Is a suspended sentence re non payment of Council Tax...........

[tim2969]

......classed as a criminal or civil record.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

a suspended sentence imposed by a magistrates court is a criminal conviction on your record.

[JudgeJ]

Yes, Norman is quite right.

The Council Tax collecctors (along with a number of other State-backed extortion merchants) are fortunate in having the might of the criminal law available to them to back up the collection of what is, essentially, a civil debt.

It would be nice if individuals were also similarly privileged. For example, when a holiday company to whom you have paid your hard-earned goes skint a week before you are due to fly off (and dutifully opens up a month later under a different name) it would be at least comforting if you thought the "directors" might end up inside for stealing your money. Unfortunately, these civil debts are not so rigorously enforced.

[tim2969]

How long would such a conviction be on my records for if the amount paid up in full.

[scoobydooby]

That would depend on circumstances. For example, if you were applying for a job recognising the rehabilitations of offenders act then, in theory, it would be 'spent' after a ceratin time (max 5 years, I think). However, if travelling to America, it would never be 'spent' and therefore always disclosable.

[Grunty]

The five years maximum is not quite right. Also some sentences are never spent, but I don't suppose you got one of those for non-payment of council tax. I hope not, because it would be over 2.5 years. This link gives a summary of the Act.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_tran ssec/documents/page/dft_transsec_026451.hcsp