Warning for councils over aggressive debt chasing

The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that ongoing local government funding pressures means councils are pursuing debt repayments ‘too quickly and too aggressively’.

The organisation says that the estimated £18 billion debt in the UK has knock-on effects when pursued by public bodies in an aggressive manner, especially with the use of bailiffs. This can poorly affect residents’ mental health and the eventual cost to local authorities of increased use of public health services, as well as the provision of more emergency and social housing for those made homeless.

An estimated four in 10 people in the UK cannot manage their money well day-to-day, and internationally the UK ranks below average in financial capability. The use of public health and housing services by people with problem debt costs taxpayers an additional £248 million a year, and around £900 million a year to the economy as a whole.

However, the NAO’s modelling estimates that intimidating actions and additional charges on over-indebted people are 15-29 per cent more likely to make debts harder to manage or increase anxiety and depression.

Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said: “Problem debt has significant consequences both for individuals and the taxpayer. While government has made progress in seeking to address this issue, its attempts so far have been insufficient. The Treasury needs a better understanding of the scale of people’s debt problems and how it is impacting their lives and the taxpayer so it can effectively resolve the problem."