Tackling the Council Tax Debt Tightrope: Better Outcomes Without Fear

Intro

Welcome back to Debt Matters, the UK podcast for debt collection and credit control professionals. Today we’re looking at a challenge many councils are living with: how do you protect revenue for local services while avoiding collection practices that drive residents further into crisis?

What the article says

In The MJ, StepChange Debt Charity’s Emily Whitford argues council tax debt has become a “tightrope” for local authorities. The message is not “don’t collect”. It’s that the system needs modernising so people in difficulty are more likely to engage, repay sustainably, and avoid unnecessary escalation.

A key point is the unique status of council tax in England: it is the last remaining type of debt where non-payment can still be l ...