Martin Lewis issues urgent council tax payment warning
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Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning to homeowners about the potential financial devastation of missing just one council tax payment. In a clip from Martin Lewis Money Show Council Tax cost cutting special on ITVX posted to the official MartinLewisMSE TikTok account, Lewis revealed how missing a single monthly payment could result in being forced to pay the entire year's bill just weeks later. And it’s not just the financial impact he’s concerned about – he’s highlighting how this aggressive approach to debt collection by local councils could wreck people’s lives.
In the TikTok, Martin brings out a box with the word “SOAP” written on it before standing on top of it to make his passionate point. The message was clear: if people struggle to make their monthly council tax payments, the system is not offering them a reasonable chance to get back on track. Instead, it’s creating a "vicious cycle" of financial hardship.
He explains: "How does that help someone’s finances? It is counterproductive, it is destructive even if you do not have mental health problems," adding that it doesn't just hurt the individuals involved but has a far-reaching effect on the wider economy.
The crux of his message was the speed at which councils can demand full payment once a person misses a payment. According to Lewis, within just three weeks of a missed council tax payment, a resident can be forced to pay the full year’s bill. This, he argues, is not only unjust but damaging.
As Martin continues, “It is bad for the individual and it’s bad for the council debt collecting, it’s bad for the economy and it’s bad for the NHS." He points out that while commercial debt collectors are required to treat people fairly and allow time for repayment, councils act much more swiftly, with little room for financial rehabilitation.
