When you receive your bill, if you think you will have difficulty paying your instalments, please get in touch with us immediately.

We will check whether you are getting all the reductions you are entitled to. If you have already claimed all possible reductions we may be able to arrange smaller payments over a longer period or suggest independent advisors who may be able to help.

If you get into arrears with your instalments we will send a reminder showing how much you need to pay to bring your account up to date. If you do not pay, or you bring your account up to date but fail to make future payments on time, you will lose the right to pay by instalments, and the full charge will become due.

If this happens and you do not pay the full charge, a summons will be issued and the council will take action through the Magistrates Court to obtain a liability order against you. All costs associated with this action will be added to your bill.

When issued, a liability order will allow the council to instruct bailiffs to seize your goods and sell them at auction. This may involve further costs for which you would be liable.

For information about business rates after a debt has been to court contact the Recovery Section (contact details available on the right hand side of this page).  The offices are open from 8:30am to 5pm.