Marston Recovery and Vulnerable person

Magic_Sister

my friend is a stroke survivor, from a stroke July 25. He still has full care support from the rehab team and 4 care visits a day. Prior to this stroke he was in a coma for 7 weeks from pneumonia, and also had a previous stroke where he was sent to a care home for rehabilitation.

He has had an aggressive visit from Marston today, saying he owes £5k for the care for the first stroke, to the County Council. He had no idea of this debt, as he has not been fully competent for 2.5 years now. They have given him 2 days to find £250. He only gets UC, and no PIP has been paid yet.

Has anyone ever managed to get this Company to acknowledge that a person is vulnerable? I am worried it may cause another stroke that could be fatal.

Thanks.

itsthelittlethings

I think first step is to contact the County Council and see what the debt is all about and make them aware he is vulnerable. I would have thought he should have had a financial assessment and this would have been flagged up there.

Magic_Sister

Thank you- Financial Assessment by the Council for his current care? I think that’s due as he’s still under the discharge care so I will look at this, thank you.

itsthelittlethings

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81880487#Comment_81880487

If they are charging him I would have assumed they should have done a financial assessment to see that he has to pay - if he doesn't have savings or enough income care should be free. So any episode of care that he is being charged for, they should have done a financial assessment for.

itsthelittlethings

Ask the team who are providing the care - they may have a back door to the people who manage it who are paying for (and recharging) the care.

itsthelittlethings

Or literally ring the council and ask to speak to the people dealing with this.

Exodi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6654912/marston-recovery-and-vulnerable-person

Does he have any assets?

Sorry to be so blunt but it'll allow a more informed response.

For example, if he only receives UC but has £100k in the bank, it could explain why the council seems to recover the costs.

If, as I imagine might be the case, he doesn't have any assets, then it indicates the council may not have acknowledged his situation in their decision.

itsthelittlethings

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81880515#Comment_81880515

He won't be receiving UC if he has 100k in the bank.

Magic_Sister

Thanks all. He does not have any assets but may have had at the previous time that this charge is for. I will need to find out.
He has not had a current assessment as he is still under the allowed discharge care.

What can I do to stop Marston being aggressive with him please?

sourcrates

"What can I do to stop Marston being aggressive with him please?"

You`re best bet is to get the council to take back the debt from Marston, and return it in-house.

Trying to appeal to Marston`s better nature may be an uphill struggle, the best and simplest way is to remove them from the equation altogether, and deal directly with the council themselves.

fatbelly

I agree with the above. Marstons are loved by Councils for collection of council tax debt under a liability order. They are bailiffs and are allowed to act as such by the court order.

Here it seems unlikely that there is a court order so they are NOT acting as bailiffs, which they may have conveniently forgotten.

Anyway your best policy is to deal with the Council and use your councillor if yours is a reasonable human being. Check/message on

https://www.writetothem.com/