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Summonses
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- If you do not pay the amount due on the reminder by the due date we will ask the Magistrates’ Court to serve a summons summonsing you to appear at a Hearing at Plymouth Magistrates' Court. This will be at a time and date set by the Court and will usually be about 3 weeks after the summons is served. If you receive a summons, but don’t believe you owe the money, you should contact us immediately – not the Court.
- At the Hearing, we will provide evidence that a bill, reminder and summons have been sent to you and that you owe the amount shown on the summons. (Although, if you have paid part of the debt since the summons was served the amount will be adjusted accordingly). If you dispute the debt you will have the opportunity to explain to the Magistrates why you believe you do not owe the money.
- If you do not dispute the debt, there is no need for you to attend Court, but of course you can do so if you wish.
- If the Magistrates are satisfied with our evidence they will have no alternative but to issue a Liability Order for the debt. See Liability Orders.
- They do not have the power, at this stage, to reduce or write-off the debt or make an arrangement for you to pay by instalments. The Hearing is only to establish that you owe the money.
- We will also ask the Magistrates to award costs against you covering the expense of the proceedings. These could amount to over £80.
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