Council tax debt has exploded in recent years, and it’s going nowhere. Councils are increasingly turning to bailiffs - sent in to violently enforce payments that people simply can’t afford. Visits have gone up to a whopping 1.7 million over the last two years, with over 4 million of us behind on council tax bills.
A recent report [1] from the Enforcement Conduct Board, the organisation that’s meant to oversee bailiffs, details cases of harassment and intimidation.
‘Body worn video captures him shouting and swearing’
A couple were told that ‘if they did not settle the debt, they would lose everything.’
‘Body worn video footage captured the agent banging loudly on Ms D’s door and window, and laughing at her on several occasions.’
These are just a few of the instances where bailiffs have overstepped the mark. No one should face harassment or intimidation because of being in debt.
