Freedom of information response
Debt collection
1) Can you please confirm whether your organisation has a corporate or departmental debt collection policy? If yes, please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
2) Can you please confirm whether your organisation has a corporate or departmental write-off policy? If yes, please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
3) Can you please confirm whether your organisation utilizes enforcement agents to collect statutory debts? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? Additionally, please provide a list of the types of debts for which enforcement agents are used.
4) Can you please confirm whether your organisation utilises debt collection agents (DCA) to collect debts owed to the organisation? ? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? please provide a list of the types of debts for which Debt collection agents are used.
5) Can you please confirm whether your organisation has a local authority-owned enforcement agent facility for undertaking "taking control of goods fees regulations" debt collections? If yes, please provide a list of debts for which this the debts the team collects, and kindly provide a copy of the notice of enforcement that is used.
6) Please confirm the total amount of debt written off by your local authority for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23. Please break down the figures by debt area, such as Council Tax, Parking, and Sundry Debt etc.
1) Can you please confirm whether your organisation has a corporate or departmental debt collection policy? If yes, please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
Yes we have a Fair Debt Policy see link - https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/help-with-money/debt-and-money-advice
2) Can you please confirm whether your organisation has a corporate or departmental write-off policy? If yes, please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
Yes contained in Fair Debt Policy see link https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/help-with-money/debt-and-money-advice
3) Can you please confirm whether your organisation utilizes enforcement agents to collect statutory debts? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? Additionally, please provide a list of the types of debts for which enforcement agents are used.
No added value options. Agents used for Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates, Sundry and Parking
4) Can you please confirm whether your organisation utilises debt collection agents (DCA) to collect debts owed to the organisation? ? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? please provide a list of the types of debts for which Debt collection agents are used
No added value options. Agents used for Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates, Sundry and Parking
5) Can you please confirm whether your organisation has a local authority-owned enforcement agent facility for undertaking "taking control of goods fees regulations" debt collections? If yes, please provide a list of debts for which this the debts the team collects, and kindly provide a copy of the notice of enforcement that is used.
No internal Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs)
6) Please confirm the total amount of debt written off by your local authority for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23. Please break down the figures by debt area, such as Council Tax, Parking, and Sundry Debt etc.
2021/22 Council Tax £451,255.70 2022/23 £165,383.77
2021/22 NNDR £1,320,415.29 2022/23 £172,799.89
2021/22 Sundry £692,333.51 2022/23 £470,250.52
2021/22 Parking £34,133.61 2022/23 £64,181.00