Redditch Council - Charged Council Tax twice for those paying by Direct Debit

Caggie

I am not sure whether this is correct place to post this. My father who lives in Redditch has just informed me that anyone paying council tax by direct debit in Redditch has been charged twice this month. Once on the 1st September and then again on the 5th September.

Annabee

I suppose your father knows that if he phones his bank then they will get the money straight back for him - under the Direct Debit Guarantee.

Caggie

Yes, he has phoned his bank. They will deal with it but it will take 2 weeks.

Poppycat

This is one of the reasons I don't like paying council tax by direct debit, personally I hate the tax anyhow its unfair and immoral. Sure you can get your money back but what if you don't check your statements regularly and your out of pocket, get any of it back from the council is like getting blood from a stone. They so keen to get your money but woe be tied they owe you money they sure hell don't like paying it back as I known from my council

Poppycat

LOL dont get me started on that one my council seem hell bent on putting lights down and getting rid of roundabouts, funny how when lights dont work traffic flows much better this is happened loads of times now, lights=traffic chaos, lights off=traffic flows slowly but no chaos

Caggie

Here is the BBC News Item

7,000 households have paid double this month.

Altarf

Caggie wrote:

Yes, he has phoned his bank. They will deal with it but it will take 2 weeks.

He needs to speak to a manager at the bank. Under the terms of the DD guarantee they are obliged to put the money back into his account immediately.

Unfortunately some / all of the badly trained staff do not realise this and think that they need some kind of confirmation from the recipient that the DD was incorrect. They do not.

Caggie

Thank you. I will pass on this information to my father. He is in his 80's

Altarf

Caggie wrote:

Thank you. I will pass on this information to my father. He is in his 80's

Have a look at http://www.bacs.co.uk/BPSL/directdebit/generalpublic/yourrights/

If any payment is made in error, you should contact your bank or building society who are responsible for giving you a full and immediate refund - even if the original error was made by the organisation collecting the payment.

Caggie

Thank you, you are a star!

humfer

Caggie wrote:

I am not sure whether this is correct place to post this. My father who lives in Redditch has just informed me that anyone paying council tax by direct debit in Redditch has been charged twice this month. Once on the 1st September and then again on the 5th September.

Maybe they will decide to come and empty your bins twice this week then!!!