council tax liability

[MarkAb]

I wonder if anyone can tell me after how long a period the council can claim council tax from a person. I have just received a bill from an old address for money supposedly owned from 2009/ 2010, plus court charges from an order made in June 2010 from an address I left in March 2010.

[Amethyst]

If a liability order was obtained there's no limitations applicable so 'forever' in essence.*

Was this a debt for CT that you knew about ? Any dispute over the amount ?

It does seem strange they've taken so long to contact you - have you moved about a bit and just settled and gone on electoral register / credit file updated etc ?*

Is it the council that have contacted you directly ?*

[lgfa92]

Unfortunately. as mentioned above, you're out of luck on the time element - providing a liability order is obtained within 6 years of the debt becoming due then, in England and Wales, there is no time limit on collection (Scotland has a 20 year limit). It allows the council to take some time to contact people - I saw a client recently where it was also circa 10 years, the council having just sat on it. In these cases the main argument would be whether or not service has been correct along the way - which may be able get rid of the action but it's not a straightforward argument to check and then advance.

Again, as above, are there any disputes over the period of liability ?

[MarkAb]

Thank you both* for those two replies, I just wanted to check before I paid up. I have moved a couple of times since 2010 so it probably followed me around.
It says that it is in respect of a magistrates court order from 24th June 2010 and this liability Order is issue dated* 20th January 2020.Would that be too late after the court judgement?*

[lgfa92]

It says that it is in respect of a magistrates court order from 24th June 2010 and this liability Order is issue dated 20th January 2020.Would that be too late after the court judgement?

The liability order itself would be granted on 24 June 2010. The court don't actually 'issue' a paper copy of a liability order so the date of 20 January 2020 is likely just the date the council printed the letter to you.
*

[MarkAb]

The liability order itself would be granted on 24 June 2010. The court don't actually 'issue' a paper copy of a liability order so the date of 20 January 2020 is likely just the date the council printed the letter to you.

Thanks, thats what I suspected.

[Gorge_Walton]

It all depends on which country you are living in. If you know the debt collection process then you know, If you missed first one or two debts then you don't need to worry because it is just a reminder notification but if you missed more then these notifications then they can threaten you and tell you to pay that amount or they will bring you to the court.*

[lgfa92]

Missing a single payment for council tax can lead to a liability order, whether it's England, Scotland or Wales.

The statutory process allows the liability order application to proceed on the back of a single failure to comply with a reminder/final notice.