BAILIFFS have been used to collect outstanding debts owed to Wirral Council more than 12,000 times over the last 12 months.

Figures published today by the Money Advice Trust – the charity that runs the National Debtline – shows the authority instructed bailiffs to collect debts from individuals and businesses on 12,214 times in 2014/15 – up 52% in two years.

The number of debts passed to bailiffs was equivalent to 7.86% of properties in the area, ranking the council 94 out of 326 for local authority bailiff use in England and Wales.

Wirral Council ended the 2014/15 year with £17.3 million in unpaid council tax arrears.

Nationally, councils instructed bailiffs to collect debts on 2.1 million occasions last year. This is despite calls for debt collection practices to improve.

The Money Advice Trust’s ‘Stop the Knock’ research – based on Freedom of Information requests to local authorities – shows the readiness with which councils are instructing private bailiffs, despite the serious negative impact this can have on residents and businesses in financial difficulty.

Councils that use bailiffs – now known legally as ‘enforcement agents’ - the most were also found to have had less success, on average, in collecting council tax arrears.

Joanne Elson OBE, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said: “Something is seriously wrong here. On the front line of debt advice we know that sending the bailiffs in can deepen debt problems, rather than solve them – and it can also have a severe impact on the wellbeing of people who are often already in a vulnerable situation.

“Bailiff action is not only harmful to those in arrears – it is also a poor deal for the council taxpayer. Our research shows that those local authorities that use bailiffs the most are actually less successful, on average, at collecting council tax arrears. This is a lose-lose situation.”

Earlier this year, the Globe reported how more than 8,000 children across Wirral are living in fear of bailiffs as their families struggle with unpaid council tax.

Figures from The Children’s Society revealed that 4,673 families on Wirral have experienced council tax debt, affecting 8,075 children.

In March, a spokesman for Wirral Council said enforcement agents work to policies and procedures designed to safeguard and take account of vulnerable people, including children, with all staff subject to daily monitoring.

“Enforcement agents actively signpost customers to free debt advice,” added the council spokesman.

“Where a customer is seeking advice and support, an advice protocol allows time for the customer to seek advice and propose a repayment plan without any further action occurring on the account.”

It is no secret that local authorities across the country are facing significant funding pressures but while they have a duty to collect what they are owed, Ms Elson said too many councils are “far too quick” to escalate to bailiff action.

She added: “Our message is clear – bailiffs should only be used as an absolute last resort, and the earlier residents and business owners who are struggling can be signposted to free sources of advice such as National Debtline or Business Debtline, the better.”

Joe Blott, Wirral’s strategic director of transformation and resources said: "We have a duty to recover debts on behalf of the council taxpayer, and in difficult economic times, more people are likely to default. Non-payment of council tax also puts an additional strain on our resources and essential services. 

"The agency we use has to work to policies designed to safeguard vulnerable people, and where necessary, will refer cases to their welfare team to deal with. They also actively signpost customers to free debt advice."

  • Anyone who is struggling to cope with council tax arrears or any other kind of debt can seek free advice from National Debtline at nationaldebtline.org or by phoning 0808 808 4000.

National Debtline’s Bailiff Golden Rules

  • You should get notice in advance that a bailiff is likely to call.
  • If you know that a visit is likely, make sure that you do not leave any windows or external doors open.
  • If the bailiffs have not already taken details of your car, hide it well away from your property or lock it in a garage. If you do not have access to a garage, you could park the vehicle away from your property.
  • owever, if the bailiff finds it, they could clamp or remove it.  The bailiffs can also clamp or remove your vehicle if you park it on your own drive.
  • When bailiffs visit, they should show you identification such as a badge or ID card, when you request it, so you know who they are.
  • In most cases, bailiffs should not force entry to your home if they have not been in before.
  • You do not have to let the bailiff into your home if they have not been in peacefully before.
  • If the bailiff has been into your home, taken control of your goods properly and you have not kept to any agreement you made with them, they usually have the right to return and take your goods. There are goods that bailiffs should not take, such as essential household items or items that belong to someone else.
  • Keep calm and don’t be intimidated. Getting angry or fighting with a bailiff will make the situation worse.