Cracking down on unpaid council tax
NEARLY �400,000 in unpaid council tax is being sought from residents in parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in a crackdown on debtors.
NEARLY �400,000 in unpaid council tax is being sought from residents in parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in a crackdown on debtors.
The Anglia Revenues Partnership (ARP), which collects payments on behalf of Breckland, Forest Heath and East Cambridgeshire councils, has enlisted the help of bailiffs to get the cash they say has gone unpaid.
Officers from ARP say that almost 600 people will be targeted for debt collection in the operation.
All 600 have ignored four or more requests to make payment or to contact the council and discuss ways to meet their outstanding debt, the council said.
The appointed bailiffs have now written to those residents with money still owing.
ARP officers have urged anyone who has received a letter to contact the bailiff immediately and arrange payment prior to the new council tax bills being issued.
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Following a visit from a bailiff, if the debtors do not make arrangements to pay, their goods or property will be seized and sold at auction to help recoup their unpaid council tax.
Theresa Hewett, Breckland's executive member for communities and benefits said: “This action will only be taken against a small number of residents who are deliberately avoiding payment.
“The money raised through council tax helps pay for services for the whole community so it is fair everyone has to contribute. People in genuine financial difficulty can talk to ARP officers to find out about discounts, exemptions and other sources of advice.”
Anyone who has received a summons concerning an outstanding balance but has not yet been contacted by a bailiff, should contact Breckland Council immediately on 01362 656871 if they have not yet made arrangements to pay.
Otherwise, the debt will be passed to the bailiff and extra costs in addition to the outstanding debt will be incurred.
