Late council tax payment

[unknownsock]

Theres been a bit of a hiccup this month.

I've just received a letter, claiming a payment is late and now i have to pay the rest of it before 22nd of october plus £51 for a court hearing.
Totalling up to approx, £650.

Normally my gf pays this and as its been a busy month we've just totally forgot to do so, now i'm a normal person i usually pay all my bills on time etc, i dont have a criminal record so why do they have to take me to court? All it takes is one quick phone call to ask why i havn't paid this?

Now ive paid last months and im going to attempt to call them on monday morning while im work, but this is usually hard as i never have time and the opening times are ridiculous.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Is it easy to sort out?
Have i actually lost my right to pay monthly or could i just setup a direct debit and this would be fine?

Expecting someone to pay £650 up front is crazy.

 

[unknownsock]

bleeding hell dude, what do you live in for your council tax to be 650 a MONTH?

Ha, no they want me to pay the remainder of this tax year, The amount being the above.

I had one at the begining of the year as i wasnt sure of the payment date etc, it might be because of this also.
Yea thanks for the advice ill attempt to setup a direct debit on monday morning.

Makes me a little bit relieved tbh, shouldve seen my face when i got this haha