Council urged to review debt collection
A UNISON representative has called on North Lincolnshire Council to look at the ways it collects outstanding council tax.
Unison representative Julian Corlett has called for the council to review its procedure when he learnt a vulnerable resident had been sent a letter from one of the authority's council tax recovery agents demanding payment in full or risk prison.
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CALLS: Unision representative Julian Corlett has asked for a review in a bid to stop those who genuinely cannot afford their council tax payments facing legal action and possibly prison.
Mr Corlett said: "This particular letter was the first one received. Until that point he had no knowledge of arrears of council tax. The bank had cancelled the direct debit and they didn't let him know.
"This one instance made me express concern because it's not only one issue, the issues are cumulative.
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"If there had been subsequent letters with greater severity that may be a different matter but this was the first consequence.
"At this time it was close to Christmas, around the anniversary of a family bereavement."
Earlier this month, the Telegraph reported that tax worth £1-million was to be written off by North Lincolnshire Council.
The letter, which claimed £383.90 was outstanding, read: "Your debt has been passed to us by the above client and we intend to recover the debt immediately.
"You can AVOID this being passed back to our client for consideration to apply for your COMMITTAL to PRISON."
Mr Corlett believes these demands are neither 'realistic nor sustainable' for residents who have regular out goings or young children.
A North Lincolnshire Council spokeswoman said: "When the council has made every effort it can to pursue unpaid debts it will delegate recovery to an external company.
"This decision is not taken lightly and only takes place after the council has tried contacting the debtor numerous times before."
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
Comments
by just_an_hour
Monday, September 24 2012, 1:40PM
“Oooops!
I must have inadvertently written a rude word. I meant to write Wossentails...”
by just_an_hour
Monday, September 24 2012, 1:34PM
“The important thing is, has North Lincolnshire Council done away with *********** since it was confirmed on TV what everyone already knew.
This was aired on 31 October 2011 as part of ITV's Exposure series.
You can watch the 4 part series here:
http://tinyurl.com/bt94t6d”
by Bill Cheetham, Bonby
Friday, February 20 2009, 7:59PM
“Rather than dismissing complaints and challenges of the perceived abuses of the loopholes and the consequent loss of CT revenue; why hasnt the council equally put its fervent efforts into closing the loopholes in the planning and CT regulations?
The council should also fairly and justly reach its CT targets of CT revenue from those who can certainly afford to pay, by rightly and properly investigating cases where self builders and other house developers have got away with a reduced CT band and liability by seemingly duping the planning authority into building 3 storey homes, by putting in attic trusses during the build and then converting the roof space, post completion of an alleged 2 storey home at planning approval stage!?”
by WTF original, Scunthorpe
Thursday, February 19 2009, 10:01AM
“"its not the fault of the peole who cant pay it"
Of course it's their fault!
Why do you think they should be 'let off'?
If they were living within their means they would have enough money to pay the council tax!
Take away all of their 'luxury' items like their plasma tv that they deemed more important than council tax.”
by Anti, Indulgances
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 5:27PM
“We still forget that as much as a quarter of poll tax goes into Town Hall Pensions that can be ill afforded by us hardworking folk, thats about £5,009billion. Not sure if I have done enough zeros, but I know its in the Billions a year”
by Geoff, Ashby
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 4:17PM
“It would be necessary to prove that the council or its agent had made an administrative mistake before they could be accused o f maladministration. But it was clear that they had, the matter could be taken to the Ombudsman. But threatening behaviour of the kind reported in the paper should be reported to the police. If the council are employing an agent behaving in such a way, they are legally responsible for any unlawful act by that agent carrying out council business.”
by I Have To Pay, So Should Every One Else
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 4:08PM
“I don't for one minute believe stories that claim the first the resident knew of the debt was debt collectors forcing their way into their homes, I would like to see those who owe being made to pay by removing any item they own to be sold at auction, to many have luxery items but claim they can not pay, use spies to check for them wasting money on takeaway food instead of cooking cheaper basic food, paying debts should come before alcohol or cigarettes also large TV's, DVD's and games consoles, I bet most of these items can be found in the homes of those with the debts, I also bet these are the same people who vote for the waste of council tax money on the baths hall rebuild as they don't contribute. Bring back Poll Tax and Work Houses, £10,000 fines for false notification of who occupies each property to avoid council tax. Home owners young and old can have their debts charged against their property by a land registry charge including interest so it is none owners that are the greatest liability and the one's who don't care, how do they think all the services and freebies they get are funded, by those who pay. How about charging double for council tax with a 50% discount for prompt payers similar to useless fixed penalty fines.”
by M Clifford, PR Guru to the Tsars
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 3:04PM
“What standards of service and treatment do you realistically expect from NLC and its agents; when an internal investigation and report to the Standards Committee has exposed the admission from one of its elected members, Councillor John Berry, for being offensive and abusive towards one of his constituents, a genuine and significant council tax payer? A fine example to set!”
by Paying ctax payer, Scunthorpe
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 2:13PM
“I have never had any problems with the baillifs because I pay my council tax. Surprisly the arrangements with the council suit me ... every month. How much ££ do you think the council will get if they dont follow up people by chasing council tax.
Enjoy your schools closing, lack of police and fire services, and nice smelly bins.
If you have a problem with council tax I seriously doubt the council will go straight for the baillifs. How about not burying your head in the sand and you might be able to read the reminders, red reminders and other notices before it gets to whoever the bailiffs are!
Signed - annoyed that i'm paying for you lot who think this country runs on fresh air!!!”
by Belinda Hancock, Ashby
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 1:58PM
“NLC should stop using *********** who are nothing but bully boys. They visited me and said they would remove my motability car unless I paid them. Motability informed *********** that they would then be prosecuted for theft. They haven't been back since. NLC refuse to discuss the account with me as its been passed to ***********. But *********** visiting was the first I knew of any issue.”