FOI Request - Debt Enforcement

Request 101003239218

Could you please provide me with the following information:
1. Does the council refer residents to debt collection services of any kind (including sheriff officers) if they are overdue / haven’t paid a council tax payment?
2. Are there any procedures in place to automatically exclude vulnerable residents from being referred to debt collection services?
3. Has the council in any way changed its policy or specifications in the last 12 months over which residents are excluded from being referred to debt collection services?

Clarification requested 08-02-2023

Clarification received 08-02-2023

Response 06-03-2023

1. As part of Moray Council's Council Tax recovery measures, it does pass on debts to its contracted firm of Sheriff Officers. This is only after previous recovery measures such as Reminder Notices and/or Final Notices have been issued and either not adhered to, or no contact made by the Council Tax payer to the Council Tax section to discuss the outstanding balance.

2. Moray Council's Council Tax software has no way of identifying or marking these categories of Council Tax payers the enquirer mentions, therefore they are not excluded from recovery action.

3.Moray Council's Council Tax section has not changed its policy or specifications in the last 12 months.