Problems Paying Business Rates
Missing payments and reminders
The first time you miss a payment you will get a first reminder. If you pay the full instalment after this, then you can carry on with your monthly payments. If you do not pay in full you will not be sent any further reminders and we will send you a court summons, where you will be required to pay your business rate balance in full, plus costs.
We usually wait until 7 days after each instalment date before sending out a reminder because we know it is not always possible to pay on the due date.
If you miss a payment a second time.
If you miss a payment for a second time, no further reminders will be sent. We will issue a final notice, where we will request payment full. If you do not pay in full, we will send you a court summons, where you will be required to pay your business rate balance in full, plus costs.
Avoid getting reminders
Pay your instalments by the due date
Pay by direct debit.
If you wait to get a summons you will have to pay court costs of £54
If this remains unpaid and a Liability Order is granted, you will incur further costs of £12
What Happens If You Get A Summons?
When you get a summons, your option to pay by monthly instalments is taken away and you will be expected to pay the full years Business Rates amount. Extra costs will be added to your account to cover court costs.
A summons is a letter that is sent to you to tell you that a hearing date has been set at either Leicester Magistrates Court or Loughborough Magistrates Court to get a Liability Order.
When the court issues a Liability Order, it gives us the power to collect the debt. If you still refuse to pay, we can take further action, for example, pass your account to an Enforcement Agent (Bailiff).
You do not need to attend court. You do have the right to attend court if you wish to.
If you do attend, please be advised that you may have to wait outside in order to maintain social distancing. How long you wait will depend on how many people attend.
You will not be allowed to enter the court building unless you have pre-booked a time slot. Please contact us to book a time slot.
What you should do if you receive a Notice of Enforcement
Contact the Enforcement Agent (Bailiff) immediately
Bristow & Sutor: 0871 677 0070
Marston Holdings (Rossendales): 0333 320 2155
You only have 7 days to make contact with them, if you delay this you could be charged an additional £235 (+7.5% of any sum to be recovered exceeding £1,500.00) when they visit you.
If you have made an arrangement with the Enforcement Agent (Bailiff), but still can't pay it.
You should contact the Enforcement Agent immediately. If you do nothing, then they may visit you, as you have failed to make the payments as agreed and you will be charged the enforcement fee.