5,000 tax debtors in Telford get a visit from the bailiff
More than 5,000 bailiff referrals in Telford & Wrekin were made by the council last year as it chased council tax debt, new figures have revealed.
The figures are revealed in a new report by The Children's Society that claims council tax debt is widespread – with 4,556 children in the Telford & Wrekin area living in 2,601 families who have fallen behind with their bills.
The figures also reveal in the Shropshire area there are 6,807 children living in 3,924 families who have experienced council tax debt.
Based on a survey of 4,500 parents and Freedom of Information responses from local authorities, the report reveals that councils across England sent out bailiffs on 1.3m occasions last year – including about 172,570 times across the West Midlands. In Telford & Wrekin, last year, 5,904 bailiff referrals were made by the council, a total of 83 for every 1,000 households.
The Children's Society said Shropshire Council did not respond to the Freedom of Information request to find out how many bailiff referrals were made in the county.
The Children's Society's report, The Wolf at the Door: How Council Tax Debt Collection is Harming Children, has found that more than one in 10 families in the UK has experienced council tax debt, with average arrears reaching £420.
Rob Willoughby, West Midlands area director for The Children's Society, said: "Councils are more likely to refer a family in council tax debt to a bailiff than to an independent debt adviser, which is not acceptable. Bailiffs should simply not be sent round to families with children. Instead, councils should give struggling residents a chance to negotiate affordable repayments, and make sure every family in trouble is offered independent debt advice."
A Telford & Wrekin council spokeswoman said: "Telford & Wrekin Council only send cases to an Enforcement Agent as a last resort.
We would urge a taxpayer who is struggling to pay their council tax to contact us immediately to discuss the possibility of making a suitable payment arrangement."
A Shropshire Council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, the council tax system does not hold details of taxpayers that are households with children; we only have details of the people liable to pay the council tax.
"However, the council does offer a council tax support scheme that provides financial assistance for families on low incomes."
