Wage Arrestment Trust Deed
With A Trust Deed You Could Write Off Your Unaffordable Debt
With a Trust Deed You Could Write Off Unaffordable Debt
Table of Contents
What Is Wage Arrestment/Earnings Arrestment?
Wage Arrestment or Earning Arrestment is the most common way for Local Authorities in Scotland to recover council tax debt. It is similar to an Attachment of Earnings in the rest of the UK.
Administered via a court order, Wage Arrestment requires an individual’s employer to deduct money from wages, in order for that money to be used to pay council tax debt. The deduction is taken from a person’s net wages, so once tax and national insurance is taken from your gross wage, a further amount is subtracted to pay the debt.
There are some rules that determine whether someone is eligible for a Wage Arrestment. The clearest one is that you must be employed. Along with this the following also applies:
- You must not be on any unemployment benefits
- You must not be a serving member of the armed forces
- Your debt must be greater than £50.
It’s worth noting that, if you have a Wage Arrestment issued to you, then it would need to be administered by your employer, therefore they will be informed of the situation. Some employers will charge a further administration fee of £1 to cover the extra work required to administer the Arrestment.
In some instances, for example if you have a job in the financial sector, you may even be subject to disciplinary action. In this event you could be entitled to have the Wage Arrestment suspended.
When Might I Be Given A Wage Arrestment?
If you find yourself in debt to your local authority then the following steps will usually be taken:
Reminder
If you fall into arrears with your council tax then, in the first instance, you will be sent a reminder informing you that you have approximately 7 days to pay.
Final Notice to Pay
If you fail to catch up with your payments, then the next step your council will take is to remove your right to pay in instalments.
This means that your next reminder will be not just for the payment you missed, but for the entire remaining balance for the year. This will usually give you 14 days to pay.
At this stage, if you wish to continue paying in instalments, you would need to contact your local authority directly.
Summary Warrant
If, at this stage, you are still unable to pay your outstanding council tax, Then the local authority is able to apply for a summary warrant. This is a certificate that states the amount of debt you owe. It is issued by the Sheriff Court.
It is likely that the first you will learn of your local authority’s application for the Summary Warrant will be you receiving it in the post. The Council is not obliged to inform you of the application.
Once this Summary Warrant has been issued, you will no longer be required to pay the local authority, but instead any payments made will be straight to the Sheriff.
This process often incurs a 10% penalty fee which will be added to your overall debt.
Debt Repayment Plan
Once your Summary Warrant has been issued, you will have an opportunity to negotiate a repayment plan.
Advice on Charge for Payment
If you fail to come to an agreement for a Debt Repayment Plan, then the Sheriff Officer will ask you for the following details:
- Details of you current employer, including their name and address.
- Your National Insurance number.
- Your bank account details
- Details of any other indiviuals who are liable to pay council tax with you.
You will be given 14 days to provide this information. If you fail then you will be subject to a further fine, which will be applied to the overall debt.
Earnings Arrestment
Once the 14 day period has expired, the Sheriff Officer will have the right to recover the debt directly from your wages.
How Much of My Wages Can Be Taken?
There is no set formula for calculating how much of your earnings will be taken, but it will often depend on how much you earn.
At this stage you may want to consider applying for a debt solution, for example a Trust Deed or Debt Arrangement Scheme
Who Can Help Me With My Debt?
If you are struggling with your debt, then there are several options that may suit your circumstances. Contact us at TrustDeed4Me to find out how you could become debt free.
Trust Deed Guides and Information
What Is A Trust Deed?
Only available to residents of Scotland, a Trust Deed is a legally binding, formal debt solution. It is designed for people who are struggling with debts of £5,000 or over.
Is A Trust Deed Right For You?
Whether a Trust Deed is right for you or not will largely depend on your personal situation e.g. debt level, number of creditors, affordability etc.
Does A Trust Deed Have Fees?
Setting up a Trust Deed does incur some costs; however, you will not be expected to pay anything up front at the beginning of the arrangement and there will be no surprise costs at the end of the arrangement.
How Does A Trust Deed Work?
A Trust Deed is a debt solution where you agree with your creditors to pay all or part of your debts. This agreement is set up and managed by a Trustee, who will receive an agreed monthly payment from you and will divide it amongst your creditors.
How Do I Apply For A Trust Deed?
Signing up to a debt solution is a significant event in your life, so it is important to gather as much information as possible, so you can make an informed decision.
Trust Deed Pros and Cons
Like things in life, Trust Deeds carry with with them benefits and things to consider. Take a look at our article to find out whether a Trust Deed is right for you.
Trust Deeds – Which Debts Can Be Included?
Many kinds of debts can be included in a Trust Deed. They are limited to unsecured debts but by solving your unsecured debt problems, you may find paying any secured debt much easier.
