Bailiffs seized welcome mat after being refused entry

Bailiffs seized the front door mat from a man's home after he gave them the brush-off when they called to seize property. Trouble flared when the householder refused to let them in - and in frustration they took the mat instead. But now the resident has had the last laugh as local government watchdog the Ombudsman has ruled in his favour, agreeing that the bailiffs acted in a heavy-handed manner.

Problems arose in a row over a council tax arrears bill running to £4,000. Slough Council officials hired the bailiffs after the man, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, amassed the thousands of pounds worth of arrears. Despite numerous arrangements to repay, no money was forthcoming and collection agents were sent in to seize his goods until he paid.



On arrival the determined resident slammed the door in the bailiff's face and in frustration they seized his door mat. He complained and his mat was returned when the council realised taking a doormat was not standard practice or acceptable ... and even paid the bailiffs' costs itself. Despite admitting its mistake, the resident reported the council to the Local Government Ombudsman because he felt the council had acted inappropriately. A report published by the Ombudsman agreed with him.

A council spokesman said: "We accept that the bailiffs' actions this time were not sensible. We have a duty to residents to try and recover unpaid council tax as someone not paying repeatedly, is unfair to the vast majority of local people who, though they may not like it, pay their council tax on time, every time." The council tax arrears remain outstanding.