Council apology after bills sent to deceased

Numerous letters have been sent out by the authority to people who have died in a bid to recover money from relatives.

In one case, Vic West of Firs Park Gardens, Winchmore Hill, was sent a bill of £737.45 for residential care for his late father, Fred, who died penniless at the age of 84 six years ago.

Remarkably, the bill was addressed to "the late Mr F West".

It read: "We do not appear to have received payment on your account".

His son told the council at the time that there were insufficient funds in his father's estate to cover the care costs.

But last week he was stunned to see a reminder land on his doorstep.

Mr West said: "It came as a bit of a shock. I just can't believe it. It is so insensitive.

"They should not be sending out these letters ad lib. I am really incensed. "

Civic Centre sources say up to 1,000 similar letters have been sent out.

After being approached by the Independent, the council promptly issued an apology but defended its money recovery policy.

A council spokesman said: "We are really sorry to have caused distress to anyone by this accounting process.

"However, in order to achieve the maximum value for money for council taxpayers, the council needs to bill people for the services they receive.

"Social services has recently gone through all of its records to ensure any unpaid bills are chased up and unfortunately there have been a few cases such as Mr West's where similar amounts of money have been identified after a prolonged period of time.

"This is a difficult and delicate process and council officers try to deal with clients on a one-to-one basis to ensure these cases are dealt with as sensitively as possible."

On writing to the council, Mr West returned the council's envelope franked with its 'Take Pride' slogan.

He suggested that the authority remove the slogan from future correspondence because it has "absolutely nothing to be proud of ."

July 9, 2002 10:00