Seven Days or Ten? FHDC’s Council Tax Clock Doesn’t Match Its Own Rules

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC) tells residents two different things about the same, high-stakes moment: how quickly you must clear council tax arrears after a reminder. One FHDC page says you have 10 days before you lose the right to pay by instalments and face a summons; another FHDC page says you have 7 days. That contradiction isn’t just sloppy copy—it’s the difference between keeping a fragile budget afloat and being catapulted toward court costs. 

The Contraction In Black & White

• FHDC page A: “You must pay the arrears due within 10 days … or you lose the legal entitlement to pay by instalments,” with a warning that a summons and costs may follow. 

• FHDC page B: A reminder “asks you to update the account within 7 days,” with the same threat of losing instalments and receiving a summons. 

For residents, especially those living month-to-month, that inconsistency creates real risk: comply with which rule? Miss the shorter window and the consequences escalate.

Why This Matters To Most People On Universal Credit

Households on Universal Credit (UC) are paid monthly, but the actual date can shift when it falls on a weekend or bank holiday—meaning the cash that covers the council tax instalment may arrive earlier one month and later the next. Strict “pay on the exact date” enforcement collides with this reality.

In short: people’s income date moves; the council’s due date doesn’t. When FHDC mixes messages about 7 versus 10 days, those living on variable payment schedules shoulder the risk of a summons and added costs for reasons that are administrative, not moral.

What The Law Actually Says

The law is clear about two things—the due date and the statutory reminder window:

• Due date: Your bill can require payment “by instalments… payable at such intervals and on such day… as is… specified” in the demand notice. Translation: the council can set a specific day and you’re legally due to pay on that day. (Regulation 21, Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992). 

• Reminder window: If you miss that due date and a reminder is issued, you must bring payments up to date within 7 days, or you lose the right to pay by instalments and the rest of the year’s bill becomes due. (Regulation 23, same Regulations). The national guidance on GOV.UK mirrors this 7-day rule.

So while a council may choose to give longer in its communications, the statutory trigger is 7 days. Publishing 10 days on one page and 7 on another is not just confusing—it risks misinforming residents about their rights and obligations.

Practical Takeaways (For Residents)

• “Any time this month” is not a right. The law expects payment on the stated date. Consider Direct Debit (most councils offer multiple collection dates) or ask for a different due date if cash-flow is tight. 

• If you get a reminder, the 7-day rule is the legal baseline to keep your instalment plan—GOV.UK confirms this. Pay or make an agreed arrangement within 7 days to avoid the full year becoming due and a summons with costs.

Flexibility & Discretion exists – use them

Many councils will, as a policy choice, move your payment date or agree an affordable plan. That’s discretionary administration, not a legal “pay whenever” entitlement—but it’s vital for people with fluctuating benefit or wage cycles. Reading Borough Council’s guidance, for example, sets out the 7-day reminder and also provides multiple Direct Debit dates and options to manage payments. FHDC should be just as explicit and resident-friendly. 

The Wider Picture: Wales is reforming – England is Watching

The Welsh Government has confirmed new rules from next April to make council tax collection fairer, including a 63-day period to address missed payments before enforcement—recognising that the current 7-day escalation is too sharp for struggling households. England is examining similar modernisations, but as of today English law still operates on the 7-day trigger.

What FHDC should do – today

1. Publish one rule, everywhere. Align every webpage and letter to the statutory 7-day position, while clearly stating any local grace the council chooses to offer (e.g., 10 days). Mixed messages undermine trust and can be used against residents. 

2. Design for UC realities. Prominently signpost payment-date changes, multiple Direct Debit dates and income-aligned arrangements so residents aren’t punished for benefit timing beyond their control. 

3. Lead with help before threat. First reminders should put support options and contact routes up front, not court language. That reduces arrears faster and prevents avoidable costs.

4. Prepare for reform. Start piloting fairer practices now—Wales offers a roadmap that matches how real households budget.

Bottom line: FHDC’s own website can’t agree whether the clock runs for 7 or 10 days—yet the law is unambiguous about a 7-day statutory trigger. For residents whose benefit income slides around weekends and bank holidays, that confusion is perilous. Clarity, consistency, and compassion aren’t nice-to-haves in council tax recovery—they’re the difference between a household coping and a household in crisis.

The Shepway Vox Team

Dissent is NOT a Crime