Don't be intimidated by Sheriff Officer bullies

By John Ball, submitted by mike92 on Wed, 10/09/2008 - 13:01

Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty write:

We are organising opposition to a Council clamp-down against people who owe council tax. People are contacting us who have been subjected to outrageous treatment by sheriff officers Scott and Co, collecting council tax arrears for the City of Edinburgh Council.

- A young man was threatened by sheriffs at his door that unless he paid nearly £200 in cash immediately, they could come in and take his possessions. (A lie – they can only force entry if a special court hearing grants an Exceptional Attachment order). Terrified, the young man and his girlfriend paid on the doorstep in cash, leaving themselves with no money even to buy food for their baby. When they got advice, it was proved the amount demanded was wrong, and the sheriffs had to repay much of the money.
- People who have been paying their current Council Tax, and also paying a regular agreed sum every month to their arrears, suddenly facing demands to drastically increase their payments. When people have provided evidence that this was impossible, some have been threatened with sequestration and thus the potential loss of their home.

We have discovered that the Edinburgh City Council meeting of 29 January adopted a new recovery plan for council tax arrears. This branded 2,673 people as "can pay, wont pays" and aims to force them to pay their arrears within a year. Since many people allegedly owe thousands of pounds, this is often impossible.

Edinburgh Council is a Liberal Democrat – SNP coalition – both avowedly in favour of abolishing the Council Tax, but in practice hounding those who can’t pay it. Politicians = hypocrites?

Read the full story of the Council's disgusting decision - and find out the names of the guilty councillors - at http://scotland.indymedia.org/node/11121

STOP THE SHERIFF

If sheriff officers turn up at your door - don't let them in, don't speak to them, and don't give them any money. They have NO legal right to force entry into your home without a court hearing granting an "Exceptional Attachment Order" - you would have known of the court hearing, as you can contest the application.

If you get a threatening letter from sheriff officers or the Council, don't panic and pay more than you can afford. Contact us for advice and support. We have many successes in opposing unjust demands. We can back you up in your negotiations with the Council or Sherrifs – and ultimately we can call on our solidarity phone tree to muster physical support where needed.

Remember Council Tax debt is a civil matter, NOT a criminal matter. It is nothing to do with the police, you cannot be arrested or charged for council tax debt. Sheriffs have threatened people with the police – more lies.

Join our opposition to the Sheriff and Council bullies, resist the unjust Council Tax. Take posters and leaflets to distribute, join us in actions to fightback. Come to our monthly meetings – details October meeting below - or drop in any Tuesday 1-4pm.

EDINBURGH COALITION AGAINST POVERTY and Edinburgh Claimants run an open advice and solidarity session on debt, benefits and other problems every Tuesday

1-4pm at the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh (ACE),

Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty c/o ACE, 17 W Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA 0131 557 6242 (ACE also open Sat 11-6pm and Thurs 6-8pm) ecap@lists.riseup.net

Watch out for our new website, soon to go live…..

Come to our meeting to plan action to resist the Council and sheriff bullies :

7.30pm tues 7th October at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA

More on this topic at http://scotland.indymedia.org/node/11121

Comments

Re: Don't be intimidated by Sheriff Officer bullies

By Anonymous, submitted on Tue, 16/09/2008 - 09:23

Thanks for this helpful article. We are law-abiding, council-tax paying citizens but received a Summary Warrant letter from Scott & Co after making regular council tax payments, but making them at the wrong time of the month! So, we don't really owe the council anything - but we have been told that we must pay £1391.12 immediately. It is impossible to deal sensibly with this matter because the council refuses to speak to you over the phone and you have to write in - but, given that you only have seven days to come to an arrangement before they send the bully boys round, this is not enough time. Scott & Co are less than helpful. Futhermore, the letter telling you that a Summary Warrant has been granted against you informs you that you have "seven days to pay" but it doesn't say when the seven days are up. The first time I was able to deal with this matter was eight days after the date on the letter - because of the weekend and a local holiday. I will be writing to the Director of Finance today to tell him/her that fear and intimidation is not a civilised way of dealing with what is, in effect, a simple mistake on our part. Fortunately we are not of a nervous disposition, but some people would be made ill by this sort of treatment. It is totally unacceptable behavious, and I will be complaining to my local councillors about it. JB

Re: Don't be intimidated by Sheriff Officer bullies

By Anonymous, submitted on Fri, 09/01/2009 - 11:32

Re the above comment - the same thing happened to me.

I am feeling unjustly punished for simply forgetting to reinstate a direct debit over the Christmas holiday. I have paid my Edinburgh council tax by direct debt for the 18 months I have lived in my property. All fine and good. I had to cancel the direct debt in September though due to financial reasons but made a bulk payment in December to keep up to date, leaving only £300 on my bill for the Jan-March period. My intention was to pay the remaining money in the New Year. A few days after the New Year holiday however, I receive a letter from Scott & Co telling me my balance must be paid in 7 days. I have paid it, but the intimidation of a threatening letter was very unsettling. Edinburgh City Council ought to review their policy. Surely, a simple e-mail or letter reminder is possible, without resorting to this drastic action? Especially given the small amount, and my past record of regularly making payments.

I have faithfully paid council tax all my life, in four different council locations across the UK, and never been issued with such a letter. Like many, I have to work hard to balance my finances, but would never deliberately avoid paying council tax, as the drastic tone of the Scott & Co letter implies.

I too shall be writing o the Director of Finance - particularly as aI incurred an additional £30 fine. If the same thing has happened to you - what did you do?