Another Council Blunder

janet · 13-04-2004, 13:31

This morning i went to the town hall to inform them that i had not yet recieved my council tax bill, i was worried in case they sent me a letter saying my payment was overdue. I was told not to bother about it as 30,000 council tax bills that should have been hand delivered was sent to the royal mail to be delivered by post.Who could possibly make a mistake like that. No doubt we all will be paying for it.

lettie · 13-04-2004, 13:57

Went to pay mine today and the queue was enormous. There was only 1 woman on her own at the payments section. 2 women were discussing this in the queue and said that some people had been laid off, and that they were going to scrap the payments section and have everybody pay by direc debit or payment card (by telephone) There were no notices to this effect, but they screwed up my direct debit last time and tried to blame the bank. The bank showed me all the set up which was definately in place, as the council had already taken 1 payment, then didn't bother taking any more. I ended up owing a fortune, as the reminder letters system wasn't then in place (it's a few years ago) Remember paying it in the smallest possible change....

janet · 13-04-2004, 14:06

Lettie, i signed up for a swipe card to pay it monthly, you just take it to the post office, i pay my gas, electric and water payments this way as it's easier i get my benefit in one hand then give it back to them to pay bills.

lindsay ormerod · 13-04-2004, 17:48

I will have to put mine on direct debit too,I only get 45 mins for lunch not 45 hours!It is a stupid and ineffecient system,on a par with receiving only one bin bag....don't get me started!

ShortStuff · 13-04-2004, 19:42

Janet - I've got one of the Council Tax payment cards too. Really easy cos you can go to a post office - which do open on Saturday mornings, unlike the Council Tax office. I didn't fancy the Council having access to my bank account through DD either. Lettie there should be a number on your bill to apply for one of the payment cards.

lettie · 13-04-2004, 20:33

Cheers folks. I might give DD another shot haven't decided yet. It is several years ago when the aforementioned cock - up occurred. If I'm feeling charitable I'll give em another chance.

K.S.H · 13-04-2004, 20:45

Why dont you use internet banking? I pay all my bills that way including council tax, sod that going to post offices, the queues are always miles long when I go in

lindsay ormerod · 14-04-2004, 18:04

Made another foray to the Valley of Death[council office] today and guess what? The queue was even longer,at this rate it won't even be in 2p's,it will be 1ps with the odd foreign coin thrown in for good measure!

ShortStuff · 14-04-2004, 20:42

If the Council are so short staffed to process council tax - maybe they should just abolish it! That would get my vote.

Graham Jones · 14-04-2004, 22:30

And I would like to know how much it cost to. Yep the benefits office is going all electronic, no cash as from July I think.

Graham Jones