EQUITA LTD and CAPITA.......is there a CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!! One local authority think so.......

[tomtubby]

As many people on the forum will know, for a long time, there have been many questions raised about the charges that have been applied to accounts by Equita Ltd when it has been found that the local authority council tax department is run by a “back office “ provider by the name of Capita Ltd. This company provide “back office” support to a large number of local authorities.

The most common complaints concerns Birmingham City Council. But there are many more councils including Rossendale Borough Council that use Capita and Equita.

As many people of here are aware, Equita Ltd are wholly owned by Capita and in fact, in 2010, Capita enlarged the "enforcement part of their business by purchasing Ross & Roberts bailiffs.

One local authority using Capita and Equita are Blackburn & Darwen Council and it would seem that their Councillors are of the opinion that there is a definite conflict of interest in Capita instructing Equita and this is confirmed by the following extract from their own Scrutiny Meeting !!!!

Bailiffs

· Despite reassurances, Members felt there was a definite conflict of interest in Capita instructing bailiffs who are another part of their service - i.e. Equita bailiffs are subcontracted part of Capita. Members felt this gave no incentive to show restraint in their engagement.

· It is not in a bailiff's interest to close a case early or to be lenient - as charges (profit) do not accrue from that approach.

· Bailiffs take their fees out of any monies recovered first then the remainder goes to the authority. This does not encourage people to use the collecting hall.

PS: Does anyone else know a local authority that has Capita Ltd as their “back office” provider and where either Ross & Roberts or Equita are the “preferred” bailiff provider?

Please let us know.....

 

 

[Annette1973]

I am not sure yet but I believe New Forest District Council use Capita as their back office, and, I know that R & R and Equita are the councils bailiffs.

[ploddertom]

Plymouth City Council

Wiltshire Council - this may also be worth a read as they state Bailiffs are a last resort http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ctax-wilts-council-code-of-practice-recovery-tax-debt.pdf

[Annette1973]

Something that may be of interest http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/chris-malyon/6/234/476

[tomtubby]

Anyone else !!!

[ploddertom]

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/equita_council_tax_complaints#incoming-65511

 

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/complaints_to_equita#incoming-189012

 

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/search/bailiff/all?authenticity_token=tjzSlUnEa%2Fp%2B8hq6iPn2iTh7DwqRazh5hu503Uvu8gc%3D&page=1&query=bailiff&x=13&y=11

[ploddertom]

I think there is also:

Southampton City Council

Lambeth Council

Bexley Council

Swindon Council

Sefton Council

Mendip Council

Havant Council

Brent Council

South Oxfordshire Council

South Bucks Council

Vale of White Horse Council

Sheffield City Council

Hart Council

[tomtubby]

Excellent work !!!

 

It is my understanding that bailiff contracts are "supposed" to go out to "tender". If so, how is it possible that each local authority who have their council tax recovery department managed by the "back office " supplier; Capita Ltd somehow manage to award the contract to ......Equita ( or more recently; Ross & Roberts Ltd).

 

Am I missing something !!!

[brassnecked]

Excellent work !!!

 

It is my understanding that bailiff contracts are "supposed" to go out to "tender". If so, how is it possible that each local authority who have their council tax recovery department managed by the "back office " supplier; Capita Ltd somehow manage to award the contract to ......Equita ( or more recently; Ross & Roberts Ltd).

 

Am I missing something !!!

 

Capita will possibly offer their "In house" bailiffs as part of a total package, and use this to circumvent any separate tendering process for the enforcement function. The council are told it will save money and help revenue so they take the bait.

 

Capita is a candidate for investigation by the Monopolies Commission imho, it has too many sticky fingers in too many different pies imho.

[charlie's cat]

Talking about fingers in pies....

 

I'm not sure whether Bolton Council use them, but Equita sponsored an event last year to give an award to NCP and Bolton Council for 'best car-park'.

 

Unfortunately my post count won't allow me to post a link to the story, but it can be found on centralboltonDOTcom/news-detail.php?id=52

 

This thread reminded me about it as our town made a big fuss about getting this award, and I thought at the time that it was strange for a debt recovery service to sponsor it.

[tomtubby]

Ploddertom.........Your links to What do They Know are VERY INTERESTING INDEED !!!!

 

Well done ....

[ploddertom]

This may be the link you refer to:

 

http://www.centralbolton.com/news-detail.php?id=52

[charlie's cat]

Indeed it is.

 

It appears that our council - Bolton - use Capita, or at least they did 2 years ago.

 

Also, guess who one one of the Assistant Directors of the People and Transformation Bolton Council team used to work for...

 

uk.linkedinDOTcom/pub/lynne-ridsdale/4/b89/442

[ploddertom]

One thing I did note was that on more than one occasion a Mr xxxxx (LGS) replied to various FOI requests for different Councils. For those that are interested the LGS is associated with Capita Local Government Services. I wonder how many of the actual Councils knew FOI requests had even been made.

 

PT

[brassnecked]

One thing I did note was that on more than one occasion a Mr xxxxx (LGS) replied to various FOI requests for different Councils. For those that are interested the LGS is associated with Capita Local Government Services. I wonder how many of the actual Councils knew FOI requests had even been made.

 

PT

Not many I would think, Capita would like to keep the dirty washing in the 2family" so to speak.

 

BTW apparently Capita are exporting jobs to India, IT jobs, perhaps the back office functions in councils may be linked to a call centre in Mumbai. Now that would be a real mess up.

[tomtubby]

One thing I did note was that on more than one occasion a Mr xxxxx (LGS) replied to various FOI requests for different Councils. For those that are interested the LGS is associated with Capita Local Government Services. I wonder how many of the actual Councils knew FOI requests had even been made.

 

PT

 

VERY interesting indeed !!!

[Queens_king]

Plodderton

 

Swindon Borough Council use Capita as the back office but the council use Chandlers as the Enforcement and I know a friend who had problems with both of the jokers.

 

Swindon Borough Council's CEO flatly refused to accept that they were liable for thier agents and in the end they finished up in the County Courts with a Summons for an excessive £1,000 bailiffs charge for Council Tax collections ot £18.22, yes EIGHTEEN POUNDS and TWENTY TWO PENCE

 

The Bailiffs themselves actually took out a window to gain entry and when the police were called they stated that the window was already out and they had the right to walk in. The levied on a car that was valued at just under £11,000.

 

Why this never got into the local press I have no idea

[outlawla]

Local rags are reluctant to overly upset councils. I should think much of their income comes from local authorities advertising in their papers.

 

This one has going on for 2,000 comments, mostly criticising and exposing the council and their bailiff contractor Rossendales, but still they refuse to report on it.

[Catherine Smyth]

Sheffield City Council - who use Capita and Equita said in response to a FOI request: "The contract price between the council and Capita is reflective of the fact the bailiff services are being provided by a Capita-owned bailiff."

 

Word for word interpret as you wish.

 

The Blackburn with Darwen information is very interesting thank you. Regarding that authority and Rossendale Council they use both Equita and Rossendales to collect debts.

 

Freelance journalist

[likeifitellyou]

City of Westminster

[citizenB]

Equita are apparently under investigation by Northamptonshire Trading Standards for overcharging.

[brassnecked]

Equita are apparently under investigation by Northamptonshire Trading Standards for overcharging.

 

Well lets hope TS nail them.

[mellymoo74]

well as we all know they do, they also front load fees and lie

[hallowitch]

good article about this in the big issue its about time everyone sent a complaint to Northampton trading standards with proof of overcharging

followed up with copy to Bryan Payne Northampton shire police senior fraud investigator who according to the report is well aware of the situation

 

http://www.catherinesmyth.co.uk/images/stories/pdfs/bi_capita.pdf

[brassnecked]

If Capita are the back office provider, there is a clear conflict of interest, in having either Equita or Ross 'n Robbers as the appointed bailiffs. If this were the City and traders, the CEO and board of management of the three companies would be locked up for insider dealing .