Debt recovery
The Council is committed to providing value for money and ensuring services continue to be available for people who need them. To enable us to meet our legal and financial obligations, we maintain a robust debt recovery process. This means that, if necessary, we will use all measures available to recover charges as explained in this document.
The Council will work with all customers to help them to understand the charges and to make regular payments in line with their own financial assessment outcome. However, if payments for care are not forthcoming, legal proceedings will be instigated and all legal costs incurred by the Council will also be claimed from the person or their representative.
There are circumstances where the Council incurs costs that may be recovered from a person’s estate if sufficient assets are available. This can include the cost of a Public Health Funeral (which the Council has a duty to provide if no suitable arrangements are being made by others), the cost of boarding pets (which the Council has a duty to arrange if a person is in hospital or residential care with no alternative arrangements in place) or the cost of managing a property until it’s sold.