P O Box 10505, Wood Green, London, N22 7WJ
Tel: 020 8489 1000 Fax: 020 8489 3790
Head of Service Paul Ellicott /
Mr Paul Smith
By email: / Date: 10 June 2014
DearMr Smith,
Re: Freedom of Information Act Request ref: LBH/3059914
Thank you for your request received on 20 May 2014,in which you asked the following:
Theoretically, if an Enforcement Agent is instructed to recover a sum outstanding on a Liability Order of £420, the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 provides that the Agent may recover a compliance fee currently in the sum of £75. If the Agent then proceeds to the enforcement stage incurring a fee of £235, then to the sale or disposal of controlled goods stage, incurring a further £110, then the amount the Enforcement Agent may recover from the debtor would be a sum equal to the amount outstanding on the Liability Order.
If the debtor then pays a sum equal to the amount outstanding on the Liability Order, but no more than this, by virtue of the Regulations the enforcement agent is entitled to the entire sum originally owed, with the council seeing nothing from the recovery process.
Q. In respect of payments for outstanding Council Tax as in the above or similar, what (if any) measures have Haringey Borough Council in place (presumably contractual) that ensures monies are not diverted to enrich private companies and their shareholders that would otherwise have gone towards providing services (the purpose intended)?
My response is as follows:
The charges will be in accordance with the new legislation, which specifies what the Enforcement Agent is entitled to recover from the individual as well as the apportionment of payments between themselves and the Authority. Any query on this should be diverted to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
The Enforcement Agent is entitled to fees of £75.00 in full for the compliance stage, followed by a pro rata division of proceeds between Enforcement Agent and the Authority.
If you have any further queries, or are unhappy with how we have dealt with your request and wish to make a complaint, pleasecontact the Feedback and InformationTeam as below. (Please note you should do this within two months of receiving this response.)
Feedback and Information Team
RiverPark House
225 High Road
N22 8HQ
Telephone: 020 8489 1988
Email:
Yours sincerely,
Ms A Alexander
Service Manager
For Head of Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services