Bankrupt for not paying Council Tax
A 61-year-old Chorley man has been declared bankrupt after refusing to pay his Council Tax for more than nine years - even though he had the funds to do so.
The man, who has not been named, is only the second non-payer Chorley Council has taken bankruptcy proceedings against.
He owed more than £7,500 in Council Tax and had consistently refused to pay despite numerous attempts by the Council to collect the money due.
The Council said that it doesn't take the action lightly but only as a last resort against someone who deliberately chooses not to pay, and when all other avenues have failed.
Councillor Kevin Joyce, Chorley Council's Executive Member for Resources said: "Everyone has to pay their Council Tax and the vast majority of people do. We are very proud that we have such a high collection rate of 98.4% for the last two years.
"It is not fair on those that do pay when someone chooses not to pay despite having the money to be able to do so.
"We will only apply for bankruptcy for people who deliberately refuse to pay their Council Tax and even then only when all other attempts to collect the money owed have failed. We would not pursue anyone who has genuine difficulties and tries to sort it out.
"We would urge anyone who genuinely can't afford to pay to contact us and we will help in anyway we can, including making arrangements to pay and seeing if the amount can be reduced in benefits, discounts or reliefs.
"We always prefer to come to an amicable arrangement rather than take enforcement action which can add considerable costs to the original debt."
The 61-year-old single man was made bankrupt on March 24, 2009, by Preston County Court, for the debt of more than £7,500.
He applied to the court to have the bankruptcy annulled on April 23, 2010, but his application was dismissed.
The Official Receiver will now look to recover the debt and the Council's legal costs from the debtor's estate.
