£1,000 SALFORD COUNCIL TAX ENFORCEMENT CHARGES PUTS POVERTY COMMISSIONER IN MORE POVERTY - Salford Star

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£1,000 SALFORD COUNCIL TAX ENFORCEMENT CHARGES PUTS POVERTY COMMISSIONER IN MORE POVERTY

Star date: 10th November 2016

SALFORD CITY COUNCIL PUTS POVERTY TRUTH COMMISSIONER IN MORE POVERTY

"These are worse than loan sharks..."

When the Salford Poverty Truth Commission launched in July to talk `poverty truth' to those in authority, it was sponsored by Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, and one of the words that kept re-occurring was `Bailiffs'.

Yesterday, Angela Barratt, one of the community Poverty Truth Commissioners, got a notice for the `removal and sale of your goods' from Jacobs bailiffs, acting on behalf of Salford Council. The £932 debt they were claiming wasn't for actual Council Tax but the remainder of over £1,000 charges made by the bailiffs themselves.

Full details here...

click image to enlarge

"They'd put £1,100 on the debt in a day!"

Back in July, the Salford Poverty Truth Commission launched, with people from the city's community acting as Poverty Truth Commissioners, bravely telling their real life stories of hardship. Each Commissioner showed the audience a word which summed up their predicament and one that kept re-occurring was `Bailiffs'.

Speaking at the event was Commission sponsor, Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, who explained that, while poverty is seen in numerical terms, it's about "the lived experience...people in communities need to tell us".*

One of those unpaid Commissioners was Angela Barratt, who told of her experiences working on the streets with homeless people. Today, Angela has her own story of how Salford City Council put a Salford Poverty Truth Commissioner in more poverty...

Angela had a Council Tax debt of £365 for last year, couldn't pay it and in March got a notice for the `removal and sale of your goods' from Jacobs bailiffs, acting on behalf of Salford Council.

"I wasn't home that day, and the next day they posted another notice through saying I owed £1,465; they'd put £1,100 on the debt in a day" she recalls "I phoned the Council and they said I'd have to make arrangements to pay with these enforcement officers, and they wouldn't take the debt back and allow me to make a payment plan.

"I saw the bailiffs and they wouldn't let me make a plan unless I paid them the Council Tax debt of £365, and would then get me a payment card for the rest" she explains "I had to borrow the money because I'm on a low income which made me more in debt again. I then got a payment card for £1,100 which I'm still paying off."

Yesterday, although Angela hadn't missed a payment, she came home to find another `Removal' notice from Jacobs, for the £932 remainder of the debt...

"I was in shock" she says "I thought `Oh My God, just before Christmas; how is this allowed?'"

Angela again phoned Jacobs and was told that the company didn't have any proof of her income, even though she had to provide that before the payment card was issued in March. Jacobs stated that if she provided proof of income again they would cease action.

"I just think they wanted their money right away" says Angela "But why put me through the stress and worry of a debt that they've put me in, that's not even the Salford Council Tax bill? They must be doing this all over Salford. These are worse than loan sharks, for me they're basically terrorists, and they're not the only company.

"I think it's really unforgiving when I've got young children, do lots for the community and am struggling to live week in week out" she adds "And this kind of thing must also be a nightmare for other people with young families on low incomes. The first thing you do when you get one of these Removal notices is not answer the door because you're scared that everything you've got will be taken away."

That Jacobs bailiffs are working for a council which claims it wants to relieve poverty and is actively involved in the Salford Poverty Truth Commission, particularly gauls Angela. Salford Council, via its contracted bailiffs, are actually putting her and others into poverty...

"I would like people to come forward and tell what is going on in their homes in Salford, especially the elderly and people with young families" she says "Who doesn't owe money for Council Tax, Bedroom Tax or the rent these days? Our councillors are supposed to help us but this is absolutely disgusting. The Council needs to stop this straight away."

Salford's Mayor wanted to hear about "the lived experience". Here is just one example. But what's he going to do about it?

Jacobs work with 165 local authorities, and states on its website that it has a specialist management team "ensuring our services are fit for purpose". It further claims that "our Client Management and Development teams are all former Local Authority Senior Managers. This brings additional specialist understanding of Local Authority requirements..."

The Salford Star phoned Jacobs for a comment, and after holding on for ages due to `very high call volumes', finally got through only to be told that the company "doesn't deal with the press".

*For full details of the Salford Poverty Truth Commission see previous Salford Star articles – click here and click here

Steve Adams wrote
at 10:47:54 on 30 December 2016

We see these cases all the time but not just from Salford council but the majority of councils. Its a vile use of force but you can challenge them on their own fees but do so via the council under formal complaint. www.businessratehelp.co.uk

Legal or lawfull wrote
at 13:41:11 on 13 November 2016

call to Jacobs bailiffs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUo6gDT5SrY everything the lady says is correct Has any ever received their seal copy from the court ?

Penny wrote
at 09:57:49 on 13 November 2016

@Law Abiding Citizen, this is no liability order. 1. It has never been to court. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXBtGluyPJE The council issue their own fake summons and then hire a court room for the day to grant unlawful liability orders. 2. Goods are items for sale, commercial, people have private possessions 3. The bailiff can only use passive means to entry your home If a bailiff is able to enter your home through an open door or window, this is viewed as you letting them in, so make sure you keep doors and windows shut and locked at all times. If the court does not have a copy of the order then again illegal 3.5bmillion orders are granted each year, but no one has seen one. explain that. I assume you work for Salford council youtube: Jacobs bailiffs NO court record, NO court case !! if Jacobs bailiffs are contractors to the council then they are subject to FOI requests

Wendy Olsen wrote
at 21:29:22 on 12 November 2016

My heart uoholds all who are short of money at present. I question the wisdom or ethics of putting individual cases in the public eye. With poverty widespread, we can use averages and percents. That way individual dignity and safety are protected. The council should help people not attack them.

Law Abiding Citizen wrote
at 21:28:42 on 12 November 2016

Penny is providing the worst possible advice on behalf of the CAB. Non payment is passed onto the Magistrates Court whereby the court will ensure correct efforts have been made by the council and the correct person is being persued. The court will raise a Liability order against the Liable person for Non Payment of CT and this is sent to the relevant Enforcement Agents, with permission from the Coury to resolve under the Tribunals, Courts & Enforcements Act 2007 Schedule 12 (Taking Control Of Goods). Civil matter, yes/maybe though still enforceable. Criminal matter, yes, if an Enforcement Agent is obstructed in their duties. TCE Act 2007, Schedule 13 Clause 68. Council tax is enforceable and avoidance is NOT the way forward. A liability or gives the EA permission to enter a premises using the usual means of access, in pursuit of money or goods that are believed to be in relation to the person(s) stated on the liability order. If a liable person is struggling then contact the council immeadiately to make alterative arrangements and avoid enforcement action that will Not go away. It's that simple.

Penny wrote
at 07:18:06 on 12 November 2016

The CAB, now tell people to ignore the bailiffs and wait till the matter is passed back to the council, at which point all the Bailiff charges are removed. check out the the web site: beat the bailiffs or getoutofdebtfree The bailiffs can not force entry and will not be working under a lawfully issued court order (alway insist on a copy of the paperwork and record their actions). Since 2015 the police are not long to assist in these civil matters. (They should never have been, but police get some of their funding from the council, so a conflict of interest)

rotten wrote
at 16:04:38 on 11 November 2016

The issue of a summons for non-payment of council tax or non-domestic rates must be authorised by a Justice of the Peace or Legal Adviser with delegated powers from a Justices’ Clerk. Fees are chargeable and the decision of the court at the hearing must be recorded in a court register. Investigations by Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) staff have identified examples of a small number of magistrates’ courts failing to follow the correct procedures. In particular HMCS has identified examples of fees not being charged to local authorities for issuing proceedings and some examples of a failure at Salford magistrates’ court to enter the results of applications for liability orders on the court register. More seriously two magistrates’ courts, Rochdale and Salford permitted the local authorities to issue summonses requiring attendance at court without the authorisation of the court. This was a clear procedural failing and was immediately stopped when it came to light. Individuals and the magistrates concerned in subsequently hearing cases would not have been aware of this irregularity. As confirmed by the court 2015 and 2016, it still has no record of the signature Salford council is using and does not record the judgments. so still acting criminally. google or youtube: council tax is a scam this highlights the abuse of the legal system

rotten wrote
at 16:04:22 on 11 November 2016

Serve on the court a CPR 5.4.2 request, which gives then 48hrs to provide access to the court file. There should be. A copy of the summons (Ask who signed it), affidavit, a claim form and a receipt for payment. If a lawfully issued liability order was made, there will also be a copy(Ask who signed it). If any of the above is missing then the case may have been unlawful and you can take criminal action against those involved.

Milk float wrote
at 06:14:36 on 11 November 2016

Adding an extortionate amount of additional debt on what is owed is unlawfull as it forces the debtor (human being) into a situation that makes it impossible to pay back the original amount owed !! It would be nice to hear from other Debtors and how they are managing there payment plans and what Jacobs are like to deal with if you unfortunate to get clobbered with a £1000 plus charge on top of what is owed

gerr wrote
at 06:14:29 on 11 November 2016

I thought that bailiff fees wewrent enforceable on the same liability order and they had to start seperate civil recovery proceedings for their fees

Mr b. r exit wrote
at 06:13:27 on 11 November 2016

I look forward to salford labour council sending in the bailiffs to recover our money that is owed by salford reds and other companies, millionairs. Like I been saying for years, this labour council want to social cleanse the salford people out of salford, just as true Londoners have been forced out of their own city, London. Change is on it's way with the election of president Donald trump.

Alan Timmins wrote
at 20:10:00 on 10 November 2016

If people can't pay, what is the point of persuing them so that they are just deeper and deeper in debt. How can anybody justify an additional charge of £1100 in just one day? Somebody in Salford Council needs to stand up and be counted to stop these 'Stazi' tactics. For God's sake what happened to Christian values and community spirit. It's absolutely appalling that Salford Council can stand by and let this happen in 2016.

Michael James Felse wrote
at 20:09:56 on 10 November 2016

This is a disgrace. Debt is not a crime it should not be increased when repayment plans have not been exhausted. Then any fine by bailiffs should be limited to base bank rate. I want to see this written into the new MetroMayor charter along with citizens right of appeal where any Local Council is see hurting their citizens. I also want compensation back dated where bailiffs caused stress.

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