Business rates recovery

Business rates summons and court hearings

We will apply to the Magistrates’ Court for a liability order to be granted against you when we summons you.

When we go to court, the Magistrates will hear all cases at the same time - you won't get an individual time allotted for your specific case.

You do not need to attend court if you don't want to.

Before the court hearing, you can:

• pay in full
  or
• contact our team to make an arrangement (including the costs) or resolve any queries

If an arrangement is set up, we will still apply to the Court for a liability order.

There are very few defences against issuing a liability order, but please contact us urgently if you think that the summons has been incorrectly issued (e.g. because you have paid).

Payment in full, including costs, will end the case.

Attending Court

If you want to attend the hearing, you can email [email protected] or ask to speak to our Court Officer on 0300 126 3000.

If you're going to attend Court, you may need to wait until the Magistrates are ready to hear your case.

Arrangements after Court

You can still make an arrangement to clear your outstanding debt, but any arrangement will include the £75 costs.

Enforcement agents

If you haven't set up an arrangement or paid in full, we will ask enforcement agents to recover what is owed.

An immediate additional fee of £75.00 will be charged by the agents.

If they make a visit, you will incur further fees of £235 for debts under £1,500.

Extra costs will be charged if goods are removed.

Last updated 01 July 2024