A Cumbrian couple have been left scared for their property after receiving a bailiff’s letter demanding council tax for a Maida Vale property they have no connection to.
David and Tracy Robinson run property company, Normandy Properties Ltd, from Workington in the north-west of England.
But 10 years after Westminster City Council was forced to apologise for a clerical error that led the bailiffs to their door, they have received another threatening letter – this time from bailiff firm Equita – on behalf of the council.
Westminster is seeking to recover unpaid council tax for a Sutherland Road home where an offshore company with the same name as the Robinsons’ is based.
In the late 2000s, the couple received a number of enforcement letters that left them scared to leave their then-teenage children home alone.
Back then, on one occasion David, 53, was even told by a representative of Westminster City Council to lock his windows to prevent bailiffs gaining access when the family were out.
However, after five years of chasing, it appeared the letters had stopped – until now.
They received the latest final notice letter on November 1 this year.
Tracy, 51, told the Wood&Vale: “Last time, it got to the stage where we couldn’t leave our children at home alone. It was a nightmare.
“We had apologies after apologies and I predicted it would happen again, and it clearly has.”
Capita, which owns Equita, told this newspaper the had spoken to the couple and referred the matter back to Westminster City Council.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: “We are sorry that this case of simple human error has caused this business any inconvenience.
“The matter is now resolved and we are removing this business from our records to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
However, at the time of writing Tracy told this newspaper she had not heard anything further. She added: “We have heard time and again that the problem has been fixed.
“To be honest, I’ll believe it when I see it.
“It would have been nice to have heard directly that they say they have fixed it.”
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