for a single person discount. What will she receive next?

WELL DONE!

Council Tax

MISS KIA will receive aN ADJUSTMENT NOTICE!

Miss Kia has already registered for council tax and has received her bill. She is requesting a single person discount, so this will be added to her account. A replacement needs to be sent to change the original bill and this is called an adjustment notice. It will detail her amended instalment plan to take in to consideration her new balance.

NEXT QUESTION

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Council Tax

MISS KIA WILL RECEIVE AN ADJUSTMENT NOTICE!

Miss Kia has already registered for council tax and has received her bill. She is requesting a single person discount, so this will be added to her account. A replacement needs to be sent to change the original bill and this is called an adjustment notice. It will detail her amended instalment plan to take in to consideration her new balance

TRY AGAIN

Council Tax

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION FOUR

Mr and Mrs Odenyu are owners of 45 Pickford Lane. They have had tenants renting the property. They phone to say that the tenants have now vacated. What will they now receive?

Adjustment Notice

Bill

Completion Notice

WELL DONE!

Council Tax

Mr and Mrs odenyu will receive a bill!

The tenants' account will be closed and they will receive an adjustment notice with the closing balance. A new account will be set up for the owners as they are going to be the new liable parties. A bill will be sent with instalments, to their forwarding address. It should include a 2nd home discount if the property is furnished, or an empty class C discount if the property is unfurnished.

NEXT QUESTION

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Council Tax

Mr and mrs odenyu WILL RECEIVE A bill!

The tenants' account will be closed and they will receive an adjustment notice with the closing balance. A new account will be set up for the owners as they are going to be the new liable parties. A bill will be sent with instalments, to their forwarding address. It should include a 2nd home discount if the property is furnished, or an empty class C discount if the property is unfurnished.

TRY AGAIN

Either Second Reminder or Summons

Either Second Reminder or Final Notice

Either Final Notice or Summons

Branching Scenario

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION FIVE

Miss Thiara missed her September instalment. She then went on holiday and missed the reminder too. Which letters could she have received?

WELL DONE!

Council Tax

MISS THIARA will receive EITHER a FINAL NOTICE OR SUMMONS!

Miss Thiara received her reminder in September. As she failed to bring her account up to date on receiving the reminder, she will then lose the right to instalments. The local authority may at that stage choose to send a Final Notice. If the local authority chooses not to issue the Final Notice, then she will receive a Summons.

NEXT QUESTION

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Council Tax

MISS THIARA will receive EITHER a FINAL NOTICE OR SUMMONS!

Miss Thiara received her reminder in September. As she failed to bring her account up to date on receiving the reminder, she will then lose the right to instalments. The local authority may at that stage choose to send a Final Notice. If the local authority chooses not to issue the Final Notice, then she will receive a Summons.

TRY AGAIN

Reminder

Second Reminder

Final Notice

Council Tax

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION SIX

Mr DePinna had a direct debit on his account. His January DD payment wasn't successful, but he made a payment on the website the same date. His February payment also failed and he wasn't able to make the payment this month. What did he receive?

WELL DONE!

Council Tax

MR depinna will receive a reminder!

Mr DePinna's January payment by direct debit failed, but he has made the payment by other means so no recovery letter will be issued as the payment was made on time. He will receive a letter to advise that the direct debit was unsuccessful. As he has failed to make his February payment, his acount will now be in arrears and he will receive a reminder. Many local authorities will cancel a direct debit after two failed payments. If this is the case his payment method will be changed to non direct debit and this will result in the issuing of an adjustment notice.

SUMMARY

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Council Tax

Mr DEPINNA WILL RECEIVE A REMINDER!

Mr DePinna's January payment by direct debit failed, but he has made the payment by other means so no recovery letter will be issued as the payment was made on time. He will receive a letter to advise that the direct debit was unsuccessful. As he has failed to make his February payment, his acount will now be in arrears and he will receive a reminder. Many local authorities will cancel a direct debit after two failed payments. If this is the case his payment method will be changed to non direct debit and this will result in the issuing of an adjustment notice.

TRY AGAIN

These questions have tested your knowledge of the process of recovering council tax from Bill stage up to Summons. It is important to understand this process so that you are able to explain it to a customer.

You've completed the recovery process!

Council Tax

congratulations!

Restart