Council urged to ditch debt collectors who add 'fear and stress' over unpaid bills

Stockport council has been urged to ditch debt collectors who add 'fear and stress' to residents struggling to pay their bills.

Labour MP Navendu Mishra said the council can protect its income and help vulnerable households by signing up to the Citizens Advice ethical debt collection protocol.

The town hall has recovered nearly £10m from debt collectors since 2019 according to a freedom of information request, with more than 20,000 cases of unpaid council tax passed to an enforcement firm.

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This covers both Lib Dem and Labour administrations at the local authority.

The debt collection firm charges fees on top of unpaid council tax, including £75 for a notice of enforcement, £235 when an agent visits their home, and £110 for the removal of goods.

These charges are set in accordance with national law, and not by the debt collection firm.

The Lib Dem Group in Stockport said it has already been working on adopting the Citizens Advice ethical debt collection protocol and will do so shortly.

Mr Mishra said: "The cost of living crisis has left many people in Stockport and across the country struggling financially. The use of bailiffs compounds this, adding fear and stress to the hardship many already feel.

"My concern is that when debt is passed to enforcement agencies the amount of arrears increase substantially adding further hardship and worry to people who are already suffering financially.

"Stockport Council must sign up to the Citizens Advice charter for ethical debt collection, because this represents an opportunity for the council to improve people’s lives and behave ethically, while continuing to protect their vital revenue."

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