Recovery Process

The recovery process

Find your way through the recovery process for council tax!

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ThE RECOVERY PROCESS

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

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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?

Council Tax

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION ONE

Final Notice

Second Reminder

Summons

NEXT QUESTION

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.

Mr Ojo will receive a second reminder!

Council Tax

WELL DONE!

TRY AGAIN

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.

Mr Ojo will receive a second reminder!

Council Tax

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

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?

Council Tax

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION TWO

Final Notice

Second Reminder

Summons

NEXT QUESTION

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.

MRS KAUR will receive a SUMMONS!

Council Tax

WELL DONE!

TRY AGAIN

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.

MRS KAUR will receive a SUMMONS!

Council Tax

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

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?

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION THREE

Council Tax

A bill

Reminder

Adjustment notice

NEXT QUESTION

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.

MISS KIA will receive aN ADJUSTMENT NOTICE!

Council Tax

WELL DONE!

TRY AGAIN

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

MISS KIA WILL RECEIVE AN ADJUSTMENT NOTICE!

Council Tax

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Completion Notice

Bill

Adjustment Notice

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?

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION FOUR

Council Tax

NEXT QUESTION

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.

Mr and Mrs odenyu will receive a bill!

Council Tax

WELL DONE!

TRY AGAIN

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.

Mr and mrs odenyu WILL RECEIVE A bill!

Council Tax

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

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

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION FIVE

Branching Scenario

Either Final Notice or Summons

Either Second Reminder or Final Notice

Either Second Reminder or Summons

NEXT QUESTION

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.

MISS THIARA will receive EITHER a FINAL NOTICE OR SUMMONS!

Council Tax

WELL DONE!

TRY AGAIN

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.

MISS THIARA will receive EITHER a FINAL NOTICE OR SUMMONS!

Council Tax

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

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?

THE RECOVERY PROCESS - QUESTION SIX

Council Tax

Final Notice

Second Reminder

Reminder

SUMMARY

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.

MR depinna will receive a reminder!

Council Tax

WELL DONE!

TRY AGAIN

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.

Mr DEPINNA WILL RECEIVE A REMINDER!

Council Tax

THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Restart

congratulations!

Council Tax

You've completed the recovery process!

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.

Decision-making scheme

Final

Neutral decision - No impact

Decision Point

Cannot complete succesfully

Can still complete succesfully

Next decision point

Correct decision - Positive impact

Bad decision - Negative impact

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