where/How to mention liability order in UK naturalisation application

[AlexB777]

Hi,

In February 2016 (about 6 years ago), I received a liability order for non payment of a council tax, following my non attendance of a court summon. At the time, I had been in the UK for about 6 months, wasn't familiar with council tax and wasn't opening my post mail (I know it is a bad excuse, but genuinely thats all I have).

Following the issuance of the liability order, I was fortunate enough to open my mail and realise the mess I was in. So I paid the full pending amount (about £600) before the deadline given to me. No other mail follow ups were received.


I am now preparing my application for UK naturalisation and have these questions:
1) will the above issue affect the chances of success of my UK naturalisation application ?

2) Should I mention the liability order in my application ? (having read other posts, a liability order is not a CCJ)

3) Should I attach a letter to my application explaining that at the time I was new to the UK and missed the warnings ? And if the council is willing to, provide a letter from them that my payments are up to date ?

Would really appreciate your help. I realise there has been other posts in the past with similarish questions which I have comprehensively gone through, but I could not get clarity on all the above 3 questions, especially given the fact that it has been over 5 years this has happened, and that the guidance in the HO naturalisation booklet was unclear to me.

Thanks!

[alterhase58]

Have you checked your credit reference files? Is the liability order recorded there?
You can obtain a free "statutory" report from the 3(?) main credit reference agencies here in the UK.
Regarding your questions:
1) Debts/CCJ/etc will not normally impact on applications if you have complied/are complying with any repayment plans. If an applicant was reckless, serial defaulter, etc it could be an issue.
2) Check your credit reports. If it doesn't appear there and you have cleared the debt as soon as you could then it should not be an issue, or mentioned.
3) I don't think it's necessary to specially explain this, after all it's a civil matter and you have cleared the debt. If it's on your credit file still then I would explain.

[AlexB777]

Hi alterhase58,

Many thanks for your reply! I feel better after your reading your response I have just requested a statutory credit report from Equifax and it all looks clear with no mention of the issue.

I am guessing there is no need to bring it up in the application then... unless other people here think otherwise ?

[AlexB777]

Hi,

I am applying for UK naturalisation and I would like to mention a liability oder which I received 6 years ago for untimely payment of the council tax. Where should I mention it in the application ? Should it be in 1- the last section in the application 2- in the Convictions and other penalties section (see below, and if so which item should I check?)

At any time have you ever had any of the following, in the UK or in another country? Only select one answer at a time. If you need to give more than one answer, you can do so on another page.

- A criminal conviction
- A penalty for a driving offence, for example disqualification for speeding or no motor insurance
- An arrest or charge for which you are currently on, or awaiting trial
- A caution, warning, reprimand or other out-of-court penalty
- A civil court judgment against you, for example for non payment of debt, bankruptcy proceedings or anti-social behaviour
- A civil penalty issued under UK immigration law
- No, I have never had any of these


Kindly note that my question is not about whether I should mention it but rather how/where.