ACORN England & Wales Campaigns

Council tax is forcing increasing numbers of households into a debt spiral. Referrals to bailiff companies for council tax debt have increased 30% in the last 2 years, which is more families faced with trauma, and more money piled onto debts.

The rules around council tax collection are unjust - people struggling financially are given just 2 weeks to settle a debt before they can become liable for an entire year's bill, and added fees from bailiff companies and courts make smaller debts unmanageable overnight. Local authorities aren’t getting the money they need to run our local services and families are facing trauma, with bailiffs breaking the rules in at least 1 in every 3 visits.

Because of how council tax is worked out, and because cash strapped councils in poorer areas need more money to deliver local services, a person living in a 2 up 2 down in Hartlepool pays more than someone living in a luxury flat in Battersea Power Station. Council tax isn’t working and should be replaced by a system where those who have more contribute more, and a system that doesn’t pile unaffordable bills and extra debts onto people who are struggling.

ACORN is fighting for change and calling for:

Ending the use of bailiffs for council tax debt collection.
Fair treatment across all councils, ending the unfair postcode lottery.
Guarantee residents reasonable time to address arrears before a council goes to court.
Capping the fees added on by councils for court costs to £10
Reinstating centrally funded council tax benefits to protect the lowest-income households.
Abolishing imprisonment for council tax debt.
A fairer alternative to council tax, such as a proportional property tax.
While bailiffs are still being used, giving the Enforcement Conduct Board (which monitors bailiff behaviour) legal footing to crack down on unacceptable treatment.

On November 26th the chancellor is announcing the budget for the country, and there has been a lot of talk about her considering changes to council tax and property tax. This is a big opportunity to push for a better system - please write to your MP and ask them to support our campaign.

Council tax is forcing increasing numbers of households into a debt spiral. Referrals to bailiff companies for council tax debt have increased 30% in the last 2 years, which is more families faced with trauma, and more money piled onto debts.

The rules around council tax collection are unjust - people struggling financially are given just 2 weeks to settle a debt before they can become liable for an entire year's bill, and added fees from bailiff companies and courts make smaller debts unmanageable overnight. Local authorities aren’t getting the money they need to run our local services and families are facing trauma, with bailiffs breaking the rules in at least 1 in every 3 visits.

Because of how council tax is worked out, and because cash strapped councils in poorer areas need more money to deliver local services, a person living in a 2 up 2 down in Hartlepool pays more than someone living in a luxury flat in Battersea Power Station. Council tax isn’t working and should be replaced by a system where those who have more contribute more, and a system that doesn’t pile unaffordable bills and extra debts onto people who are struggling.

ACORN is fighting for change and calling for:

Ending the use of bailiffs for council tax debt collection.
Fair treatment across all councils, ending the unfair postcode lottery.
Guarantee residents reasonable time to address arrears before a council goes to court.
Capping the fees added on by councils for court costs to £10
Reinstating centrally funded council tax benefits to protect the lowest-income households.
Abolishing imprisonment for council tax debt.
A fairer alternative to council tax, such as a proportional property tax.
While bailiffs are still being used, giving the Enforcement Conduct Board (which monitors bailiff behaviour) legal footing to crack down on unacceptable treatment.

On November 26th the chancellor is announcing the budget for the country, and there has been a lot of talk about her considering changes to council tax and property tax. This is a big opportunity to push for a better system - please write to your MP and ask them to support our campaign.

Tell your MP: Fight for a Bailiff Free Britain!

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Subject:

Ahead of the Chancellors budget I urge you to speak up for the thousands of people struggling with council tax debt across the country and call for council tax to be overhauled in favour of a fairer system.

Too many people are unable to pay their rising council tax costs and are falling into a debt spiral. Council tax is fundamentally regressive - it is based on house values from over 30 years ago. Currently residents pay more for an average house in Hartlepool than a luxury flat in Battersea Power Station.

I support ACORN the Community Union’s campaign Bailiff Free Britain which calls for changes to the laws which have seen referrals to bailiff companies for council tax debt increase by 30% in the last year.

Bailiff visits are traumatising families struggling with the cost of living. Our current council tax collection system treats anyone in debt as though they are refusing, rather than unable, to pay. This is despite research by Debt Justice, Citizens Advice and Stepchange highlighting that the overwhelming majority of people in arrears are living on or below the poverty line. One missed council tax payment can escalate to owing the entire year’s bill after missing just one month. With added fees piled on by councils and enforcement companies, a £100 debt can increase into over a thousand pounds in less than a month.

Please support calls to overhaul council tax by making a case to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and, while changes take place, speak to the Secretary of State for Local Government Steve Reed in support of changing the unjust rules around council tax debt collection which are pushing residents further into poverty and forcing them into the intimidation and trauma of visits by a bailiff.

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