My local council are a bunch of idiots.

smcaul

uktim29 wrote: »

I don't think smcaul does fact, only assumptions to suit the idea that an entire group of people are "incompetent".

People love to use that word to make themselves feel superior.

Oh come now mr tim, for someone who has used the word "assume" numerous times in this thread you seem to have become a victim of your own disdain for the word.

My "facts" are contained in 4 very large files in my office that prove the "incompetence" of my local council on differing issues. So your assumptions are quite incorrect, and my use of the word incompetence has nothing at all to do with me being superior, it is quite simply the adjective that best fits.

uktim29

smcaul wrote: »

Oh come now mr tim, for someone who has used the word "assume" numerous times in this thread you seem to have become a victim of your own disdain for the word.

Yes but exactly! When I don't know fact I clearly write assume so no one gets confused. There is nothing wrong with assuming providing you state you are doing this and don't use it as if it's fact. The funny thing is you assume "become a victim of your own disdain for the word." :rotfl:

I think you'll find mistake would probably be a better adjective. I know it doesn't sound as damming, never mind. But incompetence would assume that your local council would be unable to deal/sort out/manage whatever issue for everyone (not just you) and it to be of a consistent nature across the board. I very much doubt you have time to do this kind of analysis of your council to be confident of that. Therefore I think you'll find mistake(s) technically fits better.

wurlitzerwilly

regularsaver1 wrote: »

surely you would have noticed (or your wife) that no money was being paid to them each month. I mean £100ish out of your budget that was spare? - obviously that means you still have this money? or where else has it gone?

councils try and get you to pay by dd, my mum refuses and sends a cheque each month

This is getting rather tedious, but once again from the top:
We do indeed have the money for the Council Tax that has not been requested via Direct Debit by the Council and if not, I would expect to have to find it and it would not be unreasonable for the Council to request payment along the lines of "We have made a monumental error and apologise for this, but we must insist that the outstanding amount to date is paid immediately". That would be reasonable and what would be even more reasonable is if the Council also said "Having admitted our gross error, we now propose to collect said money by using the Direct Debit a/c specially set up for the purpose"!!!

What is NOT reasonable is the letter that I have received which effectively says "We have no idea what we're doing. We haven't checked our records properly as we're too incompetent and arrogant to do so. Therefore you must now pay the penalty for our error and face a Court Summons and pay the full amount in advance to the end of the financial year. We know you're guilty, so the outcome's inevitable and the Bailiffs will visit you because we're The Council and your a worthless piece of sh*t"!!!

Guys and gals, please try to keep to the plot as stated and not invent your own situations.

Regards,

Alan.

wurlitzerwilly

olly300 wrote: »

While it's a common complaint to cover a lie, the OP maybe telling the truth. Notice that he lives with his wife and both of them are jointly liable for the council tax bill so both names would be on it. If his wife forgets to tell or show him the letter then as far as he is concerned he wouldn't have received it....................

There's no "maybe" about it. Whilst some folks may use this forum to act as trolls, I have no desire to do so and would gain nothing from the discussion by lying. Remember that this is a discussion and I am not here to actually fight the Council, I'll have my 10 minutes in Court for that!

Anyway, what you say is most interesting and helpful. Are you absolutely certain that both of our names should appear on correspondence from the Council? If that is the case, the plot thickens! There is only one name on the letter - mine. If it wasn't for the fact that they spelled my name right and seem to have the correct address, I'd wonder if they were addressing the right account! Of course there is the matter of no money being taken from my wife's bank account, so I guess I'd better assume it is indeed me that the faceless wonders are harassing.

Regards,

Alan.

uktim29

wurlitzerwilly wrote: »

What is NOT reasonable is the letter that I have received which effectively says "................."

Ok then, to get effective advice on here what exactly did it say? I don't recall seeing the exact wording which is probably why people have jumped to conclusions.

If you reproduce the letter in full on here there will be no guessing who is right/wrong etc and people will finally be able to reply with more knowledgeable responses, perhaps even in legal terms.

wurlitzerwilly

uktim29 wrote: »

OK then, to get effective advice on here what exactly did it say? I don't recall seeing the exact wording which is probably why people have jumped to conclusions.

If you reproduce the letter in full on here there will be no guessing who is right/wrong etc and people will finally be able to reply with more knowledgeable responses, perhaps even in legal terms.

TBQH I don't understand why you or anyone else can't recall seeing the exact wording. You need only browse back to page 1 of this thread and read my OP.

It's unfortunate this system won't allow attachments or I'd scan and send the letter. Right here goes (my comments or editing in blue).

Date of issue 16 July 2007 Adur District Council
Account reference xxxxxxxx etc

My name and address

OUTSTANDING AMOUNT Total for the entire year

To Be Received By 23 July 2007


My records show that you have previously been asked to pay Council Tax due for the
period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008.

A balance of Total for the entire year for the period is still outstanding.

If payment in FULL is not received by 23 July 2007, the Magistrates' Court will be
asked to issue a summons against you which will cost you up to £80.00

Please see the back of this notice for how to pay

If you cannot pay the outstanding amount in full, please contact the Council
immediately to discuss the possibility of an alternative arrangement.

If you have paid this outstanding amount on or just after the date of issue above,
please ignore this notice.

__________________________________________________________________________

NO FURTHER REMINDERS WILL BE ISSUED

Reverse side of letter:

INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR COUNCIL TAX FINAL REMINDER

IF YOU DO NOT PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OUTSTANDING BY THE DATE SHOWN ON THE
FRONT OF THIS NOTICE THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN

* You will be summoned to appear at Worthing Magistrate's Court and charged £35.00

* If you do not pay in full before the court hearing date, the Council will apply for a liability order and you will be charged
an additional £45

A liability order gives the Council power to:
* Pass your debt to the bailiffs for them to collect
* Arrange to have money deducted from your earnings if you are in paid employment
* Arrange to have money deducted from your income support if you are in receipt of this benefit.

HOW TO PAY YOUR COUNCIL TAX

ETC ETC
__________________________________________________________________________

Formatting and accuracy to the best of my ability.

Note the dates.
Issued on the 16th. I did not receive until the 20th and was occupied with appointments, so Council offices closed when I got to read it. Why did it take 4 days to travel 1/2 a mile? Could it just be that due to incompetence or sheer laziness it was issued on the 16th but not posted until the 19th?
Council don't work at weekends - tough sh*t.
22nd/23rd I was in London.
Deadline passed.

Also note the use of "double standard language".

If you don't pay by 23rd you will be summoned........
If you contact the Council, an alternative arrangement may be made.......

C'mon, which is it, alternative or summons or just sabre rattling? You can only have one, not both.

Now this may sound arrogant on my part and probably is:

When the Council screwed up last year over a similar problem, I tried phoning but could not get them to admit they were at fault and remedy the matter, so I paid them a visit and suffered the indignation of having to wait for an interview in a room full of people, some smelly and loud and frankly beneath my contempt. When I finally got to see a minion, it was in an open area with two side panels, so everyone else could hear the conversation, and wonder of all wonders the Council (through said minion) admitted their blunder, but apologise? Not a snowball in hell's chance.

And folks wonder why I kick up such a stink rather than deal directly with these morons.

Regards,

Alan.

uktim29

wurlitzerwilly wrote: »

Last week, I received another threatening letter from Adur District Council, informing me that I have not paid any Council Tax!

Thats about the nearest we get to the exact wording on page one.

Ah, an edit above just as I was typing this!

uktim29

wurlitzerwilly wrote: »

If you cannot pay the outstanding amount in full, please contact the Council
immediately to discuss the possibility of an alternative arrangement.

This bit jumps out at me.

wurlitzerwilly

uktim29 wrote: »

Thats about the nearest we get to the exact wording on page one.

Ah, an edit above just as I was typing this!

Sorry, somehow got sent before finished.

wurlitzerwilly

uktim29 wrote: »

This bit jumps out at me.

Point taken but this should also jump out at you:
"When the Council screwed up last year over a similar problem, I tried phoning but could not get them to admit they were at fault and remedy the matter, so I paid them a visit and suffered the indignation of having to wait for an interview in a room full of people, some smelly and loud and frankly beneath my contempt. When I finally got to see a minion, it was in an open area with two side panels, so everyone else could hear the conversation, and wonder of all wonders the Council (through said minion) admitted their blunder, but apologise? Not a snowball in hell's chance."

Hence my extreme reluctance to have any dealings with them.

Regards,

Alan.