Crowe slams Council over Bully Boy threat to residents
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has described as unacceptable, the outrageous the bully boy tactics being used by Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council in threatening to send debt collectors to the homes of residents who have fallen behind with their bin payments including many pensioners.
Deputy Crowe has been contacted by a number of residents and is aware of one pensioner who he said “was shocked and extremely upset” to discover that the Council were threatening her with debt collectors over a questionable debt.
Deputy Crowe said::
Elderly residents who in some cases were not even aware that they were in arrears are now being informed officially by letter that they have to face debt collectors if they do not pay up.
“One woman who contacted me, a pensioner, was visibly shocked on receiving this latest threatening letter from the Council.
The 80 year old had previously been informed that she owed nothing for her bin collection service.
The Council, then discovered that they had made an error and she was landed with a large bill which she contested as being unfair and unreasonable.
This elderly woman is one of a number now receiving letters from a Debt Collection Agency.
The threat of and use of debt collectors by Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown against elderly residents is outrageous and is dragging their collection recovery to a new low.
“This is the latest bully boy tactic being used by Dun Laoghaire /Rathdown Council to recover monies and they should desist.
They should engage with residents who have fallen behind with their payments to ensure an orderly and a reasonable payment plan is put in place.
“The Council need to take account of the current financial climate, the unemployment crisis and the severe stress which many of their residents are under.
“The firing off of threatening letters in this manner especially to elderly residents is completely unacceptable and needs to stop.”