Barnet resident left injured after car crash claims council 'bullying' him over debts

The man insists he has been denied council tax discounts he is entitled to and has had bailiffs at his door, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet Council's Colindale office — Barnet Council’s Colindale office

A local resident says he’s facing “institutional torture” after claiming Barnet Council has ignored the impact of his injuries from a severe road traffic accident.

In a statement shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a Barnet resident argues he is “being driven to a physical and mental breakdown” by the local authority and insurance solicitors, 16 years after a “catastrophic” road traffic accident.

The man, who describes himself as a master carpenter, accused the council of “financial bullying” by “placing charges” on his home and not giving him the 25% single person council tax discount he’s been entitled to since 2013, when his marriage broke down.

“I use all my brain power just to block out the pain and keep breathing,” he said, adding: “To have bailiffs at the door of a man who is physically ‘frozen’ is not debt collection, it is institutional bullying.

“I am a vulnerable adult, and I have been abandoned.”

The Barnet resident said he is demanding an immediate Section 13A debt write-off, the removal of all property charges, and an independent investigation into his “16-year ordeal”.

Responding to questions from the LDRS, a council spokesperson said the local authority “cannot comment on the details of individual cases” but would be reaching out to the man and is “committed to supporting and protecting vulnerable residents”.

“As part of that commitment,” the spokesperson continued, “we have put in place new parameters for identifying vulnerable residents that need additional support”.

They added that, over the past year, the council has been working with “civil society organisations locally”, including Citizens Advice Barnet and the Chipping Barnet Foodbank, “to improve processes and further strengthen the support available in complex cases”.

They continued: “For those facing hardship, we offer a council tax support scheme or discretionary relief under Section 13A.

“In all correspondence, we signpost residents to our award‑winning benefits calculator, as well as wider financial advice and support. Enforcement action is always a last resort.”

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