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Page last updated Monday, 21 March 2011
Insolvency News: Officers failed their duties to disabled woman
A high court has annulled a bankruptcy order, made on the petition of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) against a disabled woman, after officers failed in their duties and breached disability rules.
Manchester High Court has ruled that HMRC had failed in its duties against Nicola Haworth, a disabled person, under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
Ms Haworth had suffered from anxiety and depression following an accident in her early twenties and developed a phobia of opening mail.
HMRC had pursued Ms Haworth for undisclosed income after receiving an anonymous letter claiming she was earning thousands from breeding Arabian horses. This was later found to be untrue and was purely a therapeutic hobby with no income.
In 2007 HMRC were notified by Ms Haworth’s mother that her daughter was unable to deal with any correspondence, particularly official looking envelopes and letters.
HMRC issued a petition for Ms Hayworth’s bankruptcy and her benefits were stopped. She was eventually made bankrupt in 2008.
The court found that HMRC failed in its duties under the DDA as they had the opportunity to communicate with Ms Haworth’s mother and accept medical advice as well as explore alternative repayment procedures.
What concerns me is that the bankruptcy proceedings came about following an anonymous letter to HMRC. What callous and cold individual could do this to cause so much distress and misery, not only to Ms Haworth but to her family? More importantly did HMRC rely on this letter alone? If so then this is of concern to everyone.
keith (Guest) Thursday, 31 March 2011
sounds like another case of using mental depression to screw any amount of money from the taxpayer as you can.Not making a profit from breeding arabics?Wish i could get hold of 1 for nothing.I spend vast amounts buying and training american 1/4 horses,iff she wants to let me have an arabic for nothing then pls do.i dont open my council tax letters but still have to pay in the end
Dan (Guest) Friday, 25 March 2011
Sounds like Ian has a condition of judging eveyone. Disability discrimination is prevelant in all walks of society. HMRC have done this with tunnel vision, adopted from the knee jerk reactionist currently in charge.
Ian (Guest) Thursday, 24 March 2011
So she made no money breeding Arabic horses!! she had a phobia about opening her mail!!
Sounds like she got caught put her head in the sand then claimed discrimination
No wonder this country is in trouble, the courts believe every excuse out there
taz (Guest) Wednesday, 23 March 2011
This goes to show how callous and unfeling HMRC can be, l;ike any other government organisation, whether it is in theri dealings with Disability or otherwise, it is highly apparent that the general concensus is that they ARE the law and no matter what they are within their rights to do whatever it takes.
These draconian attitudes should be revised as we are after all, in the 21st century and not in 2000BC!
veedubya (Guest) Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Cold and callous - Shame on them! Well done to the Manchester High Court - it's good to know that the little people are cared about.
Andy Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Its not the first time a govt. agency has pushed for such things as bankruptcy.
It has been known to happen simply by the pressure they can bring to bear on someone too!
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