WEST Somerset residents and businesses who owe money on their Council Tax or business rates bills are being warned they could end up deeper in debt due to a change in regulations.

Enforcement agents will replace bailiffs from April 6 and will use a fixed fees payment scale which the debtor will have to pay.

Under the rules, residents and ratepayers will be liable for a £75 compliance fee as soon as the local council passes an unpaid account to an agent to collect.

They will also have to pay a further enforcement fee of at least £235 if they do not make arrangements to pay or default on payments and a visit becomes necessary.

A further minimum fee of £110 will be levied at the sale or disposal stage while an additional 7.5 per cent fee can be charged on any additional amount above £1,500.

That figure excludes fees and is only chargeable at the enforcement or sale/disposal stages.

Steve Perkins, West Somerset Council's principal recovery officer, said: "It is hoped that this law change will modernise, simplify and harmonise enforcement.

"The Government felt it was needed to replace all of the outdated regulations with one set of rules and fees for all debt types both domestic and business.

"They also hope that aggressive bailiff action will be left in the past and that the most vulnerable members of society are protected further.

"We are trying to alleviate the all too common head in the sand mentality and slowly but surely we are having more and more success stories in that long term arrears cases are being brought up to date, and we need to build on this success."

He said the council would be spending more time identifying the most relevant cases to be sent to enforcement agents.

More information about the law and fee changes is available on the council website at http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk">www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk.

"We also now have much closer working relationships with the Citizen Advice Bureau, particularly in relation to the referral of debt cases onto them for help," Mr Perkins said.

He said the key message to all residents and ratepayers who get into arrears was not to get caught out by increased fees.

Anyone who is behind with their Council Tax or business rates should contact the authority on 01643 703704 or a free agency such as the Citizens Advice Bureau on 01643 704624 for help.