Council use of bailiffs sees 16 per cent increase, charity reports

The MAT research, based on Freedom of Information requests, found that bailiffs were instructed to collect debts on 2.1 million occasions in 2014/15, 1.27 million of which were for council tax debt, 715,000 for parking related debts and 40,000 for Housing Benefit over payment.

Joanna Elson, chief executive of the MAT, said: “Something is seriously wrong here. On the front line of debt advice we know that sending the bailiffs in can deepen debt problems, rather than solve them – and it can also have a severe impact on the wellbeing of people who are often already in a vulnerable situation.
 
“Bailiff action is not only harmful to those in arrears – it is also a poor deal for the council taxpayer.  Our research shows that those local authorities that use bailiffs the most are actually less successful, on average, at collecting council tax arrears.  This is a lose-lose situation.”

Acknowledging the funding pressures councils are facing, she added: “Our message is clear – bailiffs should only be used as an absolute last resort, and the earlier residents and business owners who are struggling can be signposted to free sources of advice such as National Debtline and Business Debtline, the better.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) responded by saying that reduced government funding for council tax support has forced council’s to face an ‘unpalatable choice’ between charging the working-age poor or finding additional savings to meet the shortfall.

Claire Kober, chair of the LGA’s Resources Board, said: "Councils have a duty to their residents to collect taxes so important services like caring for the elderly, collecting bins and fixing roads are not affected. But we realise that times are tough and will always seek to take a sympathetic and constructive approach.

"Bailiffs are only ever used as a last resort by councils. Before the situation reaches a stage where bailiffs are involved several letters will have been written, people will have been encouraged to apply for financial support, and efforts will be made to arrange new payment plans or to attach the debt to a salary.”

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