A change in the issuing of unpaid council tax notices has sparked anger from Brighton and Hove residents.

The city council altered its policy and is now sending arrears notices to customers who are 14 days late with their payments, instead of waiting until 30 days have passed.

Residents, who were not told about the changes, were stunned when they received payment reminders through the letterbox.

Pete Nichols, 60, of Montpelier Street, said: “It strikes me as desperate. They are obviously looking to collect more money.

“By not telling people of the change in procedures is cynically ensuring that lots of tax payers will receive arrears notices.

“They will then have no cushion if they have a difficult month later in the year.”

Residents are allowed two reminders for late payments every financial year.

If a subsequent instalment is missed, a court summons is automatically issued.

Labour councillors said the change was part of the Conservative administration’s “tightening up of the financial system.”

Councillor Les Hamilton, Labour spokesman for finance, said: “It’s not something I really comprehend or understand.

“It’s giving people less time to manage their own finances and pay their bills.

“In this current economic situation, we should be making some form of allowance and not chasing unpaid bills less than three weeks from the start of the financial year.”

Brighton and Hove City Council are ranked among the most stringent of local authorities in the country for collecting unpaid council tax.

Last year they issued 17,231 court summons, making them the 15th strictest out 172 district and unitary councils in England and Wales.

A spokesman for the council said: “Eastbourne, Hastings, Portsmouth and many other councils issue reminders after 14 days. By giving more timely reminders, we are encouraging customers to contact us and tell us their circumstances so that we can help them.

“We promote the uptake of council tax benefit for those customers on low incomes and we can offer a flexible range of payment options so they can spread the load.

“Overall the approach we are taking is designed to help customers to pay their tax liability in the most convenient way without the stress of falling into arrears.”

What happens if you do not pay?

• Council Tax is a statutory debt - it must be paid.

• If you miss the due date, a payment reminder will be sent. If you fail to settle the amount on that reminder within seven days, a Magistrate’s Court summons will be issued without further notice.

• If you do pay the arrears on the first reminder but your payments fall into arrears again, a second and final reminder will be issued.

• Only two reminders are allowed in any financial year. If you miss a further instalment, a summons will be issued without further warning.

• If payments are not kept up to date following the payment reminders, a magistrates's court summons will be issued for the full amount outstanding and you will lose the right to pay by instalments. The issuing of a summons, costing £55, will be added to the bill.

• If you do not pay before the court hearing a liability order, costing £35, will be added onto the unpaid bill.

• The council will then recover the money by using bailiffs, seizing benefits or taking bankruptcy action. Some offenders may even face prison.