Forum Topic

Nasty letter from LBH

I had a knock at the door today from an elderly neighbour.She has had a rather strange letter apparently from Hounslow Revenue services.  But it is not on proper headed paper with the purple masthead.It purtains to claim the she (as a widow/single person ) may not be entitled for single persons reduction for council tax as they 'may' have information that proves otherwise.The tone of the letter is most threatening and has left the lady quite worried as she had a relative stay for a few months while she recovered from an illness.Several calls to LBH drew a blank and the letter is simply signed 'Revenue Manager' with no actual name.It looks to me that this is some sort of scam with an 0800 number and a rather anonymous  weblink... to a place called Nelson. The whole letter is devoid of names, whether they are acting for LBH or indeed who they are.Anyone else had one of these? Is it a scam letter?If it's real, it's thoroughly intimidatory and whoever is responsible should be brought to book.

Anthony Waller ● 4383d15 Comments

Glad she's no longer worried :-)

Guy Lambert ● 4378d

A quick update.Many thanks for all the advice.  It seems quite a few local neighbours have had these letters. Quite small homes so a lot of single people here.A neighbour who is a human rights lawyer has taken an interest and is taking care of the lady in questions case as she is now rather aggrieved than worried.So I guess we have to leave it there.

Anthony Waller ● 4378d

The number is far from free if dialled from a non BT lineWe called but they would not tell us who they were or even give us a name of someone in charge or indeed the name of the company which is indeed liberta.It's not good enough to be ultra secretive about themselves whilst implying that that have amassed data on us.

Raymond Havelock ● 4378d

Thats as maybe, but as I have said ( a few times) this looks like Liberata themselves.Of course, dialling a free number (as I offered to do) will clear it up but that would be far too complicated.

Guy Lambert ● 4378d

That sounds very much like wordspeak for spying, intimidation and downright nasty tactics.Clearly they are targeting soft touch rather than organised evaders.

Raymond Havelock ● 4379d

Maybe someone should ask London Borough of Hounslow Head of Revenuves and Benifits where the leter came fromNick Rowe Head of Revenues and Benefits London Borough of Hounslow Contact: Nick Rowe E-mail: nick.rowe@hounslow.gov.ukOr could the letter been sent by an organisation like this one below?JBW widens local government footprint Feb 3 2014JBW widens its footprint in local government council tax and non domestic rate collections after being appointed by LB Bromley, LB Wandsworth, Pendle Borough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, North Somerset Council, LB Hounslow, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council and Gravesham Borough Council within the last three months.Over the past 12 months JBW have successfully carried out a number of aged debt strategies to deliver unexpected revenue to local authorities during a time of increased cuts within local government. Carole Kenney, Client Care Director, says “through our intelligent, data-led approach we have collected local government debt of up to 20 years old. Our clients are diverse but through partnering with the individual authorities and the advice sector we have been successful in meeting this challenge”.Nick Rowe, London Borough of Hounslow said: “JBW exceeded expectations in the recovery of our aged debt portfolio and the increased revenue generated for the authority is greatly welcomed.”JBW are working in partnership with Liberata UK Ltd in the collection of both aged debt and in-year council tax and non domestic rate collection.A spokesperson for Liberata said: “We recognise that JBW is fast becoming a leading provider of enforcement services within the enforcement industry through the use of their bespoke AR-12 platform and integrated propensity model which enables enforcement officers to maximise their daily visits. In addition JBW are giving reassurance to our clients through their built in voice recording of agent visits and hand-on approach to working with the advice sector in support of vulnerable customers.”For further information on JBW, please visit www.jbw.co.uk

Paul Allen ● 4379d

my wife has had one of these letters recently as well. She is living on her own and is entitled to the single occupants discount as I am on a 3 year assignment abroad and will only be home for a day or two a few times a year. ( She does get flown out regularly to see me though so it's not all bad!)She too was not too sure if it was a wind up but is is very snidey in it's tone to people who are actually paying their council tax.And it does seem rather poor that it carries no names or direct identification contacts on the letter.No-one seems answerable for it's issue or responsible for authorising disclosure of personal details to a third party.When she called the number it took several questions to find out who this company is.  They would not pass her on to a manager claiming it was 'not possible'. They would not  answer any of her questions citing the information protection act but then told her that they had gained information on her which indicated she was not living alone.  I won't go into detaills here but quite how they had the details they have seems like a complete breach of one's private affairs. They claimed that all this was passed over by Hounslow. Except we did not give all those details to Hounslow as they never asked for them.We did however, discuss the situation with Hounslow prior to my departure and it was they who pointed out that my wife would be eligable for the discount and we duly supplied the information they then asked for.All very ham fisted to say the least. I do agree with another poster that this could be very worrying for many people who live alone and makes them scapegoats.But the peddling of information without one's consent or knowledge is even  more worrying.

Raymond Havelock ● 4380d

In my calls to Hounslow Council Tax Revenue I was told the first names of the people (three in all who I spoke to) but was told that it is policy not to give out surnames.The only full name I have is the one given in a previous post - no need to bore you all with the details of my 'complaint' which is, in any case, now resolved.If you want to ask any questions re the letter or Council Tax in general, the Hounslow Payments Office (or whatever it is called) which is nearish to the Old Fire Station in Brentford may be able to advise. Not sure when it is open though.

Anne England ● 4382d

I don't think there are any scams involving 0800 numbers, Anthony. These are freefone. Perhaps you're thinking of premium numbers beginning 09?As Guy says, the letter sounds genuine but I'm sure that the misunderstanding can be easily sorted out.

Susan Kelly ● 4382d

No, it doesn't sound bogus to me.I haven't seen it but the fact it comes from Nelson suggests it comes from Liberata, and Liberata have been contracted by LBH to run their revenue collection.Here's the story:www.liberata.com/products-services/revenues-and-benefits

Guy Lambert ● 4382d

Thanks for the replies.So it seems it's a bogus letter.The trouble is there are so many scams involving 0800 numbers and dodgy websites that this is such a bogus looking letter devoid of any identification that one cannot be anything other than suspicious and guarded.Even more so when one realises just how increasingly preyed upon single people seem to be becoming.So what is the name of the LBH Revenues Manager?  To whom is he or she answerable to ? and who are the councillors who are involved with this area?

Anthony Waller ● 4382d

"the office where Notice of Moving In notifications are sent is in Cumbria"That'll be Liberata in Barrow-in-Furness then.

Guy Lambert ● 4382d

After a number of frustrating phone calls to Hounslow Council Tax Revenues, I found that the office where Notice of Moving In notifications are sent is in Cumbria: curevenues@hounslow.gov.uk

Anne England ● 4382d

Liberata, who are Hounslow's outsource company, have an office in Nelson, Lancs so my guess is that is where this is coming from.If it's an 0800 number not much to lose by calling it, though it may be intimidating.I'd be happy to call on her behalf if that would help - I used to work for an outsource company (not Liberata).

Guy Lambert ● 4383d

After a rather long-winded and somewhat frustrating interaction with Hounslow Council of late re Council Tax, I was eventually responded to by letter by a Miss E Thompson, Revenues Officer at Hounslow Revenue Services. The official address for any enquiries re Council Tax is: Revenue Services, London Borough of Hounslow, P.O. Box 355, Hounslow TW3 4PJ and the phone number is: (020) 8583 4242 (and if I remember correctly you press 2 when the options come up and then 5 when the second lot of options come up).My letter is on plain paper i.e. black and white but with London Borough of Hounslow emblem and words at the top.I hope this is helpful.

Anne England ● 4383d