Thousands of calls by bailiffs to collect unpaid council tax
Bailiffs were deployed 5,725 times in Maidstone over a year to collect unpaid council tax – the highest use out of all councils in Kent.
A KM Freedom of Information request also revealed the tactic was used to recover debts 36,527 times by all Kent authorities in 2015-16 - a rise of 3,672 in the previous year.
The news comes as bills are already set to rise this year, prompting fears more people may struggle.
The police precept is on course to go up by 3.3%, or by £5 a year for Band D ratepayers, to combat terror threats and employ 24 firearms officers.
The figures show Maidstone’s use of bailiffs that year was 3,179 times more than in 2014-15, an increase of 124%, also the largest rise in the county.
It attributed this to contracting six additional enforcement agencies to collect unpaid money.
In a statement, it said: “This additional resource helped us collect more unpaid debts, reflected in the increased numbers shown in 2015-16. The council will only instigate enforcement action as a last resort.”
In Tunbridge Wells, bailiffs were used 2,553 times, an increase of 784, from 2014-15 the second highest rise of all authorities. It also attributed this to a decision to appoint six additional companies to chase debts.
Tonbridge and Malling used bailiffs 1,775 times in 205-16, which is up 266 on the year before.
At 5, 631 uses Thanet council is just behind Maidstone for using the enforcement tool last year, but in 2014-15 it was behind 6,842 unwelcome knocks on doors.
Just four councils used bailiffs less in 2015-16 than the previous year: Dartford, Dover, Sevenoaks and Thanet.
Campaign groups say more should be done to help those in arrears organise payment plans.
Citizens Advice says growing numbers are facing problems paying their bills and in a year helped 190,000 people with this issue.
One person said a £27 debt ballooned to £417 after the council charged them fees for obtaining a court order and calling in bailiffs.