Privacy notices - Sundry Debts

The Highland Council will collect personal data about you when issuing Sundry Debt invoices to you for goods or services provided to you by the Council for which there is a charge such as music tuition or care services. 

The information collated includes:

1. Details about you such as your name and address, telephone number and email address.
2. Financial details such as bank account number if you pay by Direct Debit.
3. Details of the service you have been provided with i.e.:- dates of service, location of service
4. Other financial details if you are in arrears and have made a special arrangement to pay

We will use this data to raise an invoice and recover arrears if it is necessary to do so. We may check some of the information with other sources, such as a credit reference agency to ensure this data is accurate.

Unless specifically agreed with you, or provided directly by you, we will only collect personal data about you which does not include any special categories of personal information (also known as sensitive personal data).

Why we need this information?

We use this personal information to administer and collect sundry debt. This may include any of the following;

• Raise an invoice
• Send you reminders and taking recovery action in the event of non-payment
• Undertaking a means assessment if you are experiencing difficult in paying
• Recover any monies owed in line with our legal powers for example take you to court, refer the debt to the sheriff officer for collection.
• Deduct payments direct from your employer or social security benefit where we have a court order that enables us to do so.
• Deal with complaints or concerns.

If you do not provide us with the information we have requested for raising an invoice then we might not be able to provide you with the goods or services that you require.

• Legal Obligation; in terms of section 150 Local Government and Housing Act 1989
• Public Task; the processing of this information is necessary for the Council to undertake a public task as defined under Article 6(1)(e) of the Act, i.e. the processing is necessary for the Council to perform a task in the public interest or for its official functions, and the task or function has a clear basis in law. In this case to issue an invoice for services or works provided by the Council to you as the debtor.

  Your data will be used for this specific purpose although your details will be shared between Council departments and other agencies as noted below, where there is lawful authority to do so.

• Access your data
• Change personal data
• Delete personal data
• Restrict processing of personal data

Find out more about your rights

If you do not pay your invoice the timescale stipulated on the invoice we will share your information with :

• Other departments of the Council
  • Legal Services relation to any account in arrears.
  • Other organisations or public bodies
    • Sheriff Officer Firms that the Council may ask to collect the debt under contract on their behalf.
    • Her Majesty’s Court Services to recover unpaid debt.
    • to comply with legal obligations for example, the prevention and detection of crime including fraud

We will not share your information with other organisations unless there is a legal basis to do so. 

We will usually keep your information for a minimum of 6 years, after this period it will be destroyed under secure arrangements if it is no longer required for the lawful purpose for which it was obtained.

Your personal information is not subject to automated decision making or profiling

The data controller is The Highland Council

Data Protection Officer

Highland Council Headquarters

Glenurquhart Road

Inverness

IV3 5NX

01463 702029 

dpo@highland.gov.uk

If you are unhappy with the way we have processed your personal information you can contact the Information Commissioner:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113

https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/