Threatened with prison today.

[bluebottle]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

I've looked up my local councillors am a little worried as they are all either conservative or UKIP and so will, i think, be a little invested in backing serco up.

I would like to complain about Mr De La Fuente though as he was so clear that I will be arrested without any prior court case - which reading all your replies seems to be completely false. Does anyone have any idea how I might do this?


P.S thank you again for all these replies, I've really been at my wits end today imagining my entire career going down the toilet just because I couldn't get anyone to accept money from me.

You do a fantastic job here, thank you.

John,

Please let me put your mind at rest. I am a retired policeman and the police do not get involved in Council Tax matters as there is no provision under Council Tax regulations for the police to become involved. In short, Mr De La Fuente is displaying an amazing talent for Lower Gastro-Intestinal Ventriloquism.

Just remember this - jacobus plena mauris

[John139]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

sorry thats Jackie Doyle-Price MP

[John139]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

It seems like my local MP is a strong SERCO supporter:

"We have been talking about private versus public, but it is not like that. We are not just talking about the Sercos and the G4Ss. We want public servants to come together and create mutuals. We are most effective when we all work in partnership. The “us and them” culture perpetuated by the Opposition does nothing to improve outcomes for anyone, whether in jobs, tackling reoffending or anything else. This stale thinking has had its day. We are in the 21st century, not the 20th."

Jackie Pyrce in Parliament

[bizzybob]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

The sooner Serco management and directors face criminal charges for fraud and other offences the better, the evidence is stacking up.

[Amethyst]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

Ah ha - in that article I posted earlier about Serco

It may only be a relatively small minority of people who try to avoid paying Council bills, but the cost to the Council is very real and has a direct and substantial impact on the authority’s ability to deliver key services,” says Serco’s Kevin Tuttle, who heads up the Council’s Debt Collection teams.

Kevin is connected with James (as I mentioned earlier) so one can assume James works for Serco IMO.

Again not that it really matters... sounds like the Council have taken some services back off Serco in the last six months so hopefully you can start the process off of adding council tax debt management to that list.

[Amethyst]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

First instance - Council complaints
Complaints Team, Thurrock Council, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, RM17 6SL

: 0845 300 5263

: complaints@thurrock.gov.uk


Then the Local Government Ombudsman

(AS WELL AS speaking to your local MP - http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/249...price/thurrock ?)

[bizzybob]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

I am wondering if this Serco troll has the personal motto of "num minus obnoxium".

One tactic to use with people like this is to say to them "Am I to understand that you are refusing to accept any payment whatsoever?" It shuts them up, if nothing else. Those foolish enough to try and respond quite often, in my experience, end up digging themselves into a hole.

Especially if it is during a phone call you happen to have recorded..

[John139]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

I've looked up my local councillors am a little worried as they are all either conservative or UKIP and so will, i think, be a little invested in backing serco up.

I would like to complain about Mr De La Fuente though as he was so clear that I will be arrested without any prior court case - which reading all your replies seems to be completely false. Does anyone have any idea how I might do this?


P.S thank you again for all these replies, I've really been at my wits end today imagining my entire career going down the toilet just because I couldn't get anyone to accept money from me.

You do a fantastic job here, thank you.

Re: Threatened with prison today.

James De La Fuente

A fine, traditional, English name - and so common-place that I had little difficulty finding him...
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/james-de-...nte/23/831/522

He was incredibly rude and condescending, so much so it took my breath away and as I was still reeling from the prison threat, I could barely reply.

He does not - of course - reside in Thurrock. His home town is Southend-on-Sea.

I had to google Stercus bovi

Just click on this:
caput jacobi est plenis stercus

Re: Threatened with prison today.

I would strongly advise you to get your ward councillors and MP involved in your case.

Find them at https://www.writetothem.com

[Amethyst]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

Well James de la Fuent from Essex's linked in is private but he is 'connected' with Kevin Tuttle who is a Debt Manager at Thurrock Council - can't see if James is employed by Thurrock Council directly or Serco. Doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things as he is acting on behalf of the council regardless.

[bluebottle]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

Most definitely, and hopefully the local members will be savvy enough to realise that their officers and Serco are royally shafting them and setting them up for in extremis a Surcharge or criminal charges.

I am wondering if this Serco troll has the personal motto of "num minus obnoxium".

One tactic to use with people like this is to say to them "Am I to understand that you are refusing to accept any payment whatsoever?" It shuts them up, if nothing else. Those foolish enough to try and respond quite often, in my experience, end up digging themselves into a hole.

[Laurieloo2]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

Thank you all for taking the time with this I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Hope you deal with it soon and put the experiance behind you!
As others have said, make the monthly repayments via internet banking or direct by councils website, ignore the debt collection company they are trying their luck. They will try anything as lets face it who is going to stop them???!!! Dont fall for it, pay off what you can every month, notify the council in writing (would send recorded post to get signature) that you are paying £XX on XXX date every month, as long as you stick to it you will find it will subside. And as Bluebottle said I would get local MP involved writing to him detailing events. A lot of local MPs even have Twitter and Facebook memberships so you could also post direct to their page, im sure you would get a response when its there for all to see!!
Let us know how you get on but please dont have any sleepless nights about it, set up the payments, write the necessary letters and know that you are paying off the debt - any court would see that and throw it out anyway!

[bizzybob]

Re: Threatened with prison today.

Nothwithstanding, BB, if they went into court and alleged refusal to pay, knowing they had actively prevented and refused to accept payment, and the court got wind of it, the council would be royally stuffed. Taking account of the behaviour of Whyte & Co, Thurrock Council and, possibly, Serco, all three of them may well be acting unlawfully. It is vitally important the OP gets their ward councillors and MP onboard asap.

Most definitely, and hopefully the local members will be savvy enough to realise that their officers and Serco are royally shafting them and setting them up for in extremis a Surcharge or criminal charges.

Re: Threatened with prison today.

The DEbt managment officer is the guys title and his letters are all on headed thurrock council paper.

His use of official - or official-looking - stationery means precisely nothing, as it seems that Thurrock Council have actually been daft enough to let Serco into the Council Offices to run their Revenue Collection operation.

One might believe it to be an act of folly that could only be surpassed by appointing Count Dracula to run the Blood Transfusion Service.