Government bodies 'worst for aggressive debt collection'

[jaguarsuk]

Anyone surprised?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-44953430

"Local councils and government bodies may not usually be associated with sending round "the heavies" to collect debts from hard-pressed families.

But they are often worse than consumer creditors, can be very aggressive and quick to use bailiffs, MPs say.

The Treasury Select Committee says debts and overpayments are often pursued "over-zealously and uncompromisingly" by councils.

It calls for public sector bodies to change the way they recoup debts.

The current approach risks driving vulnerable, struggling people into further difficulty, the committee says.

In its report "Household finances: income, savings and debt", MPs single out public bodies for being behind the curve in their collection methods."

[Amethyst]

No surprise here.

[Crazy council]

Makes me bang my head this.

The percentages are scary, only been able to look at my local courts, pick any year after 2005 and the amount of council actions through the courts is 10x -15x ALL other combined

The best ananlagy i have used for the abuse of the public by the local authoritys through there own systems, The stanford experiment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanfo...son_experiment

[ploddertom]

And of course a lot of the sums involved are very low being highly inflated with charges - turns a £50 debt into at least £360.

[Crazy council]

And of course a lot of the sums involved are very low being highly inflated with charges - turns a £50 debt into at least £360.

Thats when they bother to tell people what the debt is.

See these, https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...ranted_for_les
( outlawlgo DID THIS REQUEST )
there liability orders for between 1p and £ 100 ( £ 100 was supposed to be the legal minimum ) for an application

But the first time the people are notifed of the debt, it has the charges added on, so looks ligit

[Amethyst]

Account suspended I notice... grrr

From the data provided it appears that the council have obtained the following Liability Orders over the last 5 years:

• 6,580 Liability Orders issued for debt less than £100

• 1,387 for debt less than £25

• 981 for debt less than £20

• 544 for debt less than £15

• 82 for debt less than £10

• 45 for debt less than £5

• 12 for debt less than £1

• 3 Liability Orders issued for debt of only 1p

Madness.