A liability order is granted by the Magistrates' Court after a summons. Once granted, the council can use attachment of earnings, deductions from benefits, or instruct enforcement agents (bailiffs).
You can usually still agree an affordable arrangement after a liability order — many councils prefer this to bailiff action if you engage quickly.
If the liability itself is wrong (for example a single-person discount that wasn't applied), you can challenge the underlying bill even after a liability order.
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