Councils are launching legal proceedings against thousands of people each year in a bid to recoup millions of pounds of unpaid council tax.
As the recession continues to bite into household income, making it harder for some to pay their bills, the number of summary warrants granted to councils in order to pursue unpaid council tax has soared.
Local authorities across Scotland only collected 94.6% of council tax in the last financial year.
Councils ask sheriff courts for summary warrants if a person has refused repeated demands to pay their council tax.
This leads to an extra 10% being added to their bill and a demand for the full amount to be settled immediately.
If the account holder still refuses payment, then sheriff officers can arrest their bank accounts and wages.
Fife Council had 44,069 summary warrants granted by sheriffs in the last financial year nearly 3000 more than they had just two years before.
The total value of unpaid council tax in the region rocketed from £7.56 million to £11.05 million.
In Perth and Kinross, 15,925 council tax accounts were on summary warrants last year, up from 14,671 two years before while the total outstanding council tax rose from £11.23 million to £12.82 million over the same period.
Dundee City Council has also sought more summary warrants to claw back unpaid tax.
There were 24,930 granted in 2008/09 but this increased to 26,353 last year.
However, the total of outstanding tax fell from £4.04 million in 2008-09 to £3.94 million last year, although this does not include outstanding amounts where recovery action is yet to begin.
Angus Council had 12,816 summary warrants granted in 2008-09. This increased to 13,508 in 2010-11.
Gordon MacRae, head of communications and policy at Shelter Scotland, said many people are struggling to keep their heads above water.
“At a time when unemployment is high and the cost of living is increasing, more and more households are struggling to stay on top of their bills and keep a roof over their heads,” he said.
“Just a small increase in monthly outgoings could be the trigger that finally pushes some people over the edge into a spiral of debt, repossession and possible homelessness.
“Staying on top of personal finances is vital. Our money and legal advice services are already in greater demand and we are seeing an increase in the number of people looking for advice.”
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAB) chief executive Lucy McTernan said, “The reality for many families across Scotland is that the cost of living is rising all the time, while their incomes are staying the same, or falling.
“Anyone who has received a warrant from the council should contact the local CAB as quickly as possible to get advice on what to do next.”