Council use of enforcement agencies for debt-collecting
To whom it may concern,
I would please like to request the following information:
1) In the financial years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 (Up to 07.02.24), could you please provide me with the total monetary value of council-related debts (such as council tax, parking fines, failures to pay business rates and housing arrears) which were referred to external enforcement agencies?
2) Of this figure, please could you provide the amount that was recovered by external debt agencies broken down for each of the financial years referenced?
3) For each of those financial years, please provide the number of complaints the council has received about the conduct of external bailiffs and debt collectors.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email address] should any aspect of my request require clarification.
Yours faithfully, and many thanks,
Helen Hoddinott
Good morning,
Please see below for responses to the Freedom of Information request you submitted to North Warwickshire Borough Council.
1) In the financial years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 (Up to 07.02.24), could you please provide me with the total monetary value of council-related debts (such as council tax, parking fines, failures to pay business rates and housing arrears) which were referred to external enforcement agencies?
2021/22 - £0
2022/23 - £0
01/04/2023 - 07/02/2024 - £1,049,275.99
2) Of this figure, please could you provide the amount that was recovered by external debt agencies broken down for each of the financial years referenced?
2021/22 - £30,725.08
2022/23 - £11,008,16
01/04/2023 - 07/02/2024 - £315,163,73
With regard to the responses to question two for 2022/22 and 2022/23: please note that the amounts recovered are residual payments received from debts already with the external debt agencies prior to 2021. No new debts were sent to the enforcement agents in 2021 or 2022.
3) For each of those financial years, please provide the number of complaints the council has received about the conduct of external bailiffs and debt collectors.
2021/22 - 0
2022/23 - 0
01/04/2023 - 07/02/2024 - 0
If you would like a review of the response to your request or if you have any complaints about the information supplied please contact the Data Protection Officer.
The Data Protection Officer ([North Warwickshire Borough Council request email])
North Warwickshire Borough Council
The Council House
South Street
Atherstone
Warwickshire
CV9 1DE
Your request for an internal review should be submitted to us within 40 days of receipt by you of this response. Any requests received after this time will be considered at the discretion of the Council’s Data Protection Officer. If having exhausted the review process you are not content that your request or review has been dealt with correctly, you have a further right of appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO will not make a decision until you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate). Website: www.ico.org.uk.
Kind regards,
The FOI Team
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