EXCLUSIVE

A YOUNG mum claims a series of council blunders have forced her to become a prisoner in her own home, living in fear of bailiffs knocking on her door.

Laura Furness, 22, says she is terrified of losing her house and possessions.

And campaigning councillor Graham Jones, who has taken up her case, said: "I can't think of a council tax horror story worse than this one."

Problems started for Laura, a former pupil of Rhyddings High School, shortly after she moved into her dream home in Stanley Street, Oswaldtwistle, in September 2003 with her toolmaker fiance Sean Chippendale, 25.

A simple error in her first council tax bill, asking for payment from August instead of September, sparked off an 18-month saga, during which stressed Laura gave birth to her second child.

During that time she received FOURTEEN bills and made up to FIFTY phone calls and personal visits to council offices in a vain attempt to sort out the problem.

Letters from the council were addressed to "The Occupier" and to "Miss James", which complicated the matter further.

A key moment in the saga came when Laura paid her bill for April, May and June last year but because it had been sent out under the wrong name the council later said the payment could not be traced.

Laura says she was not allowed to pay from July onwards because the council claimed she had still not paid for the previous three months.

Finally, last December bailiffs turned up at her home with a demand for £889. Laura handed over £301, which was all she had, and was forced to sign a "walking possession agreement". This means bailiffs can walk into her home at any time to seize goods and Laura is not entitled to move valuables or goods out of the house.

Four days after her baby Kian was born on 23 January she received a further demand which, with bailiff costs added, came to £781.

When she went down to the council offices to complain, she claims to have been told the council tax team did not make mistakes and her case was beyond help. Although the amount owed has since been reduced to £550, Laura dreads the bailiffs' knock on her door.

The Citizens' Advice Bureau has advised her not to open the door but she has been told the bailiffs could bring a locksmith.

Laura, whose other child is Maddox, 15 months, said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. I just want peace of mind.

"I am prepared to pay the genuine arrears but I am not going to pay for someone else's mistake. I could afford to pay and I wasn't shirking on the payments.

"I have been living in fear of the bailiffs and had to stay locked in my house. I haven't been able to enjoy time out with my kids. I haven't been able to sleep."

Councillor Jones said: "Laura could well have gone to prison through no fault of her own.

"The council budget cutbacks have hit the council tax collection department and, with fewer staff and shorter working hours, it is impacting on them and they are making mistakes. We need to look at resources in that department and provide a proper service.

"Laura has been in a spin for the past 18 months and one problem has led to another."

On Thursday, after the Observer stepped in, a full investigation was promised.

Councillor John Griffiths, Cabinet portfolio holder for corporate governance, said: "I am sorry to hear of the problems experienced by this lady and I promise to take the matter up with the department concerned."