Liberal Democrats in Sheffield have called for compensation for hundreds of residents who were incorrectly sent council tax court summons.
The Council were left red-faced over the weekend as it transpired that hundreds of court summons were sent out to local people, either up-to-date with payments or exempt from the tax.
As a result residents were unnecessarily forced into long queues at courts, whilst others were left for up forty minutes on hold on the Council’s helpline.
A plea for compensation will be made today’s Full Council meeting by Liberal Democrat councillors through an emergency question. Local Liberal Democrats believe the bill should be picked up by Capita, the contractor responsible for the error.
Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council, said:
“For hundreds of local people this letter caused unnecessary and understandable distress. Some waited on the phone for close to an hour, while others were wrongly forced to take time off work, pay hefty parking charges in the city-centre or shell out for bus and train fares.
“These unfortunate residents should be compensated for the money they lost because of the incompetence of those in charge. The Leader of the Council should be standing for Sheffielders and telling Capita that this kind of service is simply not acceptable.”
It was not the council that handed out the summons,it was a private company called Capita that issued them! Since when has a private company working on’behalf’ of sheffield council had the authority to issue the summons. This is unlawfull!.