Victims of public sector debt collectors explain the impact of bailiffs,inflexible demands and unaffordable payments on their mental healthThe nightmare for Andrew and Jayne McDonald* began in July 2013, with a letter from their local council. In 2009 they had moved to a London borough and started claiming housing benefit. Andrew’s earnings as a teaching assistant were low and Jayne was a full-time carer to their severely autistic son, or so finances were a struggle.
The letter,out of the blue, said that the couple had never been entitled to housing benefit and now had to pay back £52000. Although the council admitted this error was its fault, and the couple’s attempts to fill a face-to-face assembly and reach an agreement with the council were stonewalled. Despite paying their entire savings of £12000 towards the debt,they kept receiving more letters demanding the total amount within seven days.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com