Croydon council are urging residents to be vigilant and asking them to see official identification after complaints on social media of visits from bailiffs.
News From Crystal Palace contacted Croydon council after a post on social media which asked: Has anyone in Croydon been hit with a ten year old council tax bill that’s just gone straight to the bailiffs recently?
Responses included:
We had a person of questionable identity drop a photocopied letter through our door on behalf of the council saying we were listed as unoccupied and need to pay double council tax. Despite the fact we have electronic proof that we’ve been paying council tax since our move in over a year ago. I threatened court action and solicitors and they backed down.
I see Croydon are up to their incompetence “again” I have lived in Croydon for over 30 years. We have been in our current address for nearly 20. When we moved here it took months to sort out our council tax problem.
I was getting mine from day one and also getting the previous owners !!!
Silly me. I thought ‘they will soon see this address is being billed twice’ so ignored the previous owners council tax bill. Bailiffs duly arrived and to be honest I did expect that.
I showed my bill and my passport and my solicitors paperwork regarding purchase of property. Then I showed the previous owners bill followed by “Goodbye”
Next thing I get a letter from the council asking if I knew where the previous owner is !!!!
I went to the old council building,now gone. I waited to be seen and when I eventually was seen I sat down and explained why I came in person. I showed both bills ‘This is mine. ‘This is the previous owners’ I then showed the letter asking if I knew where the previous owner is.
I said, showing the council the letter ‘I know exactly where he is…’.
All eager he had his pen in hand.
“…with God” !!
The look on his face was priceless.
The original post led to other responses – and a reply from a Croydon Labour councillor.
Cllr Karen Jewitt (Thornton Heath) said: Folks I am trying to help. If you email me I can do my best, but I cannot do anything without you contacting me.
Response: I know this is a separate issue but if I am to email you about the Broad Green “LTN” (Parsons Mead – Ed.) are you going to try and help with that?
Cllr Jewitt: If I can, I will also copy in your ward councillors to alert them that you have a problem.
(Editor’s note: The three Labour councillors for Broad Green ward include Cllr Stuart Collins and Cllr Manju Shahul-Hameed. The other is Cllr Muhammad Ali who wants all cars banned from the borough…..)
- A Croydon council spokesman told News From Crystal Palace: “Local authorities resumed in-person debt collection in August after being on hold during Covid, and Croydon council staff will always carry official council ID when visiting residents.
“Although we are not aware of any current issues of people impersonating our council tax staff, we always urge residents to be vigilant and ask to see official identification.
“Anyone with concerns should contact our council tax team via 020 8726 7000 or send a message via https://www.croydon.gov.uk/contact-us-guide
“For advice and information on scam prevention, please visit the council website: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/business-licences-and-tenders/trading-standards/trading-standards-consumer-advice-and-guidelines/scams
News From Crystal Palace had asked Croydon council:
Are the bailiffs contacting the people below employed by Croydon council or is there a scam being worked?
If they are, why is this only starting to happen now?
What is the legal position on unpaid council tax? Is there a time limit please?
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE 