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Created: 05 September 2023

Erewash Borough Council has teamed up with an independent free debt advice service for residents who are behind with their Council Tax.

The partnership with MAPS – the Money and Pensions Service – was launched as 3,300 final reminders were sent out for arrears dating back as far as 2017.

Those who fail to pay face summonses and additional costs within weeks unless they make urgent arrangements to address what they owe. The council is stressing it is important for people not to ignore correspondence.

Details of the MAPS service – which is a gateway to a network of debt advice agencies – are on the paying your bill page. People can also go to adviser.moneyhelper.org.uk

The service is for customers with personal debts – not business debt. By filling in a referral form, people will get a call back from independent debt advisors to assess income, expenditure and other information.

This will allow approved debt agencies to provide solutions and a way out of arrears. Councillor Gordon Thomas, who is Erewash’s Lead Member for Resources, said:

“We appreciate people are struggling amid the cost-of-living crisis. The council is committed to doing all it can to help but has a duty to be fair to all residents by ensuring everyone who should pay Council Tax does so.

“Our link-up with the MAPS service will help bring vital peace of mind to those in financial straits.”