Help with Council Tax
Dover District Council is stressing it will always seek to work
with individuals at every step to help them if they are unable to
pay their Council Tax. This includes a range of measures including
personal visits and welfare advice. Working with the Kent Benefit
Partnership, the Council seeks to ensure advice and support is
provided at every opportunity. Benefits are available and widely
publicised and we actively encourage people to talk to us if they
are having difficulties. The Council will take all necessary steps
to recover Council Tax in order to support services but will always
seek to work with individuals at the earliest chance.
For help with paying your Council Tax, please call Dover
District Council on (01304) 872199 or the Kent Benefit Partnership
on (0845) 3450310.
Council Support for Council Tax Payers:
- Dover District Council actively encourages the charge payers to
contact them if they are unable to pay their bills.
- We can advise on possible entitlement to Council Tax/Housing
Benefit, entitlement to any Council Tax reductions. We can also
refer the public to other organisations, such as the Department for
Work and Pensions and the Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance and
advice.
- At all stages of recovery we will look to make an arrangement
in accordance with the charge payers means by requesting
confirmation of income. This is not just to enable us to look at a
suitable arrangement but to establish is further assistance or
advice can be offered as above.
- At court for Liability Order hearings, staff from the Council
are available to give advice. However, we would ask that the public
contact us before the day of the hearing if they have a query about
the amount due or if they want to discuss payment arrangements.
This is so that we can look into any problems before the Liability
Order hearing.
- Before taking committal action (asking for someone to be put in
prison), every possible alternative is looked into, such as
deductions from certain benefits or attachments of earnings. A
final arrangement may be offered after receiving details of their
income and outgoings, including seeing if they may be entitled to
benefit. The council may ring the payer to explain the current
position on their account.
- If there are any concerns at any stage due to age or ill
health, for example, a visit can be made to collect any
information.
- If somebody has been summonsed or bailed to attend a Committal
Hearing they must do so, as non attendance will result in further
substantial costs being added. Again, officers are on hand at the
hearing to discuss any problems.
- To help charge payers, we will send a letter or phone them to
advise about the arrears on a committal court order, so that they
have the chance to bring themselves up to date and possibly avoid
being taken back to court.
- A Duty Solicitor is offered at each committal hearing.
- We advise charge payers of the advantages of the Direct Debit
scheme, where payments can be made directly from their bank, so
they will not have to remember to pay by the instalment due date.
We offer a number of different payment dates for those who choose
to pay by Direct Debit, 1st, 5th, 12th, 19th, 24th and 28th. Once
the instruction is received, the Council will give advance notice
of the amounts and when they will be claimed. These payments will
then be made automatically by your bank. It can be cancelled at any
time. Please download the Direct Debit form by clicking on the link
below or phone 01304 872199 to ask for one to be sent to you or for
more information.
Form
Debt Advisors
- Advice UK
A large network of advice providing organisations.
- Citizens Advice
Bureau
Dover and Deal Citizens Advice.
- Consumer Credit Counselling
Service
Free debt advice, including information on completing a personal
budget statement, specimen letters to creditors and help with
arranging a repayment plan to clear debts.
- National
Debtline
Free, confidential and independent advice on debt issues. The
National Debtline provide a free debt advice pack, including
guidance on completing a personal budget, specimen letters to
creditors, and information on many of the legal issues connected
with debt.
- Payplan
Payplan provide a free debt management service paid for by the
credit industry. They are an independent company whose aim is to
help people set up and keep to a manageable repayment plan.
- UK Insolvency
Helpline
A national telephone helpline for people with debt problems in
England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The service is free,
confidential and independent. The service is committed to answering
your call and then discussing your debt problems with clients and
the options available. The specialist advice that is given over the
telephone is backed up with written self-help materials.
Contact
Tel: 01304 872199
Email: revenues@dover.gov.uk
