CAP has responded to the improving enforcement of council tax consultation
Key points:
- Debt collection communications should be available by default in accessible formats and available in multiple languages. Letters should be written in simple language, plain numbers, and with a factual, non-threatening tone specifically designed to reduce shame, embarrassment and fear. Free phone lines and email addresses should be easily available to help with engagement.
- CAP would call for standardisation that all councils use the Standard Financial Statement (SFS) and automatically accept assessments conducted by FCA-regulated debt advice providers for affordability assessments.
- A joined-up data approach within local and national government should be established to share vulnerability indicators and cross-reference social security data (like Universal Credit or PIP) to establish a future where people aren’t forced to repeatedly disclose trauma.
- CAP urges statutory regulation of the enforcement sector and a review of the debt collection funding model.
