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THE city council has come under fire for relying too much on bailiffs to recover debts which a charity warns can be 'distressing' for people already in financial trouble. Worcester City Council figures show the authority referred 3,057 debts to bailiffs in the 2022/23 financial year, revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request from National Debtline. National Debtline, the free debt advice service run by charity the Money Advice Trust, has written to the leader of Worcester City Council urging the council to commit to improving the way it collects council tax arrears and other debts.
The figure is broadly similar to that of 2018/19 when Worcester City Council instructed bailiffs to collect debts from individuals and businesses on 3,060 occasions. Steve Vaid, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs National Debtline, said: “Local authorities remain under significant financial pressure and council tax plays a crucial role in funding vital local services. “Facing bailiff action, however, can be a distressing experience and risks pushing people already struggling into deeper financial difficulty.
Bailiffs should only ever be used as a last resort. RECOMMENDED READING: Police block Church Road in Worcester - live updates “Unfortunately Worcester City Council's use of bailiffs remains high. Improving debt collection practices benefits not just people in financial difficulty, but councils too.
" A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “The amount of debts referred to bailiffs in Worcester is in line with other sized councils over the same time period and less than others. “Over three quarters (2,671) of the debts referred to bailiffs during 2022/23 were in relation to unpaid parking fines. “Worcester City Council owns 14 car parks and it is important that enforcement is in operation and carried out.
“While the amount of debts referred to bailiffs is similar to previous figures released in 2018/19, the amount referred due to non-payment of council tax has reduced from 1,877 to 298." Support can be found at: https://www.worcester.
gov.uk/council-tax/what-if-i-can-t-pay . Worcester City Council leader Lynn Denham said: “Worcester City Council has a council tax support scheme which we have continued to fund despite budget pressures.
“One hundred per cent relief is available depending on circumstances if people are really struggling with the cost of living and we have a hardship fund that we use to help those who are genuinely unable to pay their council tax bill. “At Worcester City Council it has been a priority for me to keep the safety net in place for those that need it most." National Debtline offers free, independent debt advice on 0808 808 4000 or at www.
nationaldebtline.org.
