Billing and Recovery Administration

If you do not pay your instalments in full and on time, you will be sent a reminder.

If your account has reached this stage and you are having difficulty paying it is important that you contact us. It may be that you should receive a discount or should apply for council tax benefit - if you contact us you will be advised accordingly. It may also be possible to make a different payment arrangement.

The terms of a reminder are that you must bring the account up to date within 7 days of receiving it. If within a further 7 days your account is still in arrears you lose your right to pay by instalments. This means that the whole balance of your account becomes due immediately. Any further delay in payment will result in a court summons being issued. As soon as the summons is issued court costs are added to your account.

If you pay in full, including the costs now, nothing further will happen. The court will be informed that you have paid and the case is automatically stopped. If any debt remains on your account on the hearing day the case will go ahead. In the vast majority of cases the Magistrate will issue a Liability Order. This confirms that you have to pay and grants the council permission to take formal recovery action. The council will also ask for a further amount of Liability Oder costs, which are also added to your account.

Recovery Services
The council is legally obliged to collect all outstanding Council Tax. The Council has now adopted a rigorous approach to collection and will use all the methods of recovery that are available. The Council can use any or all (but only one at a time) of the following methods of recovery in respect of each Liability Order.

  • Attachment of benefit - JSA or Income Support
  • Attachment of earnings - an Order will be served on your employer to deduct sums from your salary or wages and pay It directly to the Council. (Two orders may be made at any one time).
  • Civil Enforcement Agents - who will write and call to enforce payment on you. If necessary the Enforcement Agent will seize your goods for sale at auction sufficient to cover your debt. They will also add their own charges to your account.
If these prove unsuccessful, the Council can apply for you to be declared Bankrupt or Committed to prison.

If at any time you wish to settle your arrears you may do so.
You can pay via the internet with your Debit Card. Please access: www.iwight.com to utilise the 24-hour payment facility.
For free anonymous debt advice go to www.stepchange.org
Credit Counselling Service or telephone Freephone 08000546731
How to contact us
Telephone - 01983 823901 (Lines are open between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday).
E-mail - [email protected]
Fax - 01983 823900
Write to us at
Isle of Wight Council
Revenues Division
Council Offices
Broadway
Sandown
Isle of Wight
PO36 9EA
Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays, 8.30am to 4.30pm
Closed all day Tuesday



Page last updated on: 06/11/2012