Hyndburn council's Accrington cash office closing

panther · 09-07-2008, 18:51

THE Hyndburn Council cash office at Accrington Town Hall is set to close after it was discovered that very few residents used the facility.
Bosses at the authority said that only a small percentage of people paid their council tax or other bills at the office in Blackburn Road.
Now alternative ways to pay are being promoted, after a review revealed into the service was completed.
Coun Marlene Haworth, said: “We are letting people know that there are many alternative ways of paying, for example by Direct Debit or standing order, by telephone or via the internet.
“People can also use a payment swipecard which is accepted at over 150 outlets across the borough, including Post Offices, Woolworths and many local newsagents.”
The cash office at Accrington Town Hall will close from September 30.

I have a better idea!.......lets scrap the council tax altogether

its bad enough finding places to pay my utility bills, now i have to find away to pay my council tax!, doent the council not think i have better things to do

lancsdave · 09-07-2008, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by panther

THE Hyndburn Council cash office at Accrington Town Hall is set to close after it was discovered that very few residents used the facility.
Bosses at the authority said that only a small percentage of people paid their council tax or other bills at the office in Blackburn Road.
Now alternative ways to pay are being promoted, after a review revealed into the service was completed.
Coun Marlene Haworth, said: “We are letting people know that there are many alternative ways of paying, for example by Direct Debit or standing order, by telephone or via the internet.
“People can also use a payment swipecard which is accepted at over 150 outlets across the borough, including Post Offices, Woolworths and many local newsagents.”
The cash office at Accrington Town Hall will close from September 30.

I have a better idea!.......lets scrap the council tax altogether

its bad enough finding places to pay my utility bills, now i have to find away to pay my council tax!, doent the council not think i have better things to do

I used it last year and there was a queue a mile long

panther · 09-07-2008, 18:58

I wouldnt mind but they only use 1 person anyway

accyman · 09-07-2008, 19:00

swipe cards that dont work properly or the machines in the shops constantly break down,spend all day in a que on the phone ?

thats 2 alternatives that need improving before they start to stop people paying cold hard cash

i wouldnt mind if HBC could keep track of their payments , i liek many others have had nasty letters saying i havnt paid when i damn well have but because they dont accuse you of not paying untill months later it can be hard to find the recipts even if you pay with a card like i did they still manage to say you havnt paid

lancsdave · 09-07-2008, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by accyman

i wouldnt mind if HBC could keep track of their payments , i liek many others have had nasty letters saying i havnt paid when i damn well have but because they dont accuse you of not paying untill months later it can be hard to find the recipts even if you pay with a card like i did they still manage to say you havnt paid

I've got that t-shirt too, paid direct on the council website and they managed to pay off somebody else's account with my money

accyman · 09-07-2008, 19:26

this is just cost cutting with weak excuses when in fact if HBC hadnt blown its budget these cuts wouldnt be needed

i use the kiosk and to be honest its bad enough that it closes at 3pm and i dont know where this woman gets her info because its always busy when i go

whats next ?

wheelie bin collections every 4 weeks to save wages and fuel

panther · 09-07-2008, 19:32

.....and it dont open until 10!

accyman · 09-07-2008, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by panther

.....and it dont open until 10!

and its not gurenteed somone will be sat there to take your money should you be lucky enough to get time off during work to go pay your bill

claytonender · 09-07-2008, 19:33

This is a link to the report that went to Cabinet on 18 June.
http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...ernisation.pdf

There are 28994 households who pay by cash in Hyndbrun of these 3386 households pay in cash at the Town Hall and another 884 households pay by cheque at the counter and 906 households send a cheque in to the Town Hall. This means that 17.85% of households use the collecting office. Only 6.78% of the electorate of Great Harwood voted in the Town Council 'consulation' but they this is going to be explored further.

At the Cabinet meeting Marlene Howarth welcomed this move, but for many people it is their only personal contact with Hyndburn Council. It also encourages people to use the shops in town after thery have visited the Town Hall.

If you want to save this service please protest to your local councillor.

Lilly · 09-07-2008, 20:22

I don't know why people want to go to the office and queue up to pay their council tax. Can you explain please?

Why don't you get it on direct debit?

This way the money will go out of your account every month and you will not have to spend time queuing.

I've had mine on direct debit for 8 years now. I've never had a problem with it.

Retlaw · 09-07-2008, 20:39

I like many others don't trust the direct debit system.
Too many human errors in the system, payments into other accounts, debiting more than once, failure to cease debiting when account closed or changed.

I'm sure others can think of a lot more.

They can shove their direct debit where the sun doesn't shine.

Retlaw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilly

I don't know why people want to go to the office and queue up to pay their council tax. Can you explain please?

Why don't you get it on direct debit?

This way the money will go out of your account every month and you will not have to spend time queuing.

I've had mine on direct debit for 8 years now. I've never had a problem with it.

Lilly · 09-07-2008, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

I like many others don't trust the direct debit system.
Too many human errors in the system, payments into other accounts, debiting more than once, failure to cease debiting when account closed or changed.

I'm sure others can think of a lot more.

They can shove their direct debit where the sun doesn't shine.

Retlaw.

I've never experienced any of that.

I've moved house twice and never had any trouble, just informed them that I'd moved and payments were adjusted without disruption.

SPUGGIE J · 09-07-2008, 20:56

Is it cash payment only or a full services office? There are issues galore in paying wether its cash or DD ie if like me you were paid monthly and payday fell on a Monday they try and take it on a Friday when there is not enough cash to cover. Paying cash means queuing either at the cash desk or the post office. Been through it all and even though it is fortnightly payment for me I do it weekly.

maxwell silver · 09-07-2008, 20:57

Used to pay mine there until i got a swipe card so i could pay at any payzone shop.Best thing i did.Just make sure i keep all my receipts together then if theres any discrepencies i've got all the evidence i need.I used to hate queuing up at the town hall to pay this poxy tax bill.

Lilly · 09-07-2008, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

Is it cash payment only or a full services office? There are issues galore in paying wether its cash or DD ie if like me you were paid monthly and payday fell on a Monday they try and take it on a Friday when there is not enough cash to cover. Paying cash means queuing either at the cash desk or the post office. Been through it all and even though it is fortnightly payment for me I do it weekly.

When I set my direct debit up I seem to recall being given a choice of dates. The reason being that people get paid at varying times of the month.