Business rates pre summons notice

[samkma]

I had a shop that was a limited company, which I closed in 2019. There was an outstanding business rates balance of £1,045 owed to the council, and they kept pursuing me for payment. However, in 2022, the council agreed to write off this debt. I hadn't heard anything from them since then, but today I received a Pre-Summons notice demanding payment within 7 days, or they will initiate legal proceedings through the magistrate’s court.


What are my options here? The company is still active but not trading, as there is an overdraft owed to HSBC. When I applied to strike the company off, they objected, and Companies House rejected the application. Since then, nothing has happened. I’ve been paying for an accountant out of my own pocket to file the necessary company returns and confirmation statements every year. The company has no assets, no bank accounts, and hasn’t been trading for the last six years.


What can I do to resolve this situation?

 

[fisicx]

Do you have documents from 2022 which state the debt has been written off? Or do the documents say they intend to write off the debt?

 

[Newchodge]

This is not your personal debt, it is a debt of the limited company. Let them sue, as long as they sue the right defendant.

 

[Lisa Thomas]

Do you have documents from 2022 which state the debt has been written off? Or do the documents say they intend to write off the debt?

This.

 

[fisicx]

Do you have documents from 2022 which state the debt has been written off? Or do the documents say they intend to write off the debt?

Yes, but if they win the company still has to pay the debt. The court doesn't care that the company has nothing in the bank account.

The exact wording in the letter from the council is key to what to do next.