A SINGLE mum has been threatened with court docket by her native council over a THREE PENCE debt.
Charlotte Collins, 40, was “amazed” to obtain the letter demanding she pay again the tiny debt left from a housing profit cost.
Charlotte Collins, 40, and her daughter
The mom was warned her employer might take the cash from her earnings
Authorities warned they might take “additional motion to get better the debt” if they didn’t obtain the cost in seven days, together with being hauled to court docket.
Asda employee Ms Collins, who reluctantly paid up, advised the Manchester Evening News: “It’s unbelievable that they’re chasing money owed so small.
“I am curious to know if they might have truly gone forward with the issues they threatened.
“It isn’t simple to pay that sum of money. I needed to write 0.03.
“My son thinks it’s all very humorous. Hopefully that ought to be it and I will not get one other letter.”
Earlier this 12 months, Ms Collins was ordered to repay greater than £260 in housing advantages, which she had been overpaid resulting from working additional hours.
After making two separate funds of £71.70 and £90.73, she agreed to pay the remaining sum in £10 weekly instalments.
Ms Collins, from Leigh, Larger Manchester, says the council knowledgeable her final month that her debt had been cleared.
Believing the matter resolved, she says: “I could not perceive it.”
“They mentioned it had all been paid off, so I’m not positive the place it is come from.
“The wording was completely inappropriate for that sum of money.
‘TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE’
“One thing like that will frighten some folks.
“I simply thought it was humorous however a little bit of daft factor to do, particularly in the midst of a pandemic.”
Ms Collins says she has since repaid the 3p, however can’t perceive why she was chased for it in the midst of a world pandemic.
Paul McKevitt, deputy chief govt of Wigan Council, mentioned: “Housing advantages are administered by the council on behalf of the Authorities.
“We’re topic to an exterior audit on this and could be fined if we incorrectly calculate or administer claims.
“We get better overpayments and repay them to central authorities and due to the quantity of claims we cope with, we use automated letters.
“On this case the letter despatched and tone is at odds with the quantity excellent.
“We thanks our resident for elevating this concern and can see if we will tackle this in future.”
