Vulnerable people have been reassured they do not have to pay off hefty bills in single instalments after a council blunder led to them being hit with massive daycare demands.
One 96-year-old was stunned to receive a shock invoice for back payments of more than £1,300, while another pensioner was slapped with a bill for around £5,000.
The huge invoices, which are believed to have gone out to hundreds of households across Perth and Kinross, were issued following the introduction of a so-called contributions policy by Perth and Kinross Council.
The system, designed to offer a more tailored service to those using non-residential care, went live last year but led to a backlog of payments.
Many clients have also seen their costs soar following a review of charges.
Last night, the council assured a series of improvements had been made to get on top of the backlog.
Perth resident Liz McKinley said she was shocked to find payments for her 96-year-old mother, who attends the Lewis Place Day Care Centre, had rocketed by more than 100%, from £33.20 to £68.53.
Her invoice for £1,326 was marked “to be paid immediately” although the council has since stressed it can be paid off in instalments.
She said she had no intention of paying the full amount.
She said: “We were never notified about this. It seems to have been done in such an underhand way and it certainly hasn’t been transparent.”
“They cannot do something like this. I know another woman who received a bill for more than £5,000.”
A council spokeswoman said everyone who used older people’s services had been contacted about the new policy in January last year.
The set-up calculates a charge for the resident’s entire care requirements, rather than costs per service.
She said: “As the charges are based on each individual requirement, some service users will have seen an increase in their day care service charges.
“Perth and Kinross introduced the contributions policy last year, which allows service users to pay for a more tailored service based on their individual needs.
“Once service users have been assessed they will receive one invoice for the overall total of their annual service requirements, however they do not have to pay this bill in one instalment.
“We have made improvements to the process and are devoting additional resources to address the backlog.”
Action being taken includes a review and amendment of notification letters “in order to make it clearer what they are being asked to pay and what services”.
Communications between departments are being improved, while the council hopes to streamline back-office processes to shorten the time it takes to send out invoices to clients and their families.
Perth City South councillor Alexander Stewart, convener of the scrutiny committee, said he was “dismayed and disgusted” vulnerable people were being sent large bills for back payments.
“This is causing distress and alarm to the individuals and their families due to a backlog of invoicing, which the council admits is their fault, bills for as much as four-figure sums are being sent out requesting payment immediately,” he said.
He will write to housing and health committee convener Dave Doogan to “seek clarity” on how this issue came about and ask what help is being offered to clients who are unable to pay.
Mr Stewart has also called for the billing system to be reviewed and safeguards built in to avoid a repeat, and he added: “Lessons have to be learned from this fiasco.”