IT would appear that the Southampton City Council is employing a debt collection agency to pursue residents who are in council tax arrears. I would suggest that the council investigate the hundreds of complaints regarding these bailiffs and their parent company.

There are no doubt those who deliberately avoid paying the tax. No one would deny the right of the council to legally aquire their revenue.

However, there are many vulnerable low income families who are bullied into paying these debt collectors obscene amounts in fees. In many cases the money demanded is far in excess of the original debt.

This does nothing but plunge already desperate people into spiralling debt and misery long after their arrears have been collected.

D P, Southampton.

l A Southampton City Council spokesman replies: We use a recognised, certificated bailiff company, which operates under a strict national code of conduct. We also place strict conditions on the bailiffs and monitor them closely. In the seven years we have used this company few complaints have been received and each has been investigated.

Council tax payers are encouraged to contact us as soon as they encounter payment problems. Using the bailiff is a last resort and is not entered into lightly. However it is a statutory requirement in the recovery process which must be used if all other recovery actions have been unsuccessful. Where an account is passed to the bailiff the council tax payer will incur further charges, the level of which is dependant on the debt and the time taken to clear it.

Any housholder who is having difficulty paying their council tax should contact us as soon as they can. Call us on 023 8083 2349 or visit the Gateway one-stop-shop at the Civic Centre.