Surge in councils using bailiffs to chase debts, including parking fines

11/sep/2019

Councils across England and Wales sent 2.6 million debts to bailiffs in 2018-19, a 7 per cent rise on the year before, according to analysis.

The Money Advice Trust (MAT), which runs National Debtline and Business Debtline, found a huge surge in the use of use in bailiffs to chase parking fines

The charity made the findings after receiving freedom of information (FOI) responses from 367 local authorities.

Bailiffs, also known as enforcement agents, can visit a property to remove and sell goods to repay certain debts, including council tax arrears, parking notices and other debts owed to councils.

The MAT’s new figures show parking debts were passed to bailiffs on nearly 1.1 million occasions – a 21% like-for-like increase on the same period in 2016-17.

The charity said three in 10 (30%) callers to its National Debtline last year had council tax arrears – up from just 15% in 2008.

Many of these callers are subject to bailiff action, with 83% of National Debtline callers who have experienced bailiff action surveyed reporting a negative impact on their wellbeing.

The MAT said it has found evidence that more councils are adopting best practice on affordability and vulnerability.

It found 64 councils have now signed up to the Citizens Advice/LGA (Local Government Association) council tax protocol – up from 50 two years ago. A further 23 councils said they are considering doing this.

The number of council tax debts passed to bailiffs remained stable, but remains high at more than 1.4 million referrals in 2018-19, the MAT said.

The charity said three in 10 (30%) callers to its National Debtline last year had council tax arrears – up from just 15% in 2008.

Many of these callers are subject to bailiff action, with 83% of National Debtline callers who have experienced bailiff action surveyed reporting a negative impact on their wellbeing.