HELP! Need support but no one will help!

JustKris

This is a complicated one!

Ok so up till recently I was 3.5k in arrears with my rent due on health issues and housing benefit not being processed but mainly due to the councils discrimination.

Basically leeds city council has imposed rules over all independent disabled people that they cannot contact the council and any attempts to do so will be ignored. They stop you from anything - even ringing the automated line to pay rent - could get you arrested got breach of the peace and antisocial behaviour!

Anyway recently after threatening for 16 years they finally took me to court - saying I'm perfectly able-bodied (I have no legs and numerous disabilities), that I claimed no benefit but was fraudulentlying getting dla (I get it for life and had rights to other benefits including job seekers at the time) and that I wasn't claiming housing benefit (no - only a YEAR worth!). So I went to get advice from the court (they said that if I got a solicitor I'd be arrested for contempt of court) and put a letter in with proof. Surprise surprise they cancelled the case and paid ALL my arrears in backdated hb! Then I gets a job ...

I'm rolling down the debt hill because the council won't let me pay my rent! I've rung debt agencies but they won't write a letter on my behalf (any that I write are ignored as are those written by friends) and I can't find a solicitor that has wheelchair access or that will come to my house - just started a job so can't take time off and no cab will answer my call plus they are not accessible or are in council offices from which all disabled people are banned!

When I have got my friends to make payments via the automated line before the payments aren't credited so I don't know what to do I'm between a rock and a hard place and I don't know what to do.

I've started putting the cash away in a seperate account as if I'm paying it so that when they do come to their senses or return to court I can say well I have the money here and can pay immediately... but where else can I go that will intervene on my behalf - they can't ignore an advice agency or can they? Anyone recommend a good solicitor with wheelchair access that's open evenings in West Yorkshire?

HELP!

~Beanie~

Basically leeds city council has imposed rules over all independent disabled people that they cannot contact the council and any attempts to do so will be ignored. They stop you from anything - even ringing the automated line to pay rent - could get you arrested got breach of the peace and antisocial behaviour!

I don't believe any of that for a second. How would they even know whether someone phoning the automated line was disabled or not.

I can't find a solicitor that has wheelchair access or that will come to my house - just started a job so can't take time off and no cab will answer my call plus they are not accessible or are in council offices from which all disabled people are banned

Plenty of solicitors have wheelchair access, you will just have to phone round a few to find one. Not sure they will work evenings though, can't you book half a day off? It is serious and needs sorting.

When I have got my friends to make payments via the automated line before the payments aren't credited

Are you saying that they take the money but don't apply it to your rent account?

Finally, if you are really getting no joy with the council or CAB etc. have you thought about contacting your local MP? I'm sure they would be interested to hear of a ban on all disabled people from council premises.

StokieBecks

Pretty sure there must be a lot more to this somewhere along the line

A service provider must not treat a disabled person less favourably than they would
treat others who are not disabled, or treat people with different impairments less
favourably than other disabled people. Since 2 December 1996, it has been unlawful
to:
Refuse to serve a disabled person. Refusing to serve a disabled person is unlawful
whatever the intention or motive.

oldhand

See the OPs other post from yesterday............:cool:

Smodlet

There has to be so much more to this story. I suspect the OP's "form" for want of a better euphemism, has caused this situation. There is no way it pertains to all disabled people, few of whom are obviously disabled on the phone, unless they are hearing impaired.

Or this could be just another time-wasting wind up.

sourcrates

JustKris wrote: »

Basically leeds city council has imposed rules over all independent disabled people that they cannot contact the council and any attempts to do so will be ignored. They stop you from anything - even ringing the automated line to pay rent - could get you arrested got breach of the peace and antisocial behaviour!


I'm rolling down the debt hill because the council won't let me pay my rent! I've rung debt agencies but they won't write a letter on my behalf (any that I write are ignored as are those written by friends) and I can't find a solicitor that has wheelchair access or that will come to my house - just started a job so can't take time off and no cab will answer my call plus they are not accessible or are in council offices from which all disabled people are banned!

When I have got my friends to make payments via the automated line before the payments aren't credited so I don't know what to do I'm between a rock and a hard place and I don't know what to do.

Hi,

I'm not sure this is a genuine post, but here goes, its obvious you have had some issues with the council, and it appears these issues are on-going.


Automated payments are just that, automated, I cant understand why that would not work for you, computers are not programmed to discriminate.
Councils can be insensitive at times, but certainly do not usually act in the manner you have described, they would be inundated with complaints if that were the case.


I don't know which "debt agency" you have contacted, but I would say this would fall under the remit of the CAB, you can get advice from them online, make sure its the real CAB website, as there are a few debt management companies with similar names.


Your experience, if true, is shocking, but I suspect there is a lot more to this tale than you are telling us, also most councils have a "contact the leader" link, where you can email directly the council leader with any problems you may have, I suggest you try that.

hohum

It sounds like you have had difficulties in paying your rent. I would also suggest that you are misunderstanding some ways to access the council. As others have pointed out:

- there's no way an automated line can detect whether you're disabled or not
- I work in Leeds and volunteer with people who have learning disabilities. I've never heard anyone being forbidden to contact LCC. I also used to work for one of the ALMOs, and again, no-one was ever explicitly forbidden to contact.
- However it can be difficult to find help and that can be frustrating. Have you seen this information? http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/What-if-you-can%27t-pay-your-council-tax.aspx

and here is a list of all the ways you can pay rent, including at post office and, online http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/HSG-Make-a-rent-payment.aspx

CIS

A local authority will, where they deem appropriate, ban someone from contacting there services. This isn't usually taken lightly, for obvious reasons - I probably saw it happen only half a dozen times in a decade and several of them were because they'd physically smashed up offices - and an alternative method is often put in place (i.e arranged contact with a senior manger only).

A court certainly wouldn't threaten contempt just for saying you'd get a solicitor - unless you were standing screaming it in the court room.

If this is true then there's a lot more going on that has been disclosed - one agency could be a problem with that agency but when you get multiple agencies all refusing to help ...

mcpitman

Disabled people are not banned from contacting your council. FACT.

You are.

So, come on, what is the true background to this?