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SALFORD CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE COUNCIL TAX DEBT DIRECTLY FROM EMPLOYER
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Star date: 8th July 2019 COUNCIL TAX DEBTS TO BE DEDUCTED DIRECTLY FROM EARNINGS VIA EMPLOYER Salford City Council is one of 29 local authorities trialling a scheme whereby anyone who has a Council Tax debt and isn't paying will have money automatically deducted from their earnings through their employer. One resident is already battling Salford Council over a deduction of earnings order for an alleged housing benefit overpayment, with almost tragic consequences. Full details here...
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Salford City Council, along with Manchester City Council, are amongst 29 local councils to take part in a year-long trial working with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to take Council Tax debts directly from earnings via employers. Under the Digital Economy Act (2017), councils can now work with HMRC to share employment information. Attachment of Earnings orders are usually used to recover debts - however, if a person fails to or refuses to supply their employment details this new method will kick in. "If a person is found to be unemployed or does not hit a low income threshold, their debt will not be taken from them automatically" Manchester and Salford Councils state; without confirming what the 'low income threshold' is. "This one year trial is another method of ensuring that councils get the funds they need to pay for vital services" says Councillor Bill Hinds, Salford City Council's Lead Member for Finance and Support Services. Salford City Council is owed around £8.5million in Council Tax from 2018/19, although £6.3million of arrears was also collected in the same year. "We've already seen our council tax recovery increase this year up to 92.17% for Council Tax" Hinds adds "Anyone who needs debt advice as part of this scheme will be offered it; we have launched Better Off coffee and chat sessions to help people who are struggling to pay their Council Tax in any circumstances and always encourage anyone in that position to speak to us as soon as possible. "But those who can afford to pay but don't will face a crack down" he insists "It's only fair that they pay for the services they benefit from, along with the thousands of people who pay regularly each and every month." The pilot will last one year before being reviewed, after which a decision will be made whether to roll out the programme to all councils in England and Wales. The new powers under the Act might not be for just Council Tax debts... One resident has already been in touch with the Salford Star concerning an apparent direct deduction of earnings of 20% of his net £1,317 monthly pay for an alleged housing benefit overpayment from eleven years ago, which he disputes. He wrote to Councillor Hinds, amongst other Salford councillors and officers... "Your bullying actions are now affecting my mental health, aggravating my heart condition, as well as affecting my employment." He offered instead to pay £10 a month, despite disputing the amount..."You can see from the income/expenditure form that this is all I can afford. Should you ignore this, and force ahead with your bullying threats to enforce the deduction from earnings order, you will be leaving me with insufficient funds to live on a monthly basis. "I am struggling financially as it is" he added "How do you expect that I wilI pay my rent? My Council Tax? My utility bills? My medication? Please clarify. I trust that you will be taking the same course of action with other debtors - such as Salford Stadium? "...I would like to congratulate you" he wrote in a later email "You have driven an NHS worker, with a history of Mental Health problems, with a heart condition, with hypertension, to the verge of suicide..." The Council arranged a meeting but the resident was unable to attend... "I was taken to A&E last night, with Atrial Fibrillation and chest pains. This is a direct result of Salford Councils bullying and threats..." Councillor Hinds responded... "I do not accept that we have bullied you although I do appreciate that because of your health problems it may seem that way to you... Perhaps if you had made contact when Sue Virgin [Council officer] e-mailed you on at least two emails I have seen, all this could have been avoided." The next email sent by the resident shows proof of how his emails to the officer were blocked – with the Council using a thing called 'real time blacklist'...The case is ongoing...
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Bill Maguire wrote
at 05:06:11 on 14 July 2019 |
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| Not hit a nerve have l mr “realist no Mark”, and mr riddler I’ll name a second, halfing the foreign aid we give, there’s two alone that’s worth voting for the brexit Party for. |
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Realist wrote
at 09:05:11 on 13 July 2019 |
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| Bill Maguire wobble your own head and just be quiet ok, just shush now, no one is interested in what you say. |
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Bill Maguire wrote
at 18:12:35 on 12 July 2019 |
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| Rayofsunshine and realist, Mary’s and joe have done more for Salford people than you two no marks have ever done. And if this isn’t the case then publish your names and tell us what you’ve done, have you got the bottle you pair of no marks. Ps realist, seems one minute your a socialist and next a capitalist, give your head a wobble, it might help. |
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The riddler wrote
at 18:11:58 on 12 July 2019 |
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| Rayofsunshine I’ll name one of them, scrapping the BBC licence tax, that alone will get my vote |
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Anon. wrote
at 18:11:04 on 12 July 2019 |
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| Hi. I'm the person featured in this article. Let me explain.
In October 2018, Salford Council wrote to me saying I had been overpaid Housing Benefit, dating back to a brief period when I was unemployed, over 11 years ago. I disputed this, and asked for evidence. All I got was a print out of dates they allege I was overpaid. I asked for more clarification, evidence, etc. I was told by Sue Virgin & Ian Atkinson, officers of Salford Council, that the DWP had told them my benefits had stopped. Again, I asked for evidence, etc. I was told "their records do not go back that far". I carried on disputing, asking for evidence, by e-mail, and my contact was blocked by Sue Virgin. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I received a letter informing me if I did not pay the money by 10th July, they would write to my employer to enforce a Deduction From Earnings Order, and they would take 20% from my take home pay. I googled this, and this is an order where Local Authorities, government agencies, do not need court orders (like they do for an attachment of earnings order). They do not consider whether or not you can afford this. Your employer has to adhere to the order. The affect this had on me was not good. I was forced into arranging payments, felt bullied and threatened into doing so. I was still disputing the alleged debt, however, and asking for information, evidence, etc. I got what can only be described as a "smarmy" email from Cllr Hinds saying "perhaps if you had replied to Sue Virgins e-mails this would have been resolved...". I replied that she blocked my e-mail, and attached evidence to confirm this. Cllr Hinds, despite me providing evidence, insists I was not blocked. Again, I sent evidence to confirm I was. He still maintains I ignored emails.
Then a chap called Steven Fry gets involved. Not that one. Head of customer services or something. He was as unhelpful as Cllr Hind, Sue Virgin, etc. He completely ignores my point about being blocked. Ignored my requests for evidence, clarification, etc. Eventually, on Wednesday, he said he had posted a letter, addressing all the points I raised, answering questions, providing "evidence". The letter came today. It was just a direct debit mandate. That's all.
So, I feel I have been bullied and forced into arranging payments for an alleged debt that I dispute. That the council cannot provide evidence of. Will not answer my questions, clarify points I have raised. Accuse me of ignoring their contact, despite me sending evidence Sue Virgin blocked me.
If I had not arranged a repayment scheme, they would have taken 20% from my net monthly pay.This is what they told me. I won't go into my finances, etc, but this would, after bills, rent, etc, have left me with roughly £86 a month to live on. They did not care. Still don't.
Just want to add, that Paul Dennett has been copied into every single email from me and also cllr Hinds, Steven Fry. He has not responded to any. No acknowledgement, nothing.
Such a professional. |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 18:10:39 on 12 July 2019 |
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| Joe,the fact that you have to resort to foul language when posting to this site,illustrates graphically how unsuited you are for an elected office,notwithstanding you obviously had an inferior education!!
You mouth platitudes about "more staffing" or having a new schedule of "property valuations" but you have no concrete strategy to bring these changes
into being - as I've remarked previously,Joe,you're just whistling in the wind. |
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joseph O'Neill wrote
at 08:45:39 on 12 July 2019 |
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| Millions of pounds of unpaid council tax and business rates are being lost because of staff shortages at Salford town hall, unions claim.
They also claim that up to 1,000 phone calls a day are being abandoned at the council's customer service contact centre.
Unison say there is currently a backlog of 9,000 council tax documents for discounts, exemptions, change of occupier, and 200 court cases are outstanding where action is required, Simple stage one even for a Prick like you ray sort out the point of collection, Stage two ask yourself when were the properties valued last? the rich in their luxury homes living the life while the poor in their abodes take up the slack leaving many unable to pay. The funding issues were being looked at by the government perhaps you would like a copy I can help with the big words. Perhaps you would like the right off figures kindly signed off by Mr Hinds? sad really Trafford can collect it's buisness rates offering a lower tax and Salford struggles. I can go on but grow a bloody pair of balls and face me sitting in a stained vest with a can of Special Brew putting out insults must get boring and I am sure this blog was designed for serious debate not drivel, The Tax is regressive but perhaps a new Tory Prime minister will prioritise funding streams perhaps less Foreign Aid and leaking warships who knows. |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 12:09:47 on 11 July 2019 |
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| Joe,apart from waxing lyrical about "Ingerland" and making arses of themselves in the European Parliament, what policies do the Brexit Party really
have ?
So come on,"Brain of Britain 1963" ,how would you maximise the payment of Council Tax in Salford? |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 05:48:22 on 11 July 2019 |
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| Rossi,get your facts straight;I've never called you
"a doley". Instead,I think you are an idle sociopath
who posts views that seek to boost your sense of self worth/confidence! Furthermore,in the past you have blamed "the ignorant unemployed" in Salford for keeping Labour in power. |
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ROSSI wrote
at 05:47:58 on 11 July 2019 |
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| Realist, Be Quiet. Society MUST look after its weakest citizens. This is one of the reasons why taxes are raised. I myself have never paid income tax, but I now pay council tax of £3.50 per week and VAT on everything that I buy. What I say to you Realist is Be Quiet. Pay your taxes and contribute. We MUST all contribute. |
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Salford Star wrote
at 05:47:29 on 11 July 2019 |
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| See Salfordian comment below...Our view would be that if people have the money and aren't paying it's prob a good thing but it would also be nice if the Council chased the £millions missing in Business Rates. |
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Salfordian wrote
at 05:44:14 on 11 July 2019 |
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| In response to Salford Star, i am fully aware the gentleman in your article is working, the comment regarding benefits was in response to someone else that posted. Information on the Salford City Council specifically for Attachment of Earnings stipulate that net wages of between £900 and £1420 are subject to a 12% deduction. Just out of interest, what is your personal view on the HMRC collaboration? |
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Realist wrote
at 12:14:24 on 10 July 2019 |
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| El Moreno, you are obviously someone who doesn’t have a clue about life. Why do people think councils and the government are there to dole out money. If you want money go out and earn it. |
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ROSSI wrote
at 12:13:49 on 10 July 2019 |
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| Consistency Ray, you've often called me a Doley. I think that with you and Dora it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black. |
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Salford Star wrote
at 12:13:38 on 10 July 2019 |
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| See Salfordian comment below...Firstly, all the info in this article is taken directly from a Manchester/Salford Council press release, apart from the details a resident provided about his own case at the end. Secondly, he is in work and not 'on benefits', and, thirdly, the deductions were 20% of his net income. If you have a problem with the comments, that's something else but don't slag the article as 'nonsense' when most of the other mainstream media also ran the story. |
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Salfordian wrote
at 12:09:39 on 10 July 2019 |
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| the amount of absolute crap in this article and comments is laughable, firstly the Gentleman in the article will receive 12% deductions from his wage and not the 20% being spouted, secondly The Council Tax Department make deductions from peoples benefits if they fall behind on their payments so don't get away "scot free". this article is either extremely naive or the level of incompetence to actually research these subjects render this as utter nonsense |
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Kev wrote
at 09:25:24 on 10 July 2019 |
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| Dora, but they won't have money taken from them if you read the article. Money won't be taken if their income is below a certain level, which I assume jobseekers will be. So basically, they're being given carte blanche not to pay. Explains how so many can afford to live in Spruce and Thorn even with the extra security payments. |
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Anon wrote
at 21:20:24 on 09 July 2019 |
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| If he had been paying £10 per month for the last 11 years, it would have nearly been cleared by now.
I once got a £300 tax rebate whilst working for Royal Mail, they then told me it was a mistake and took £60 a week off me for 5 weeks. Around a third of my net pay. Eventually got £150 back from Inland Revenue. |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 21:20:01 on 09 July 2019 |
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| Dora,I find your description of people in receipt
of benefits as quote,"doleys" extremely offensive! |
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joseph O'Neill wrote
at 21:18:11 on 09 July 2019 |
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| Funny listening to Ray whine, Ray who? well sadly the man fears to put his name to his ramblings from the extreme left, so we have to guess he is in some way involved with Labour. I wonder as he ever been on a budget sub group watching his Labour Colleagues led like Donkeys by Mr Hinds and the Labour Hierarchy, to feared to question and some struggling to understand. We were fooled came the cry from Labour when they signed bogus invoices, pay again and again for a pink RINK that lost thousands, who was it asked for a definition of madness, doing the same thing time and time again and expected a different result, well that's Salford Labour. The right offs year on year were unbelievable the amounts of cash lost was mind blowing, In house charge cards, at one stage one senior Labour member mentioned how he had made a mistake and paid his labour membership with one, The Rugby well that's a burden we are all suffering, the increase in those living here and paying tax seems to have made little difference to the services we receive, Yes the Tories have cut the cash but god if they doubled it Labour would still offer cuts and cry it's all the Tory Bogey mans fault. I Say to Ray you call me Right wing well so be it but the thought of a country led by Corbyn scares the shite out of me and millions of others you see only a land filled with left wing trots but that will never happen outside Salford thank god. |
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El moreno wrote
at 21:16:55 on 09 July 2019 |
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| All councils are completely shitheads all politicians are complete shitheads they waste money and don't give a shot so who pays at the end the working lower class . There is no cutbacks in councils they are given a shitful of money and they haven't got a clue what to do with it .You pay road tax what for shitty roads and yet the government don't give a shot they only look after number 1 fuck everybody else . |
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Realist wrote
at 06:45:57 on 09 July 2019 |
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| The problem is with all councils having had government funding cut of course they are going to make sure they get every penny they are owed, and why shouldn’t they. It is why they are letting so many developments go ahead, so they get more in council tax revenues, it’s a no brainier. And the post mentions the stadium, it is my understanding that the council is making a lot of interest on the loans to it.
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bob the regular wrote
at 04:46:48 on 09 July 2019 |
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| What the council are saying is," if your small and you rip us off for a couple of bob for council tax, then we will pursue you for eternity till we get it back,but if your big and rich and you rip us of for XXXXXXX millions with shoddy word ect,and you can put up a fight, we'll shit our pants about taking you to court and let you off".Don't worry fellow citizens, our time will come when these bully boys get their just deserts.I know you think I am mad. I am mad,raging mad with anger. |
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Dora babancu wrote
at 04:46:06 on 09 July 2019 |
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| Hey kev. Doleys can have debt taken out of their benefits! Bumface. |
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Realist wrote
at 04:45:46 on 09 July 2019 |
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| How is this new? They have been doing it for years, many a times ive had to deduct from employees that fall into debt, I’ve even been to court once for refusing to do it when the guy in question was on his arse and couldn’t get back on his feet. The court massively reduced the amount he had to pay back. |
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Rayofsunshine wrote
at 04:43:04 on 09 July 2019 |
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| Embittered right winger,Joe O'Neil,hawks yet again his dishonest brand of politics. He demands
"World Class" Council Services at knock down rates!!
Just shows how the alt.right are incapable of addressing the real needs of Salford. |
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Kev wrote
at 10:01:27 on 08 July 2019 |
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| So the doleys get away with it scot free yet again, whilst those who try and support themselves through work are penalised. So wrong. |
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joseph O'Neill wrote
at 10:01:16 on 08 July 2019 |
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| I wonder will the council take the same methods on Buisness rates? and the big question will we see a possible reduction in the ridiculously high level of tax in the first place. In Salford we must suffer some of the worst services for the highest tax, what next prison all round surely Mr Dennett and his Disciples must see that his flock are suffering even if he and is Clones increase their funding stream we will still see no ease on the burden, we all suffer under Labour due to it's inept performance in collection and chronic waste but I suppose someone on £60,000 of tax payers cash is immune from debt and the choices faced by the masses paying this inflated tax. |
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