Consumer Council Statement Regarding Rate Arrears
Friday 23 July 2010
Responding to the news that rate arrears in Northern Ireland have soared to record levels of more than £157million, the Consumer Council’s Head of Money Affairs, Julie McCurley said:
“The Consumer Council recognises that consumers must pay our rates and appreciates Land and Property Services (LPS) has a duty to collect them. However, the increase in arrears is a symptom of the economic crisis which has left many households and businesses struggling to cope. As well as tracking the level of arrears, the Consumer Council would like to see LPS identify how it can work with the many people who want to pay but can’t. What we don’t want to see is LPS sending threatening letters or simply encouraging people to pay by credit card – a payment option which the Consumer Council feels should never have been introduced in the first place – as it could push people into even more debt.
“The Consumer Council works directly with consumers to enhance levels of financial capability[a] and is keen to work with the Department of Finance and Personnel (DfP) and LPS to promote better, and safer, ways to pay our rates. We are pleased that DfP has agreed to review the impacts of payment by credit card.
“Our research last year found that almost four in ten respondents were worried about their ability to make ends meet, that 53 per cent of people were worried about their ability to make ends meet in the future, and that a third of people believed they were only one month away from difficulty if they face an unexpected expense or difficulty. The Consumer Council encourages consumers who are experiencing difficulty paying their rates to contact LPS as soon as possible and to seek help from an independent money adviser.“
[a] Consumers in Northern Ireland are bottom of the UK league when it comes to being financially savvy.
Related Documents
- Considering paying your rates bill by credit card? Read this first… - 75.1KB PDF Document
